Her eyes

CHAPTER 6

Xavier grimaced."Don't worry.I'm not enough of a masochist to seclude us to a desert island just yet. I just thought you might want to see what you would have lost if you were stupid enough to try anything yesterday.The paradise resort would be a perfect place for our honeymoon. And besides, I really need to put things in order before your mother takes over"

Amanda felt a little winded, and then all sorts of nebulous feelings rose up.What could she say? She would love to see the resort.But going there with him which he tagged as a 'honeymoon' was making her feel nauseous.

After a few minutes, Xavier left the dining room to get his things ready.Amanda stared at his meal which he hardly touched,on a norms,she would have wanted to eat it too but the trip ahead had made her lost her appetite.She stood up and started to clear the table.

"You don't have to do that,ma'm"A maid said walking in.

Amanda sighed and walked towards the door.

"Sir Xavier told me to help you select....."

"You don't have to select anything for me"Amanda cut in, softly."I can do that myself"

The woman nodded and busied herself with clearing the table.Amanda went upstairs.

She stared at the clothes on the closet and started picking out some clothes were okay to her but when she remembered Xavier's threat that he would dress her himself.She shivered and started pulling out clothes that he might like.

Wondering uncomfortably if Xavier had been involved with picking out the wardrobe,she changed into a pair of cargo pants and a classic white shirt.

When she came downstairs with her bag,a man took it out to where a luxury Range Rover waited.Amanda wandered out and breathed deep, and then spotted something that had piqued her interest before.The vintage cars parked up in one corner of the huge forecourt.

She walked over, her pulse quickening at seeing one in particular.She walked around it and touched it reverently.

"It's a 1951 Bugatti"

Amanda jumped minutely.How did Xavier do that?Creep up on her when he was such a big man?She looked at him warily and took in properly that he was dressed in jeans and a casual shirt.Her pulse sped up, and it had nothing to do with the car this time.She looked away, willing down the heat that threatened upwards.

"I know.There are only eight in the world, and each one was worth the equivalent of the national debt of a small country"

He quirked a brow."I'm impressed.You like vintage cars"

Amanda nodded, focusing on the sleek and gorgeous lines of the car."I got it from my father.He was fanatical about them.He showed me pictures in magazines"She smiled,wryly."I used to promise him that when I grew up I'd make enough money to buy him one. I was only about ten"

"You could now... but it's too late"

Amanda smiled sadly.She looked at Xavier and her breath caught at the look in his eyes.

"Your father sounds like he was an interesting man"

Amanda's fought his seductive pull valiantly.She had no doubt he was just turning on the charm,and was no more interested in her father than in the inner workings of her mind.Thinking about her father was making her feel far too emotional.

"He was"She cut off any further line of enquiry, and could see Xavier's jaw clenched in response.Ridiculously,she felt guilty.

He stepped back and gestured to the Range Rover with his arm.

"We'd better get going.It's a four-hour drive and I want to get there before it gets dark"

Still feeling wrong-footed as Xavier expertly negotiated the heavy Rome traffic.Amanda was taken aback when he said casually.

"I heard you have a twin, but you didn't introduce anyone as your sister yesterday"

She shot him a look, but he was facing forwards."She wasn't at the wedding, she's in Canada"

"You seem uneasy talking about her, aren't you two in good terms?"

"We aren't, but we don't hate each other either"

"Who's older?"

"Alisha"

Xavier glanced at her and she hurriedly added."I mean,I... Alisha is older"With that,she shut her eyes pretending to go to sleep.

She didn't know when she really slept off but was woken up to a gentle shake and her fake name being called with a seductively husky voice."Alisha, wake up.We're here"

Amanda sat up to see Xavier move back.She felt exposed at having slept so easily beside him and in her sleep,she could see that she'd gravitated towards him.She moved a hand through her hair ruffling the brown silky strands, feeling disorientated."Did I sleep the whole way?"

Xavier nodded."Pretty much.Once we hit the outskirts of Rome,you were gone"

"I'm sorry"she said stiffly, coming more awake."You must be tired too"

Xavier quirked an incredulous brow."Concerned, Alisha?"

Thankfully, Amanda saw some people approach the car, Xavier turned and got out before he could make sense of what She couldn't make sense of herself.A smiling man opened her door and she got out, forcing a smile out of her.

It was only then that she noticed where they were and the stunning surroundings, and the fact that she was breathing in clean,pure air.Xavier was instructing the staff to carry their bags in,but Amanda was frozen,a wave of deja vu washing over her.

He came to stand beside her,where she was looking at the mountain in the distance.

"Have you been here before?"

"I think my father brought my sister and I to this place when I was little, but I can hardly remember anything about this place"

"I really don't know exactly when my father bought this resort but then suddenly, when I was sixteen,he told me that I could date but I shouldn't take any woman seriously because he had chosen a wife for me"

"You really didn't take any woman seriously?"She asked, curiously.

"I'd rather not talk about it"He snapped, harshly.

She nodded curtly as they strode towards the main door of the resort.

She gasped as she took in the sheer understated elegance and beauty of the resort.Cream walls and a terracotta-tiled roof made it look warm and inviting.The one-level storey was very traditionally colonial and the columns gave it an air of grandeur.

"It's so beautiful"Amanda's voice was husky.

The land around the house was verdant and lush.Amanda could see what looked like a lake surrounded by trees towards the back of the resort,she felt a wave of sadness then,at knowing that they'd lost this for so many years.No wonder her father wanted to make sure this returned to them eventually.She could see how losing this must have pushed him even closer to despair and she wished he had been alive to enjoy this property.She knew her mother would never let her be a part of running this resort but she sincerely prayed that Isobel would managed this resort properly.

"Weren't you reluctant to give this back?"She asked, curiously.

"I must admit,this resort is one of a kind and I really grew fond of coming here while growing up but then my father told me about you and your family,I invested my money into building two similar resorts in Spain,so you see, giving this back to your family is really nothing but a generous deed"He said, proudly.

She just stared at him blankly.Xavier didn't expect her to say anything so he started to stride inside with loose-limbed grace.Amanda forced herself to move and followed him when he said.

"Come on, I'll show you around"

Her head was reeling about an hour later when Xavier led her back into the impressive reception area, twenty-five bedrooms,four private suites,a dining room fit for royalty..... and kitchens that would put a five-star hotel to shame.One formal living room area and a more informal one, complete with TV,sound system and shelves heaving with books.

Unaware of Amanda's inner meltdown, Xavier was striding out through the main door again, beckoning her to follow him.She followed him back to the car speechlessly and got in when he held the door open.They drove down a rough path hidden in the undergrowth by the side of the house and came out into a large clearing, where a helicopter stood waiting.

Amanda was seriously afraid,she wouldn't be able to process much more, but already Xavier was at her door and helping her out.The helicopter was starting up.

"I thought this might be the best way to give you an idea of the estate.We have some time before it gets dark"

Within what felt like seconds,they were in the helicopter and lifting into the air.It was Amanda's first time and her hands gripped the armrests.She was connected to Xavier via headphones and speakers,as they flew over the forty-thousand-hectare estate,he pointed out the polo grounds and the stables,the livestock area and where the land had been turned over to agricultural use.It went on and on,no end in sight.

Amanda was feeling more and more nauseous.Not helped when Xavier looked at her sharply and said."Are you okay?"

All Amanda could do was shake her head numbly.Xavier gave a signal to the pilot and the helicopter started to turn around and head back.As soon as they landed, Amanda clambered out of the small craft and staggered slightly.

Xavier caught up to her and took her arm."What's wrong?"

She sucked in big breaths feeling clammy and sweaty all at the same time."I... I think I've seen enough for today"

He nodded."I'm sorry for giving you such a whirlwind tour on your first day here,I can see how overwhelming it is.You can go up to your room, I'll tell the staff to bring dinner up to you"

"Thank you"She replied, sincerely.

He let go of her arm,then suddenly,he bent and carried her into his arms.

Her insides exploded.

"I can walk"She choked out.

"Is there any reason for me not to carry my tired wife?"He asked, dryly and started walking.

She bit her bottom lip trying to calm down,if only her body didn't respond to his touch in a quite confusing way then this would be easy.She didn't want to have these strange desires for someone she couldn't have so Alisha has to return immediately.

"Tomorrow, we'll go horse riding"He announced.

"I don't know how to ride a horse"She replied trying to seem as calm as possible.

"I'll teach you"

Great! Now she was going to get horse riding lessons from Xavier.Could this marriage get any worse?

Amanda stared at Xavier as he expertly rode a horse around the corral.She never knew someone could feel both scared and excited at the same time.She was scared of riding the same horse with Xavier and excited because she had always wanted to go horse riding,she had heard that it was fun.He had introduced her to the head trainer Chad Midriani,a few minutes back and she had silently prayed that Xavier would let Chad teach her instead but her prayers weren't answered.

Now, dressed in a floral skirt and a cotton top,she stared at Xavier as he walked the horse to the railing.

"See, it's not so bad, I promise you won't fall off"He assured and before she could speak,he reached over and wrapped his arms around her waist, plucking her from the railing and onto the horse.

She gasped."Xavier,I....."

"Just relax"He said as he held her slender body in front of his."Now, swing your leg over the saddle... that's it"He coaxed."Just sit down in front of me"

He gave her the saddle and he slipped onto the rump of the horse.

"This is scary!"She exclaimed.

He wrapped his arms around her rib cage, just under her breasts and her body stirred instantly.God!She was going crazy.

"I want to get down"She said, tensely.

"Alisha,you have to know that I won't let anything happen to you"He whispered against her ear inhaling the clean scent of her hair, feeling her softness against him.

'This has to be flirting 101'She thought.

He patted the horse neck.

"Hey,Rex here is a sweet guy, aren't you, buddy?"

The animal raised his head up and whinnied loudly.Despite herself,she laughed and finally relaxed her back against him.

He took the reins and moved closer to her, cuddling her against his chest.Oh!He was enjoying this.

"This is fun"

"It's more fun if you take the reins"He demonstrated how to hold the leather straps."Now, you're in control"

"What do I do?"

"Rex responds to both touch and voice commands,if you move the reins right or left,he'll go in that direction.Make a clicking sound with your tongue and he walks.Kick your heels into his side and he'll take off.Tug on the reins and he'll stop"

"Cowboy"She said, trying to hide a smile.

He snickered."Your cowboy"

Amanda swallowed, and mentally warned herself not to get too comfortable around him.

He watched her go through the routine.She seemed pretty pleased with herself once she had circled the corral on her own.

"Pretty good for a greenhorn"He commented.

She sucked in a breath."I'd say it's very good for my first time on a horse"She said and looked over her shoulder.

Their eyes met and sealed for a long moment.

She was so close that all he had to do was move his head forward and kiss that tempting mouth of hers.But he didn't.He was trying to figure out what was so intriguing about her, especially her eyes.Dio!He didn't like this one bit.

"Stop looking at me like that"Xavier warned,coldly.