Holiday with the Millionaire Page 14

  This time he spoke a little more quietly. ‘If I introduced anyone to my family they’d have to be wearing a suit of armour.’

  She reached over and squeezed his hand. She had such a great relationship with her mum and dad that she couldn’t really imagine how it was for him. They’d been having such a wonderful time she didn’t want to darken his mood, so she pulled her hand back and lifted her eyebrows. ‘My mum’s getting desperate for grandkids. I think the next guy I bring back home she’ll lasso for me and drag him down to the church!’

  Reuben threw back his head and laughed. ‘I’d better watch out, then.’

  She nodded. ‘You’d better. What’s your maximum number of dates, then?’

  ‘Honestly? I think it was six.’ He shrugged his shoulders. ‘And I spent two weeks with you in London, then our time on board, of course.’ There was a little sparkle in his dark eyes again. ‘You’ve already beaten the record.’ The more he spoke the thicker his accent got. It was doing crazy things to her pulse.

  ‘Even though we’ve barely kissed?’

  He gave a tiny nod of his head. ‘You think I didn’t want to?’

  Her gaze meshed with his. ‘Oh, I could feel you wanted to.’

  He leaned back in his chair and threw up his hands again. ‘That’s just it. You know I want to. But I like you. I don’t want to hurt you. I have no idea where this could go.’

  She stirred her drink again. ‘And you don’t want to find out?’

  He folded his arms across his chest. ‘You know I do. But you see the kind of job I have, Lara. I’m hardly in the country for any time at all. I spend most of my life in mid-air. How can something work when one of us is never here?’ He picked up his beer again and leaned his elbows on the table. ‘Anyway, you might have forgotten but you’ve got a bit of a reputation.’

  She jerked back. ‘I have?’

  He was teasing again. She could tell. Every time he did it, a little glint appeared in his eyes again.

  He looked up through heavy lids. This man could be so sexy. ‘You have. You’ve got a bit of a reputation for picking losers. I’m worried I’ll get labelled.’

  She picked up her drink mat and flung it at him. ‘I can think of a whole host of other words.’

  He laughed. ‘Seriously, though, what are you going to do when we get back home?’

  She shrugged. ‘What else would I do? I’m going to look after Tristan. Caleb and Addison will be back by then and I love my job, he’s a great kid.’

  A few lines appeared on his forehead. ‘Did you always want to be a nanny?’

  She shook her head. ‘No, I told you. I kind of fell into it.’ She counted off on her fingers. ‘So far, I’ve been a nanny, a strawberry picker, worked in a bar, waitressed, spent three dismal months in a call centre, lost someone’s messages as a PA and...’ she paused and raised her eyebrows ‘...I even spent two months volunteering at a zoo.’

  ‘What?’

  She giggled. ‘Believe me, the penguins stink!’

  He looked serious again. ‘So, what was your dream job when you were a kid?’

  She sat back for a moment. ‘Wow. I think the last person to ask me that my gran.’

  ‘And what did you say?’

  A wave of disappointment swept over her. It was odd. It had been a long time since she’d felt like this—as if she hadn’t really fulfilled her potential. But the worst part about it was the way she couldn’t stop hostile thoughts towards Reuben because he’d asked the question.

  She took a few seconds before she finally answered. ‘I used to have lots of romantic ideas about working at NASA—even though I couldn’t pass physics. Or owning a florist shop or being a TV presenter.’

  He gave a little nod. ‘Interesting choices.’

  ‘It gets better. I even wanted to be the female version of Indiana Jones and study archaeology.’

  He held out his hands. ‘Every day’s just a surprise with you, isn’t it?’

  She gave a rueful smile. ‘What I really wanted to do was study English at university. I wanted to study English then maybe go on to be a journalist. I got the grades, got the place and then... Gran died. It was as if all my energy and focus disappeared. I couldn’t get my head in the right place to study. I decided to take some time off and the rest—as they say—is history.’

  ‘And you’d never consider going back?’

  She shook her head. ‘I’m twenty-six, Reuben. I’d be the oldest student in the class. They’d call me Grandma.’

  He finished his beer and stood up, holding out his hand towards her. ‘Then they’d have me to deal with. Come on, let’s go and get changed for dinner. We need to plan for Pisa tomorrow.’

  She took the last sip of her cocktail and slipped her hand into his. It felt as if it belonged there.

  She’d dreamed about coming on this cruise for so long—but her dream had never quite looked like this. Reuben was having a whole host of effects on her she hadn’t banked on. And it was clear that the chemistry was still simmering beneath the surface.

  Now he had her brain spinning in a whole host of other ways. She wasn’t just distracted by the handsome man in front of her—she was also distracted about the things she’d pushed to the back of her brain. Was applying to university again really an option for her? She hadn’t even considered it until now. And was this really a time to start thinking about another relationship? She’d just got out of one and was getting her life back on track, having the space and control to make decisions for herself. Did she want anything more? The sun warmed her shoulders as they crossed the deck towards the bar again.

  Reuben Tyler was full of surprises. What would come next?

  CHAPTER TEN

  THE PHONE BUZZED in his pocket again. His footballer client was getting beyond obnoxious. Lara had no idea that he’d actually had three different conversations with the guy since he’d got here—every time telling him to smarten up his act. None of those words seemed to be having an effect.

  It was just as well he was in the middle of the Med right now because if he was in the same room as his client he might actually bounce Mr Arrogant into next week.

  Any day now the club would cancel his contract because of his antics and Reuben was secretly counting down the days.

  Lara was chatting to the two elderly, mischievous women—Doris and Daisy—again. They seemed to be spending most of their time teasing her. All three were currently trying on a whole array of wide-brimmed hats from a street vendor. The Italian sun was positively scorching today.

  He walked over swiftly and thrust some bills at the street vendor, paying for all three hats. ‘It’s on me, ladies,’ he said swiftly. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so ridiculous in my life.’

  All three faces turned towards him, laughing. The hats were ridiculous. Lara’s was pink with a huge yellow flower, Doris and Daisy’s bright green and bright blue respectively, both adorned with bright orange flowers.

  Doris wagged her finger at him. ‘Thank you kindly. But don’t come moaning to me when you’ve got sunstroke or blisters on the back of your neck.’

  They wandered off as Lara put her bag over her shoulder. She was wearing the pale pink dress they’d bought in London and looked as pretty as a picture. The bright pink hat actually suited her. It was quirky. Just like Lara.

  His heart stopped. That was it. That tiny little thought had just caused a ricochet around his body.

  This was it. This must be exactly how Caleb felt about Addison.

  And it had taken until today, watching her laughing in the sunlight, for him to realise exactly how he felt.

  He didn’t want to wake up next week without Lara in his life. He didn’t want to have to skulk around to Caleb’s house in order to see her again.

  Was this what it was like to
be in love?

  He couldn’t help himself. He wrinkled up his nose and shifted on his feet. It wasn’t as if he had an example to follow. His mother and father had spent most of their married life fighting. He’d never seen a single moment between them to make him think they’d ever been in love. And although he’d missed Ireland when he’d been sent to Eton as a teenager, it had actually been a relief to get away from the atmosphere in the house. And once he’d left he’d had no intention of returning on a permanent basis.

  So love was a bit of stranger to Reuben. Sure, he’d watched as many corny movies as the next guy—but even they made him feel uncomfortable. He’d loved his grandmother and his grandfather but that kind of deep love and affection was different from the way his heart was beating a rapid tune against his chest now.

  That kind of love didn’t cause pins and needles down his arms and legs and make him bite his lips to stop them tingling. He took the tiniest step backwards.

  He wasn’t entirely sure he liked this. He didn’t doubt for a second the kind of person Lara was. She was good. She brought out a whole side of him he hadn’t even known was there.

  But certain things twisted away at his gut. Things he wouldn’t say out loud for fear of offending her. Lara already had some ridiculous idea in her head that she wasn’t good enough. The last thing he wanted to do was perpetuate that myth.

  But deep down it bothered him that the woman he loved worked for his best friend. It shouldn’t matter. He shouldn’t care. She’d already told him she was doing a job that she loved.

  Was it wrong that he thought she had so much more potential? Was it wrong that he really wanted her to fulfil her dreams?

  She was proud. She was independent. He already knew these things. She wanted to pay her own way in life and save hard for the things that she wanted.

  He squirmed as he thought about how he hadn’t had to consider money in a long time. He was no billionaire. But he was definitely in the category directly below that—in his line of work most agents were. And living in London certainly didn’t come cheaply. He hadn’t even admitted to her that he actually had more than one property.

  The places in the US had become essential since he spent so much time over there—one on the west coast and an apartment on the east coast. Having his own space was so much better than constantly living in hotels. In the next few weeks he would close on a property in Ireland too. He hadn’t even viewed it personally—just online. But he knew the area well and it felt good to buy something in Ireland that wouldn’t have any ties to his parents and their complicated relationship.

  ‘Reuben, what are you doing?’ Lara shouted from the end of the row of street vendors lining the outside of the Piazza del Miracoli, which held the Baptistery, the Leaning Tower and the cathedral. ‘Come on!’

  He smiled and hurried after her, reaching the entranceway to the square. The brilliant sunshine was glinting off the white marble of the three buildings. It was dazzling. A real suck-in-your-breath moment. Lara had stopped dead in front of him and he stepped closer putting a hand on each of her hips.

  ‘That was a bit unexpected,’ he murmured in her ear. He was talking about the view. Of course he was talking about the view.

  He could see the smile painted across her face. It reached from ear to ear. She’d lifted her hands and placed them on her chest. ‘Wow,’ she breathed. ‘Just, wow.’

  She leaned back a little against him. It was odd how he was beginning to appreciate the little things. Before he hadn’t really gone for any touchy-feely stuff with women. He’d never really had that kind of connection before. But with Lara things felt entirely natural and had done from the beginning. He was relishing it. Liking how much he actually enjoyed it.

  ‘What do you want to do first?’

  She eyed the line of cafés across from the three monuments. ‘Did the tour guide give you tickets for the tower?’

  He nodded and pulled them from his pocket. They had a time stamped on them. Her stomach gave a little growl. ‘How about we stop for something to drink first and then work our way around the monuments?’ She slid her hand into his as he nodded and headed towards the first café with empty tables out front.

  Lara ducked her head in the shop door. ‘Nope, not this one.’

  He frowned and followed her to the next one. ‘What was wrong with that one?’

  She stuck her head inside the next one, eyed the glass cabinet full of cakes and shook her head again. ‘Not this one either.’

  He looked at the huge array of cakes and pastries and held out his other hand. ‘What? Not enough cakes for you?’

  She led him to the next doorway, peeked inside and turned around with a wide smile on her face. ‘Now, this one will be perfect.’

  He glanced inside. It seemed exactly the same as the others. ‘What is it?’ he whispered. ‘What did I miss?’

  She pointed with her finger. ‘That.’

  He followed her finger to the hugely stacked sponge cake layered with strawberries and cream. ‘What is it?’

  ‘Strawberry cassata cake—ricotta, whipped cream, Chambord, sponge and strawberries. That’s what I’ve been searching for. What more could a girl possibly need?’

  He laughed. ‘I could be quite insulted by that.’ He glanced back at the cake. ‘Instead, I think I’ll just order two.’

  They sat at a table just across from the monuments and ordered the cake and two cappuccinos. One taste was enough. She was right. It was delicious.

  ‘How on earth did you find out about this?’ He was trying hard not to stare as she licked her fork.

  ‘They had it at a café in London. Addison told me when I got to Italy I had to try the real thing.’ She leaned back in her chair and looked first at the view and then at Reuben. She sighed. ‘I think I’m in heaven.’

  There was something about the way she said it that made his heart swell. It was absurd. It didn’t matter that she’d been looking at him while she’d said it. He knew that she was talking about the whole experience. Was it wrong that he hoped she considered him part of it?

  Four hours later, Lara was slumped against him as they walked slowly back to the bus. Today was officially the hottest day Italy had experienced in years. And every part of their bodies felt it. ‘I can’t believe my phone is full,’ she grumped, her hat crushed beneath her fingers. She’d given up wearing it on her head, claiming it made her sweaty, and had started using it as an impromptu fan instead. Both of them agreed it was entirely useless.

  Reuben pulled his T-shirt away from his back for about the tenth time that afternoon. They’d walked around the cathedral, the Baptistery and climbed the two hundred and ninety-seven steps to the top floor of the Leaning Tower. Lara had almost wept when they’d reached the top as, although the cathedral and Baptistery had been cooler, outside on the tower the heat was scorching. Their tour guide’s joke about frying an egg on the pavement had been met with hard, exhausted stares.

  ‘When we get back I’m going for a sleep,’ Lara said, her head still resting on his shoulder.

  ‘Me too,’ he agreed. He could hardly believe he was used to working sixteen-hour days and yet a tour of Pisa had just about finished him. It didn’t matter that there was something oddly comforting about having Lara slumped against him. She just seemed to fit so well.

  He closed his eyes and it seemed like only a few seconds later that the tour guide was brushing against his arm. ‘Wakey-wakey, everyone, we’re back at the ship.’

  Reuben stretched his back and stood up, holding out his hand towards Lara. Maybe it was time to have a conversation about what happened when they got back? They’d danced around the subject a few times. But after today’s recognition about how he felt, maybe it was time to find out if his feelings were reciprocated. His stomach did a few flip-flops. The scary thing for him? Right now, he felt about as far away f
rom his bad-boy reputation as humanly possible. There was a gorgeous woman only a few inches away who could potentially mash up his heart like modelling clay. Was he really brave enough to find out if she would?

  He touched her shoulder and gave her a shake. ‘Come on, Sleeping Beauty. We need to decide if we want to go to the theatre after dinner or just go for a few drinks.’

  Her eyelids flickered open, revealing her blue eyes—a perfect match to the Mediterranean. He leaned forward a little. ‘Maybe you should wear that blue dress tonight? It looked gorgeous and you haven’t had a chance to show it off.’

  Something caught his attention from the corner of his eye. The two elderly ladies from the cruise ship—Doris and Daisy. Doris’s voice was getting louder and her actions more frantic as she tried to wake her counterpart. ‘Daisy? Daisy? What’s wrong? It’s time to wake up. We’re back at the ship now. Come on.’

  Reuben didn’t hesitate. He took a few steps closer. He was no doctor—he’d had no medical training at all—but that didn’t mean he couldn’t help. Daisy’s colour was terrible, she was ashen and slumped to one side.

  He touched Doris’s arm. ‘Why don’t you go forward and speak to the coach driver?’ He could see the pink of Lara’s dress at his side. ‘Lara will go with you and get some help. Let me sit next to Daisy for a few minutes.’

  He glanced towards Lara, giving her all the information she could possibly need. Her lips pressed together as he almost lifted Doris from the seat and steered her forward. Lara took his place easily as he slipped into the seat next to Daisy.

  He took a deep breath. He’d watched enough movies to know what he should do. They were right next to the cruise ship. Someone from the medical team would be here in moments. He put his fingers gently at Doris’s wrist to feel for a pulse and watched her chest for any rise and fall. He felt a minor second of panic until he adjusted the position of his fingers and felt a rapid fluttering pulse. There was no way he could count that.

  Doris’s chest was rising and falling very slowly. Her pulse was fast and her breaths slow—what on earth did that mean? Reuben didn’t have a clue. Her lips were tinged blue so he repositioned her slumped head, hoping her airway would be a little clearer and started to talk to her softly. ‘Hi, Doris. It’s Reuben here. I don’t think you’re feeling too good but don’t worry. Daisy has gone to get some help.’ He slid his hand into hers. ‘It’s been a really warm day. Maybe the heat just got a little too much for you? Whatever it is, don’t panic. Help will be here soon. If you can hear me at all, give my hand a little squeeze.’