The next day after breakfast Paige had thought all she had to do was pretend to be the perfect girlfriend when they were in the public eye and the rest would be history.
Especially after the events of last night where she had told Leo about the events of her life and that little matter about her ex-boyfriend Paige had been embarrassed and had longed for a quiet time away from him, but she had been surprised when after breakfast a Golf course was suddenly announced, one which would throw her in the same space with Leo and there was no way she could escape it even if she wanted to.
At first, her excuse had been she didn't bring any appropriate outfit for the game, but like a fairy godmother, Leo's mother had appeared with something she could wear. And all her arguments dissolved like a pack of ice. So here she was in their bedroom dressed up in golf attire waiting for Cole. The same man she had been hoping to avoid by any means today.
She convinced herself the
“Mother?” Leo breathed in the air of one who didn't know he was being watched. Because Paige couldn't understand Italian, the family has made it a point to speak English whenever she was within the vicinity, but there were still a few times when they resolved to Italian like now as mother and son greeted themselves in Italian. Flavia turned to them and looked from Leo to her. Leo was still holding her against his body which caused a rivulet of fire to spread throughout her body and she enjoyed it so much she was a step away from turning putty in his arms. Paige tried to think of a time when Leo had held her like this, but came up with nothing. He had never held her like this and she knew he was doing it today because of the charade because he wanted his mother to see them as the couple they were pretending to be, however, it was making her feel something in her belly. She risked a glance at him, but his gaze was fixed on his moth
Warm brown eyes turned to her earnestly. “What have you thought of me as?” Leo waited for her to say something anything but Paige never said a word instead she turned her face to the other side biting her lips. “I can't really say.” After hearing that Leo's face turned dark, but he didn't pressurize her. He only hoped she wasn't one of those who only saw what was on the outside. He had thought she was different. Maybe he was wrong. Bittered, he pulled the cart to a stop by the side of the road and got down and waited for her to do the same. Once she got down. Leo instinctively grabbed her hand into his own. Only after he had done did he realize what he had done. He stared down at her, hoping she did not notice. However, Paige was staring straight ahead, looking stiff. Leo didn't have to look
Leo looked at his uncle with his short-cropped hair and a face full of stubble and his father with his round rim glasses and protruding stomach and felt a cold sweat break out in his back. For the last ten minutes, he had been trying to pitch a business idea to his father, but his uncle kept sabotaging him. Was this what Alberto meant by my father and Rosa were working together. At first, he had not believed it but seeing how Uncle Stefano kept finding loopholes in his plan. He had no choice but to lay rest to its possibilities. He needed to do something, Leo thought at this rate, he will never be able to convince his father about introducing a wine brand with a mash-up of their local grapes and foreign ones with his uncle by his side and sabotaging him.
The sun was high in the sky and the gentle breeze which a while ago caressed Paige's skin blew hot air on her body as she tried to stop the wild staccato in her heart. Besides her, Rosa smiled.Earlier today after Leo had kissed her by the side of the mouth in the hallway Paige had tried her best to forget it and to not make him know how affected she was by that kiss. But as soon as they drove into the golf course, and Leo wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to his side for the sake of the charade. The fire in her heart had ignited and threatened to consume her, and she feared for her sanity and what she would do in that instant because she was having weird dangerous thoughts. It was as if her dam of reasoning was breaking, and she wanted to hold him tight, rise on her tiptoe and give him an intense kiss.So she had held her body stiff. Trying to pretend his hand was not on her waist and her
To an extent, her reasoning made sense and Paige almost considered it. What was she doing hankering after a man who would never have noticed her had he not needed her as a fake fiancée. 'He was not capable of loving?' Well, she wasn't sure about that one. She had heard of his past relationships but has never seen Leo in any relationship before. At that moment Paige was wavering with uncertainty and would have believed Rosa had she not seen that secret smile people gave to themselves when they were proud of something they have done. And she remembered how Leo had complained bitterly about Rosa and told her if possible never to make herself appear alone with Rosa. At the time she had thought he was exaggerating, but now she knew he was right. Rosa was a pain in the ass. In just a few minutes she had practically turned her heart inside out with her ugly words.
Just when she thought she was done with a big bad wolf a tiger comes strolling in can this day get any worse. The first thing that came to Paige's mind was to deny. So she looked up at him and twisted her face. “Er... I don't know what you are talking about.” It wouldn't look good to offend the man she still didn't know where his position was in the family tree. Two pairs of amused brown eyes stared back at her, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly which caused Paige's heartbeat to escalate as the suspense was killing her. He waved his big hand in the air “There is no need to pretend I already know the relationship is fake.” He knew? That can't be possible. “In fact, I was the one to give Leonardo that idea.” Fine lines appeared on his forehead and disbelief set in his voice when he saw he was not getting anywhere
In three long strides, Leo covered their distance and grabbed her hand. “Stay away from Alberto if you know what's good for you, he is something of a playboy, and trust me you don't want to get yourself tangled with him.” “And you are not?” The words spoken so softly caused Leo to stop in his tracks and turn a look at Paige. Paige cowered back in fear. Remembering that though she was here as his fake fiancée the man in front of her was still her boss and she shouldn't have spoken to him like that, so she hurried and said, “I'm sorry if I was too direct I didn't think you would mind.” “No need to apologize,” Leo murmured and put his hand under her chin raising her face. “It is as I already told you, whatever you do here as my fake fiancée will not affect your work.” Such promises Leo wondered if
Sprawled out on the chaise, Leo was still holding her and was yet to move. Then slowly he pulled Paige to her feet, only to drag her to his body once he had assumed an upright position. Everything happened so fast it was as if Paige's brain had been invaded by a virus throwing the coding into a wild disarray. When she finally came back to her senses, Paige was face to face with the fine contours of his chest, her hands on his sleeves. She pulled at his sleeves and when he looked down at her with those dark eyes she breathed out in a slightly breathless voice, “What do you think you are doing?” Her apprehension was obvious. “You don’t know?” That question was accompanied by a lift of his brow. “Paige, you said a man cannot woo a woman for three whole days and I said it all depends on the woman,” he paused and narrowed his eyes. “Allow me to demonstrate.” He had been holdi
The cool air was gentle and caressed Leo's skin as he stood on the porch watching the beach from their house. He could still hear the merry and laughter coming from inside the house where Paige had taken it upon herself to turn into the family jester. Most of the jokes were told at his expense, Leo hadn't minded as long as it made Paige happy. He had sat through it quietly and would have continued to do so had his mother not recounted one embarrassing moment in his early childhood, Leo wished to God no one will hear about. Embarrassed, he had to come outside to save face. That was where he was, casually sipping his champagne, his cheeks slightly flushed when he felt a presence. Quickly, Leo turned his head only to come face to face with hissiste
There was a strange glint in his eyes. "I'm expected in Italy soon." It took Paige a moment to realize what that meant. "You are leaving?" Paige murmured, unaware of the sadness that had crept into her voice. It must have called to him because his face scrunched up. And his adam's apple bobbed up and down. "Don't say it like am casting you away after one night of sex." "Then how is it?" "You know that's not what it is." Paige squeezed their linked hands, covering it with one of her own and stealing Leo's attention with the trembling of her lips. "We just entered into a relationship and you are already leaving?" What will happen to our relationship when you are gone. You will be in Italy, busy with work while I will be here, what will happen to us. And don't tell me we could go into a long-distance relationship. We've hardly
He pulled away from her then, breathing heavily. His hair was a mess, and his eyes were filled with love, unspent. “Not fair,” he growled. “You are still clothed while I'm naked. It gives you more advantage—"“Then take it off," Paige commanded.His eyes darkened, and he reached out with the intention to pry her off one of two clothes, and with a twist of her body, Paige escaped his arms and ran towards the king-sized bed, laughing when she saw the surprise in his eyes.She felt powerful, naughty, and so in love. Well aware she was teasing him, and that even though it might seem like he was annoyed, he wasn't bothered by it.It felt so good being this way with him. Being able to play with him like this. It made Paige smile. Then she saw the bulge in his pants and her
“Do you know how difficult it was for me to remain there acting likeIwasn’t affected by the things you said to me? LikeIwasn’t falling more and more in love with you. The gentle way you talked to me, your understanding.” He swallowed nervously. “Don’t you understand it, Leo? You confused me like no one has ever done before. You did kiss me at times whenIwas sure none of your family members waswatchingand then say nothing later. No explanation. And of course,Icouldn’t tell you that it was bothering me, thatIwas in love with you lest it turns out you reciprocated no such feelings for me too and was only pretending to, as the charade required.When that happens,Ifeared you might feel uncomfortable with me, and eventuallymightwant to lay me off after the charade was done andI&
Few minutes later, Paige was inside the ostentatious house. After navigating for a while, and pulling open several empty rooms, she finally found Leonardo upstairs in one of the rooms.Contrary to what Wesley believed, Leo was standing by the window. Which gave a natural view of the outside. One hand in his pocket. He had discarded his jacket and was left only in a white shirt and his pants. He was backing her so Paige couldn't see his face, but he must have sensed her presence because he said without turning, “I thought i told you to gohome, Paige.”Paige stepped inside quietly, closing the door. Waiting for him to face her, but he never did. "I don't want to. I don’t want to go home.”He turned then, his eyes resting on her arms, the tear in the hem of her gown. Her knee, and then finally her belly, and his
Leo studied her intently. She was serious. He frowned. "Very well. Do what you want. Stay in the car if you want. That won’t guarantee i will give you a listening ear."After saying that, Leo signaled his driver to head straight to his house.She relaxed then and Leo realized she had been holding her breath. Which Leo did not understand.Another thing he didn't understand was why was she here? Why was she hellbent on explaining herself? What reason did she think she would give that will change his mind? He wanted to believe there was a good reason for this, but he couldn't think of anything."I'm sorry." Leo hadn't realized he had been staring at her until she said that.He turned his face towards the window. Not wanting her to see how that wo
Downstairs, in the half-deserted hotel hallway, Leonardo ran an agitated hand over his hair, puffing out air from his mouth. He felt like smashing his fist into something. Worst, he didn’t feel like that would relieve the pain in his chest. It felt like a large hand was closing in around his heart. And squeezing it tight. How could Paige do this to him? And to think that he asked her before if she was pregnant and she lied through her teeth. She looked him straight in the eyes and lied. Made Leo want to curse out in frustration. What has he done to deserve this? Was he thatdespicable? Shewould rather tell Finn she was pregnant than tellinghim?The father of the child.
Finn stood up from theground,looking so lost. “Does he know? Your boss?" He gestured with his hand. "Does he know you are pregnant?"His green eyes rested on her stomach, and then back to her face. Paige shook her head. “He doesn’t know.” "He doesn’t know?" Finn repeated, his face serious. Paige could feel the wheels turning in his head. He seemed to be thinking hard. Then he ran a hand over his face and planted it on his waist as if coming to a sudden conclusion. "Don't tell him." “What?” “I said don’t tell him.” "You can't be serious!" Paige cried. “Hear me out before you say anything," Finn said, stepping closer to her. Paige knew she hadn’t told Leonardo anything about her pregnancy, she knew she was delaying, but she was going to tell him, eventually. However, what Finn was suggesting was the opposite. He was insinuating she shouldn’t tell Leo at all. He grabbed her hand, and Paige trie
Finn, who was talking with his friends, tried to call her, but she ignored him and dashed out of the door. "Paige!" Finn called and hurried after her. Immediately she stepped out of the reception which was held in the halls of a fancy hotel. Paige hurried to the nearest hallway. On getting there, she rested her back on the wall, and closed her eyes, clenching her purse tight. Paige was trying to gather herself before Finn reached her. However, she was not successful. Because in the next second Finn's hands were on her shoulders and he was turning her around. "Hey, what's wrong? Look at me," Finn said when Paige wouldn't look at him. Tipping her chin, he looked into her eyes. "Are you crying? Don't cry." Finn cooed. There was something about trying to hold back tears and then someone offering sympathy that suddenly made the tears come faster. That was the case with Paige because immediately Finn cooed that word 'Don't cry.' Not minding sh