looked up and spun slowly. “This is a real life Pemberley.”
“Yes, only Italian in design, not English.” Luc glanced at Nick. “Though you brought your own Mr. Darcy.”
Nick laughed. Emily too.
Speaking of which, time to speak with her about Vivianca.
“Leave your bags for the staff to attend to,” Luc said to Emily. “I want to show you one of the gardens.”
Her mouth slanted. “Now?”
“Yes. Do you have other plans?”
Hesitation flashed in her tired eyes, but she set her purse on her suitcase. “No. Lead the way.”
He took the left staircase, led her through one of four sitting areas, then outside. The sun reflected off the tile, and he loosened his tie. “You’re going to get warm wearing black.”
She shrugged. “The color travels well. I’ll survive.”
He studied her clothing. Remembered something from a trip to Paris last month. “Your shirt reminds me of something I saw during Fashion Week.”
“It’s from a new designer.” Her gaze narrowed. “You’re into women’s clothing?”
“Women models.”
“I see.”
Did she? If so, that would be another strike against him. He headed toward the garden he’d discovered his first day at the villa. “Do you cook?”
“That’s a non sequitur.”
“I want to show you the kitchen garden.”
“If microwaving frozen meals and reheating take-out count, then I cook. Otherwise, I don’t.”
“I don’t. Unless you count making reservations, but someone does that for me.” Though he knew how to make grilled cheese sandwiches. Andre, a boy his foundation helped, loved those, but Emily didn’t need to know that.
Luc went down a short staircase carved out of rocks. Creeping thyme with small lavender flowers grew along the edge and cascaded down the steps. He used to follow the palace gardeners around when he was little. “But I like knowing where my food comes from.”
He stepped onto a flat area with rows of vegetable plants and fruit trees. “The villa has ten gardens. This one is used to make our meals.”
“A sustainable villa.” She sounded impressed.
He’d been. “Take whatever you like. The figs are especially good. If you like figs.”
“I do.” Emily inhaled deeply.
Her shirt separated in the gap between the buttons giving him a glimpse of black lace. Sexy. Unexpected. Very sexy.
She exhaled. “I smell lavender.”
“The flagstone path to the left leads to a herb garden.” Maybe they should head down there where she could smell more plants. “There are clippers to cut your own.”
She gave the trail a two-second glance, then looked at him. “So Vivianca…”
Right to the point. Luc walked between two rows of plants, and Emily followed. He needed to be cautious with what he said. Too much was at stake to tell her the whole truth.
“Vivianca is one of the children assisted by my foundation called Dream Big Alvernia. I met her last year after her accident.”
“How many children do you help?” she asked.
The question was not unexpected. They shared a common goal, but their reasons for wanting to succeed were different. Their methods would be too. “You and I need to reach an understanding about my foundation.”
She bent over and pushed the green top of a carrot out of the path. “What kind of understanding? I’m here to make sure the show is a success. The more I know about you and your foundation, the better I’m equipped to find you a bride.”
What had she said earlier? A true professional. He wondered what was in this for her—a raise, maybe a promotion. Truth was, he didn’t care. Protecting his family and the foundation were his priorities.
“I want the show to be a success.” He watched her smile widen. “But Vivianca, the other children, and the foundation are off-limits from the show.”
Emily’s expression fell. “That’s…stupid.”
He hadn’t expected that much honesty. “Not from where I stand.”
“Then take a step to your right so you have a new
“Yes, only Italian in design, not English.” Luc glanced at Nick. “Though you brought your own Mr. Darcy.”
Nick laughed. Emily too.
Speaking of which, time to speak with her about Vivianca.
“Leave your bags for the staff to attend to,” Luc said to Emily. “I want to show you one of the gardens.”
Her mouth slanted. “Now?”
“Yes. Do you have other plans?”
Hesitation flashed in her tired eyes, but she set her purse on her suitcase. “No. Lead the way.”
He took the left staircase, led her through one of four sitting areas, then outside. The sun reflected off the tile, and he loosened his tie. “You’re going to get warm wearing black.”
She shrugged. “The color travels well. I’ll survive.”
He studied her clothing. Remembered something from a trip to Paris last month. “Your shirt reminds me of something I saw during Fashion Week.”
“It’s from a new designer.” Her gaze narrowed. “You’re into women’s clothing?”
“Women models.”
“I see.”
Did she? If so, that would be another strike against him. He headed toward the garden he’d discovered his first day at the villa. “Do you cook?”
“That’s a non sequitur.”
“I want to show you the kitchen garden.”
“If microwaving frozen meals and reheating take-out count, then I cook. Otherwise, I don’t.”
“I don’t. Unless you count making reservations, but someone does that for me.” Though he knew how to make grilled cheese sandwiches. Andre, a boy his foundation helped, loved those, but Emily didn’t need to know that.
Luc went down a short staircase carved out of rocks. Creeping thyme with small lavender flowers grew along the edge and cascaded down the steps. He used to follow the palace gardeners around when he was little. “But I like knowing where my food comes from.”
He stepped onto a flat area with rows of vegetable plants and fruit trees. “The villa has ten gardens. This one is used to make our meals.”
“A sustainable villa.” She sounded impressed.
He’d been. “Take whatever you like. The figs are especially good. If you like figs.”
“I do.” Emily inhaled deeply.
Her shirt separated in the gap between the buttons giving him a glimpse of black lace. Sexy. Unexpected. Very sexy.
She exhaled. “I smell lavender.”
“The flagstone path to the left leads to a herb garden.” Maybe they should head down there where she could smell more plants. “There are clippers to cut your own.”
She gave the trail a two-second glance, then looked at him. “So Vivianca…”
Right to the point. Luc walked between two rows of plants, and Emily followed. He needed to be cautious with what he said. Too much was at stake to tell her the whole truth.
“Vivianca is one of the children assisted by my foundation called Dream Big Alvernia. I met her last year after her accident.”
“How many children do you help?” she asked.
The question was not unexpected. They shared a common goal, but their reasons for wanting to succeed were different. Their methods would be too. “You and I need to reach an understanding about my foundation.”
She bent over and pushed the green top of a carrot out of the path. “What kind of understanding? I’m here to make sure the show is a success. The more I know about you and your foundation, the better I’m equipped to find you a bride.”
What had she said earlier? A true professional. He wondered what was in this for her—a raise, maybe a promotion. Truth was, he didn’t care. Protecting his family and the foundation were his priorities.
“I want the show to be a success.” He watched her smile widen. “But Vivianca, the other children, and the foundation are off-limits from the show.”
Emily’s expression fell. “That’s…stupid.”
He hadn’t expected that much honesty. “Not from where I stand.”
“Then take a step to your right so you have a new
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