He added his support to Luc’s suggestion. ‘I agree with Luc. What’s the rush?’
The look Karina gave him called for more hemlock.
She clearly didn’t want him to stay, which made him wonder why she was feeling quite so defensive and angry. Could she have held a grudge for so long? Apparently, she could—but there was one interesting fact: she might be looking at him as if he were the devil, but not a devil she wanted to run from, rather a devil she wanted to stay and fight. That was a great improvement. It fired her up—turned her from an expressionless automaton into the Karina he had known.
‘You’re the client. Whatever suits you,’ she said, smiling a plastic smile.
* * *
Hard eyes. Hard mouth. Hard man. How could she ever have imagined she could work with Dante? He couldn’t know, of course, that what they’d done had set in motion a train of events that would have such far-reaching repercussions. She had to remind herself that the past had no part to play in these business discussions. She was proud of the career she’d built up. She’d worked hard for it, and would allow nothing and no one to take it from her—not even Dante Baracca. She’d give him no cause for complaint. If there was one thing she’d learned while working for her brother, it was that a woman had to be twice as strong as any man in the workplace, and that emotion had no part to play.
‘Your sister seems preoccupied,’ Dante remarked to Luc, as if she’d left the room. ‘Do you think she will find it impossible to work with me?’
‘I think she can handle you,’ Luc said dryly.
She swung around to confront them both. ‘I’m still in the room. If you expect me to run this project for you, please don’t discuss me as if I’m a blotter on my brother’s desk.’
Dante’s wry glance look suggested she had fallen into his trap. He had meant to provoke her to draw her back into the conversation.
‘Please excuse my sister,’ Luc joked. ‘You remember what she’s like, don’t you, Dante? But there’s one thing I can assure you, she’s very good at her job.’
‘I’m sure she is,’ Dante agreed, with a look that made her cheeks burn.
‘Well... If you will both excuse me?’
Karina stiffened as Luc started collecting up his things.
‘I’ve got another appointment I simple can’t miss.’
You can’t leave me!
Ignoring the look she gave him, her brother did just that.
Clever Luc. He’d left her with no alternative but to stay and entertain their guest.
Dante broke the silence first. ‘Well, Miss Prim.’ His voice was low and amused. ‘Why are you so reluctant to work with me?’
She drew herself up. ‘I don’t know what makes you say that. I’m looking forward to this project immensely.’
‘Liar,’ Dante murmured.
He sucked the breath from her lungs with that single word.
‘Are you still hurting after that night?’
Shock coursed through her. She couldn’t believe what he’d just said. ‘My only interest is to organise the best event the polo world has ever seen.’
‘Worthy and dull?’ he flashed.
Her cheeks blazed red under this attack. Was that was how she’d come across? When her brother left the room, she had been expecting a few pleasantries, and then the chance to make another appointment to see Dante to discuss her plans—and only that.
‘I expected more of you, Karina.’ His tone was scathing.
Completely thrown, she went into defensive mode. ‘I’ll give you my best. My clients have never been disappointed. My past record speaks for itself.’
‘Maybe your previous clients haven’t been as demanding as me.’
She couldn’t believe he was being so aggressive and, unsettled, she looked away. Reaching out, he cupped her chin and brought her back so she had nowhere to look but into his eyes. ‘Why so defensive, Karina?’ he goaded. ‘What aren’t you telling me?’
‘I don’t know what you mean. You’re a valued client, and I never break my promise to a client. That should be enough for you.’
Dante’s eyes narrowed. ‘You haven’t answered my question.’
Nor would she. Shaking him off, she stepped back. ‘If we’re going to do business together—’
‘You will have to lighten up,’ he supplied, in a tone that spoke worryingly of Dante’s growing doubt that she was up to the task.
She had to remind herself how many difficult clients she’d had in the past, and that Dante was just one more. But though she had always succeeded in winning clients over in the past, Dante was a unique case, and the way he was looking at her now, as if he wanted her to defend herself...
‘If you don’t like my suggestions—’
He cut her off with a laugh. ‘Brava, Karina. I had begun to think there was nothing left of the wildcat I remember.’
There wasn’t anything left of that reckless young woman. Was he suggesting she had learned nothing since that night?
‘You accepted this assignment because you can’t resist it,’ he accused her, bringing his face close. ‘How do I know this?’ With a shrug he stood back. ‘You accepted this contract because you won’t let your brother down. And you won’t let yourself down because you have far too much pride.’
‘I have pride?’ she demanded on an incredulous laugh.
‘Honoured client?’ Dante reminded her, easing onto one hip.
She would come to regret those words, Karina suspected as she looked away.
‘My driver is waiting downstairs.’
She stared at him blankly.
‘You’re coming with me.’
She shook her head. ‘I have work to do.’
‘Yes,’ Dante agreed. ‘My work. My contract that you just signed.’
‘Seriously, I really don’t have time for this.’
‘Then make time,’ he said coldly, reminding her of just how harsh he could be. ‘I can’t do business with you while you’re tense like this.’
‘Tense? I’m just busy, Dante. I only wish I could leave,’ she lied, softening her tone in the hope of placating him, ‘But, unfortunately, I have a very busy day ahead of me.’
‘With important clients?’
He knew there was no client more important than he was, and the air was electric between them. Two wills colliding and neither one of them prepared to back down. But Dante had the better of her today because he knew she wouldn’t let her brother down.
‘This trip?’ she prompted. ‘What did you have in mind?’
‘Let’s get out of here and then I’ll tell you.’ Dante held the door for her, and as she walked through he murmured, ‘One thing you will discover about me, chica, is that I never do anything without a very good reason.’
She stopped dead right in front of him. ‘Let’s get one thing clear from the start. I am not your chica.’
Instead of taking offence, Dante stepped up close. He stood so close, looking down at her, that she could see the tiger gold in his eyes. She held his blazing gaze steadily, though her stomach was