The Italian Inheritance (15 page)

“
Exactly
,” remarked Rafael dryly.
“I say it’s safer to remain single. No
marriage. No
messy divorce.
”

“Just lots of sex,” Anna finished for him. “What a typically male point of view.
Unfortunately, when you have a relationship with someone, it comes with a certain level of responsibility.
”

“It doesn’t have to,”
commented Rafael. “If two people agree to a purely
casual
relationship there doesn’t have to be any responsibility on either side.
They can meet up, have fun together and go their separate ways in the morning. No strings.”

Anna frowned at him. “Are those the kind of relationships you have? No strings attached.”

“If I can help it, yes. It makes life so much simpler.”

“
But
so much less fulfilling,” added Anna. “Don’t you want kids one day?”

Rafael shrugged. “I haven’t really thought about it. I know I don’t want an unhappy marriage . I couldn’t go through life arguing constantly with someone and I have no desire to get divorced. If it’s one way to mess up your kids, it’s
through divorce
.”

He sounded like he was talking from experience.
Anna fell silent. Everyone was entitled to their opinion. Then why did his viewpoint disappoint her so much?
It wasn’t as if she was seriously considering taking their kiss from the other night any further.
T
he last thing she
needed right now
was
to
get involved with
someone like
Rafael Vialli.
He was
the complete opposite to what she was looking for in a man.

Womaniser versus monogamy. No strings versus long term
commitment
. Sex versus
happily ever after
.

So wrong. Then why was she staring at his lips wondering when he was going to kiss her again.

“Did you know Giovanni was married?” Rafael asked, breaking into her thoughts.

“No. When was that?”

“They were very young, I believe. If I remember correctly, the marriage certificate said 1985.”

“That’s the year I was born,” gasped Anna. “That can’t be right?”

“I’ll double check
,
but I think that’s what it said. That’s what makes Giovanni’s affair all the more incredible. If you are truly his daughter, you were conceived the year before he got married. It doesn’t make sense.”

Anna was silent for a moment, thoughts swishing round in her brain like a washing machine. “Why would Giovanni have an affair with my mother when he was engaged to someone else?”

“I have no idea,” replied Rafael. “However, if your mother looked anything like you, I can see why he might be tempted.”

Anna scowled at him. “That is not appropriate.”

“I know,” smiled Rafael, looking like a mischievous kid. Anna’s stomach flip-flopped.  Then a thought struck her. “Does this mean you believe me now?”

“Huh?” Rafael looked confused.

“You said if my mother looked anything like me. Does this mean you believe I am who I say I am?”

Rafael hesitated, clearly unsure how to continue. Anna laughed. “It seems we may have a breakthrough.”

“Calm down,” Rafael said gruffly. “I admit that you do seem to be sincere. I can see you really believe you are Giovanni’s daughter, so I have to respect that.”

“Wow. Definitely a breakthrough. I’m sure that hurt to say.”

“Don’t push it,” said Rafael lightly.

“Tell me more about Giovanni,” pleaded Anna, pushing her hands together in front of her as if she were praying.

Rafael gazed out over the quiet street where mindless residents went about their daily business. “Giovanni was a complicated man. When he told me about his heir I was astonished. I didn’t believe him at first, I thought it was the fever talking, but he insisted. That’s when he told me he’d changed his will to provide for his illegitimate daughter.”

“That’s the other thing,” mused Anna fretfully. “If he knew about me the whole time, why didn’t he say something sooner? I had no idea he existed. I grew up believing my father was in the army and died in the Middle East conflict.”

Rafael shrugged. “I wish I had more answers, Anna. It’s bizarre. He never mentioned a thing to me either, until then. I can only assume he wanted to keep his affair hidden from his wife. Unfortunately
,
they couldn’t have children, so it probably made his betrayal even more bitter.”

“Where is his wife now?” asked Anna.

“She died a year before him. Cancer.”

“So I’m his only true heir,” said Anna whimsically. “Yet I never met him.” She shook her head. “I missed him by six months. Six months! It doesn’t seem fair. Now I’ll never know the answers to all my questions.”

“Shall we walk?” asked Rafael, getting up and stretching. “We have a couple of hours until you meet Mancini.”

Anna nodded. “Sure.”

“Are you going like that?” He nodded at her attire.

“What’s wrong with this?” she asked defensively. Anna thought her red tank-top under an open blouse paired with white Capri pants and sandals was quite suited
for
a trip to town with a light supper thrown in.

“Nothing, except you’re going to one of the most exclusive restaurants in Naples tonight. Italian women are very glamorous. I wouldn’t want you to feel underdressed. Besides, if you’re going to get anywhere with Mancini I suggest we go buy you something more appropriate to wear.”

“Oh
,
right. I didn’t realise the restaurant was that special.” Now she was getting nervous. Not only did she have to persuade Mancini to delay his demolition plans for two months, but she had to look g
lamorous
too!
“But if you think it will help seduce Mancini into changing his plans...”

“Who said anything about seduction?” Rafael’s lips were drawn together in a tight line.

Anna glanced up in surprise. Was that a little display of possessiveness? Her suspicions were confirmed when he added, “I meant persuade him with your charms, not your body. I don’t want him laying one grubby paw on you, okay? The man’s a notorious womaniser.”

Anna chuckled. “Relax. It was just a figure of speech. I’m not going to sleep with him. I want to help save the shelter
,
but that’s taking it a bit too far.”

“Glad to hear it,” he muttered.

They strolled through one of Naples’ bustling neighbourhoods. Anna marvelled at the make-shift washing lines strung from window to window, across the narrow streets, strung with colourful clothing. Men gathered around local coffee bars sipping espressos and shouting at each other in Italian. Every time they crossed a road Rafael would take her arm, which Anna thought rather sweet until she realised it was to protect her from the hundreds of
Vespa
’s that appeared out of nowhere like mosquitoes and swarmed passed without a second thought to anyone’s safety.

“Perhaps we should take refuge somewhere quiet,” suggested Anna, after she’d nearly been sent flying a second time.

“Nearly there.” Rafael pulled her into the shimmering safety of a mall, where the noise suddenly dissipated as if the sound had been switched off at the plug.

“I know a great shop that will have something for tonight,” he said, leading the way with big, purposeful strides. Anna had to power-walk to keep up.

They entered a classy boutique full of magnificent creations on silk hangers with well-heeled sales assistants flitting around, all of whom looked like models with glossy brown hair and petite frames. Anna crinkled her nose in disgust. At almost six foot with Icelandic blonde hair she felt positively Amazonian. Trust him to bring her here.

She glanced at a price tag and nearly collapsed. “I can’t afford this. I barely have enough money to cover the hotel, let alone buy a designer gown. You’re out of your mind. Let’s go somewhere else.”

“Can I help you?” asked a sales assistant politely.

“Si,” said Rafael, taking charge. He dished out some instructions in Italian, ignoring Anna’s pointed looks and furiously shaking head.

“Rafael...”

“Shh
...,” he told her gently. “Don’t worry about the money. This is on me. After all, you’re doing me a favour tonight and it was my suggestion that we come here.” He raised a hand at her feeble protests. “And I have an idea which will help you save some money on the hotel until we get the DNA results back.”

“What idea?” Anna frowned at the glint in his eye. Somehow she didn’t completely trust his motives. When Rafael took charge like this she suddenly felt very out of control. Not good.

The sales assistant returned with a soft, floor-length silk gown in the palest yellow. It had tiny spaghetti straps and was gently
ruched
over the bust. Anna loved it at once.

“It’s beautiful,” she gasped
,
fingering the delicate material.

“Go and try it on,” he commanded. Anna flashed him a smile and disappeared into the changing room. She didn’t need
to be told
twice.

“Don’t forget to show me,” he called after her.

As Anna slipped the gorgeous dress over her head
,
she reasoned that if Rafael wanted to buy her clothing in which to do his evil deeds, who was she to argue?

Rafael gave a low whistle when she emerged moments later. “I am already jealous of Mancini getting you all to himself tonight.” He walked slowly around her to get a better view.

Anna felt her insides tighten. There was a low gleam in Rafael’s appreciative gaze that was not unlike a predator circling his prey.

“I hope it will do the trick,” she replied, keeping her voice steady. The last time his eyes glowed like that was before he kissed her.

“He will be powerless to resist you.” Then clearing his throat
,
Rafael turned to the sales assistant. “Si. We’ll take it.”

“So what is your great idea?” asked Anna as they left the boutique. The dress was neatly folded in a carrier bag, and Rafael had thrown in a pair of gold and diamante heels, as well as an amber pashmina in case she got cold, which in this heat was a ridiculous notion. Still, it completed the outfit. Now she just had to find somewhere to change.

“Let’s go to my apartment and I’ll tell you,” said Rafael.

“You have an apartment here?”
T
hat was a surprise.

“Of course,” he said as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He hailed a taxi and gave the driver an address.

“Of course,” echoed Anna. At least she could get ready there.

“Wow,” she mouthed a moment later as Rafael unlocked the door to a wide, open-plan, state-of-the-art apartment. It had a semi-industrial feel to it, with unfinished brick walls, warm strip-wooden flooring and high ceilings.

“The bedroom is upstairs.” Rafael pointed to a suspended staircase in light wood and metal that rose inconspicuously to the second floor. “Why don’t you go and get changed.”

Anna ascended the staircase as if in a trance. All this style and glamour was new to her. She compared his apartment to her one bed basement flat in London and had to laugh. They couldn’t be more different. 

She paused at the entrance to his bedroom and looked around his domain feeling almost like she was intruding. The room was neat and minimalistic. A huge, steel framed bed stood in the middle of the room facing the ceiling-to-floor windows. It looked comfy with plumped up pillows and a woollen throw over the bedding. Matching pedestals on either side had low reading lamps on them, but nothing else. A Persian rug lay on the floor, the intricate pattern of woven human forms strangely erotic. The whole room was tasteful, yet intimate.

So this was where Rafael brought his Napoli conquests when he was in town. Surprised by the direction of her thoughts, Anna gave herself a mental shake and focused on finding the bathroom. It wasn’t hard.  Entering she was delighted to find it was large and bright, with a powerful walk-in shower, heated towel rack and all the mod-cons a girl could want, including a hair dryer.

With a squeak of glee, Anna stripped and hopped into the shower. There were even two shower heads, presumably so Rafael could shower with his lover in the morning. The thought of showering next to Rafael’s taut, toned body began to turn her on so she hastily scrubbed herself from head to foot and emerged pink and steamy a few minutes later.

“What do you think?” Anna descended the stairs in her new frock and did a slow twirl in front of Rafael.

“Belissimo,” he whispered, coming forward and taking her hand. “I’m not sure I want to let you go now.”

“I’m glad you like it,” said Anna, quivering as his fingers caressed the back of her hand. “Now, what is this idea you told me about?”

“I want you to come and stay with me at the villa, until your business in Capri is finished,” he said softly.