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CHAPTER ONE

L ILI SPIRENZE HAD just been awoken by a frantic phone call to alert her to the fact that her boss, Cassian Corti, the owner of the Corti villa and estate where she’d been housekeeper for almost a year now, was due to arrive within the hour at the small pier that lay on the other side of the huge ornate wrought iron gates that opened directly from the lower garden onto Lake Como.

The faintest trails of dawn touched the sky. As Lili hurried through washing and throwing on some clothes, a knot of apprehension formed in her gut at the thought of meeting her boss for the first time.

She’d been hired by an executive assistant and someone on Corti’s legal team. Her job was to oversee the general running of the villa and the cleaners, chef, gardeners and maintenance people who variously made up the numerous staff.

Something else joined the knot of apprehension as she made her way down from her quarters to the main part of the villa—irritation. Couldn’t he have given more notice? And then Lili reprimanded herself. The man had a right to turn up at his own home when he wanted. Luckily she’d taken it upon herself to keep things in a state of readiness for just such an occasion, although she didn’t feel smug now, she just felt…a sense of disquiet.

It was silly but as time had passed since she’d started working here with no sign of her boss appearing, she’d become a little complacent. She’d gotten used to feeling free to roam as she pleased and enjoy the isolation and sense of security that living in a private estate in one of the world’s highest value property locations could afford one.

The furthest she’d gone from the Corti estate had been into the nearby city of Como to pick up supplies. For the first time in years, she’d felt a measure of peace unlike anything she’d ever experienced before. And, blessedly, anonymity.

But that peace was to be shattered now and she had to remind herself that this wasn’t her home. She was merely caretaking it for its elusive billionaire owner. An owner who had clearly not had any inclination to spend time in his serene Lake Como home because he’d been too busy living a glamorous playboy social whirlwind, his every move breathlessly followed by the insatiable press. And, much to Lili’s embarrassment, her . She’d told herself she was only doing due diligence in researching her boss so as to be better able to deal with anything that might come her way.

Like this impromptu visit. But now that his arrival was imminent, Lili’s apprehension surged back to the fore. She was in the kitchen, moving efficiently around the large gleaming space, preparing some breakfast items and fresh coffee.

How did one deal with a man who was considered something of a legend? Not to mention routinely named as one of the most gorgeous and sexy men on the planet.

Scion to one of Italy’s oldest and wealthiest families, he’d been hit by a terrible tragedy when still a young boy. His parents and younger brother had all died in a horrific car crash. Cassian Corti had walked away without a scratch—the sole remaining member of a vast familial dynasty stretching back into Medieval times when the Cortis had been mentioned in the same breath as the Medicis.

Since then, he’d been a figure of intense tragic interest, growing up under a spotlight with everyone watching to see what he would do.

His astounding good looks, physicality and wealth had almost predestined him to become a part of the debauched and glittering European social scene, which he’d entered with a predictable and resounding explosion—getting expelled from his exclusive boarding school in Switzerland after attending a famous debutante ball in Paris, only to be found in bed with the mother of his debutante date.

Embarking on a career racing the fastest cars on the planet had only enhanced his already rapidly growing reputation for risk-taking and scandal. He hadn’t raced recently as he was getting over a minor injury. The press had breathlessly speculated over the years whether or not his fascination with cars had something to do with the awful tragedy he’d suffered as a child. Certainly his skill and control in that dangerous arena only fed the endless speculation and while Lili instinctively shied away from reliving trauma, maybe he was drawn to it to exorcise his own demons?

So now, he was not only a champion driver but he was also involved as one of the major shareholders of the worldwide body that owned formula racing cars. He was investing heavily in making the sport more sustainable. This was aside from his family business, the Corti Group, which encompassed a myriad of interests from tech innovation to real estate and banking. The Corti name was still over the door of some of Italy’s oldest financial establishments.

His other properties included a palazzo on the Grand Canal of Venice, penthouse apartments in all the major cities, holiday homes in Costa Rica and Malaysia.

His personal life matched his professional life in terms of excitement and glamour, even if he had dialled down some of the more scandalous acts of his youth.

Sipping some fresh coffee, Lili sat down at the wide kitchen table and looked at her phone, searching for her boss. Immediately about ten pictures surfaced of him in a tuxedo at an event in Rome with a stunningly beautiful willowy blonde on his arm, a silver silk dress hugging toned curves and endlessly long tanned legs.

Lili sighed a little enviously. She was average height and with a figure that ran less to willowy and more…pillowy. Her hair was unfashionably long and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d put on make-up.

Then she noticed something about the pictures and nearly dropped her coffee. They’d been taken at an event the previous evening and yet somehow his arrival was imminent.

Lili suddenly had visions of not only her boss arriving but also the stunning blonde. Maybe she was his girlfriend? Maybe he was bringing her here to show her his family home?

At that moment the gardener poked his head around the door. ‘ Buongiorno , Lili, the boss is arriving by speedboat in a few minutes, I’ll go down and open the gate?’

Lili stood up and smiled at Matteo. She knew his arthritis was acting up, making him slower, especially in the mornings. ‘No, it’s fine, I could do with the walk and I’ve never met him before, it’ll be a way to introduce myself. Maybe send down Tommy to secure the boat?’

Lili knew what it was like to be around people like Cassian Corti; they generally left a trail of things to be picked up/attended to in their wake and she didn’t want to be responsible for the boat floating back out into the lake.

‘Of course, thanks, Lili.’

She quickly rinsed out her cup and after giving instructions to Maria, the young housemaid, set off through the villa, out into the back courtyard and down the steps to the level of the middle garden and then down more steps to the lower garden.

Even though it was still early, Lili could feel the latent heat of the coming day. Birds were calling in their dawn chorus. The dew-laden grass and flowers scented the air. It was incredibly peaceful and calm even as she walked across the gravel crunching under her feet. She felt a prick of regret that it would be shattered now.

She got to the beautiful elaborately designed wrought iron gates and unlocked them with the key she’d brought. She pushed them outwards with a little huff of effort.

This was her favourite part of the villa. This gate and the wide stone steps leading down, straight into the lake, with the small landing pier to the side, along the stone wall. The water lapped gently against the stone. There was a mist across the lake and the faint outline of land on the other side could be seen. The rising sun was sending out a hazy pearlescent sheen across the water.

Whenever Lili stood on this spot, she always felt a mixture of terror and temptation. To just get in a boat and leave, explore the world, or go back, close the gates behind her and never leave this place. It was like standing on a precipice…a precipice she always walked away from.

Coward, whispered a harsh voice. No , Lili told herself now. Not a coward. She was just protecting herself, and after what had happened to her, she had a right to protect herself however she wanted. She didn’t owe anyone anything. She’d cut all of her ties—

She startled when a stone was kicked onto the steps beside her. She whirled around to see Tommy, Matteo’s gangly teenage son.

‘Hi, Tommy.’

The young man blushed. ‘Morning, Lili.’

Tommy went down the steps to the little stone pier and started to get the rope ready to secure the boat. Just when Lili was wondering if the boss was even on his way she heard a faint sound that grew stronger and louder.

She saw the outline of a small boat slicing through the small waves of the lake, someone standing at the helm. Tall and broad. Dark. She shivered and it wasn’t from the morning chill. She couldn’t shake the sense that once this man arrived, nothing would be the same.

* * *

Cassian could see the familiar outline of the Corti villa rising up on the hill above the green and lush foliage. One of the less ornate villas in the area, it was still impressive with its cream walls and three stories. The terracotta roof. The whimsical wing that had been added at the turn of the last century with a turret.

The gardens were famous, designed by an iconic British landscape gardener back in the 1800’s.

Cassian wished that he could look upon this view and feel nothing but it was impossible. It thrummed inside him like a second pulse. His home. The place where he’d been so happy and the place that filled him with the most pain because that happiness had been brutally shattered.

As he drew closer to the small pier memories and voices whispered over his skin and into his ears. Cassian and Lorenzo, come inside now! I won’t call again and we will eat all your gelato!

Giggling and laughing so hard his stomach had hurt. Tugging his baby brother behind him as they’d climbed up through the gardens, mucky and aching all over from climbing trees and exploring…

His mother’s voice now: It’s been so long, Cass…we’ve missed you.

No . He would not let this return after more years than he liked to admit to unsettle him. This was just a place. It did not have any power over him. He’d carved out a life apart from it. Apart from his tragic past.

He had a decision to make now—to endeavour to keep the villa with all of its poignant and painful memories and past, or let it go, which he would have to do unless he complied with the strict and demanding rules of inheritance.

But even as he thought of cutting ties with his past and his family legacy, his insides clenched painfully and guilt burned like acid in his gut.

Sufficiente! He was a rational, intelligent man. He would decide on the course of action that made the most sense.

He could see the pier now and the slight figure of a young man. Cassian squinted. A very tall young man. Was that Tommy? He must have shot up since he’d seen him last. More guilt.

And there was another figure. Cassian could see it was a woman with long brown hair. But apart from that he couldn’t make out much else because she was dressed in something cream, and long and loose with what appeared to be an equally long cardigan pulled over her chest, under crossed arms. She was wearing sneakers.

The new housekeeper. It must be. What was her name again… Lucy? Something like that. Cassian knew he should care more but his head was still throbbing slightly and all he wanted was a coffee strong enough to stand in. The Lake Como air had done little to clear it. On some level he knew that he’d had to have a fuzzy head to come here and he hated himself for it.

He killed the engine and the boat bobbed gently to the pier wall. Tommy called out a greeting and Cassian forced a smile at the young man. ‘Ciao, Tommy, you’ve grown!’

‘Grazie, Signor Corti.’ The young man went brick-red but he was smiling. Cassian jumped athletically from the boat to the pier and handed the rope to Tommy, letting him secure it. He walked towards the woman who seemed to be watching him warily.

He took in details. Long dark hair. Not styled. Average height. Indeterminate shape under the loose clothes. Nice enough face. Big eyes, that he saw were a startling shade of blue, as he got closer. That realisation jolted something to life inside him but he dismissed it. He was tired and hung-over.

He stopped and saw how her eyes widened, looking him up and down. Why did he suddenly feel defensive? Aware of his stubbled jaw and creased suit? His dry mouth.

‘Buongiorno… Miss…’ He searched his brain frantically, cursing himself for not remembering he’d be meeting his newest staff member.

Her eyes moved back up to his face. They really were arresting. Like bright blue jewels. With long dark lashes. No make-up. It had been a long time since Cassian had seen a woman with a bare face. It felt curiously…intimate.

She spoke. ‘I’m Lili Spirenze. Your housekeeper.’ Her voice was immediately pleasing. Low and slightly husky.

She stepped back. ‘I’ve prepared some breakfast.’

‘Coffee?’

‘Of course. It’s on the terrace.’

It was only when Cassian was walking ahead of her up to the house that he realised they hadn’t shook hands. He turned around to remedy this, and she almost ran into him. She stepped back so hurriedly that she almost fell over. He reached out and she flinched back. Suddenly she looked flustered. ‘Sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going.’

Cassian put out his hand. ‘ I’m sorry, I’m forgetting my manners.’

She looked at his hand and went pale. He noticed how beautiful her skin was. Peaches and cream complexion.

She looked at him, and then held up her hands. ‘Please, forgive me, I picked up some weeds on the way down, my hands are dirty.’

They looked fine to him but Cassian just shrugged and turned around again. Maybe she was a little eccentric. She certainly dressed like it. As she fell into step almost beside him he said, ‘Weren’t you furnished with a uniform?’

She said a little breathlessly, ‘I was told that trousers and shirts would be favourable as well as practical but I’m afraid I got a little complacent when there was no one in residence for so long.’

It wasn’t remotely a rebuke but it stung Cassian nevertheless.

She said, ‘I could change if you like.’

‘That won’t be necessary, I won’t be here all that long, maybe twenty-four hours.’

‘Do I need to prepare for any…guests?’

Cassian sent her a glance. There had been something about the inflection in guests but her hair was falling forward covering her face. He had to curb a strange urge to pull it back so he could see her.

‘Just my solicitor,’ he replied, looking forward again. ‘He’ll be joining me for lunch.’

‘Anything in particular you’d like to eat? I can let chef know.’

‘Antipasta, bread and salad will be fine.’

‘Very well.’

They were at the terrace now and Cassian could see the table with breakfast things laid out and a pot of coffee. He cursed himself for not sending instructions ahead that he did not want to eat outside. His previous housekeeper had known, because she’d been with them since he was a baby and he’d told her expressly never to set a table outside again.

But his previous housekeeper had died suddenly. Cassian hadn’t made it back for her funeral. More guilt.

This terrace was where his parents had always loved to dine once the weather had got warmer. He had memories of long dusk-laden evenings, falling asleep in his father’s arms with the sound of his deep voice and laughter rumbling against his cheek.

He brutally pushed down the memories. He was tempted to tell Miss Spirenze to move the breakfast things indoors but stopped himself. He was being ridiculous, he was only going to be here for twenty-four hours and after his meeting with his solicitor, whatever he decided to do, he wouldn’t have to set foot on this estate ever again if he so wished.

But, Cassian didn’t feel a sense of liberation at that prospect. What he did feel was far more complicated and unwelcome.

* * *

Lili cursed herself. She was still trembling in the kitchen after that near collision with Cassian Corti on the way up to the villa. He’d arrived on that boat looking like the sexy villain in a movie in his creased tuxedo with bow-tie dangling open from around his neck, top buttons open showing a hint of dark chest.

Thick, wavy hair. Dark brown. Luxurious. When he’d stepped onto the pier Lili had had to force herself not to move backwards. He’d been so tall and broad. She hadn’t expected him to be so physically imposing. Powerful. Muscular.

Beautiful face, all sharp, hard lines. Patrician nose. Deep-set eyes. Strong brows. Surprisingly full mouth. Dark hair liberally stubbled across his cheeks and jaw, only adding to his masculinity.

She’d been too intimidated to look at him for too long but she’d noticed that his eyes weren’t dark. They were some shade of grey. Unusual.

She could still see his hand stuck out towards her, waiting for her to do the most natural thing in the world. Take it and shake it. And her immediate reaction had been to recoil from his touch. Like she recoiled from anyone’s touch.

Lili stopped what she was doing and forced herself to take deep breaths to restore her equilibrium.

She had a pathological fear of being touched. Or of anyone getting too close to her. Crowding her. Because she’d been kidnapped when she was a teenager. Sixteen years old. Full of gawky adolescence and self-consciousness. Her father was a well-known millionaire entrepreneur—money made from his real estate company. He’d never been shy about displaying his wealth all while currying favour with the monied classes, trying desperately to attain a social status that he hadn’t been born into, coming from a small town in Southern Italy.

Lili had been on her way home from school one day in Rome when she’d been grabbed near the train station by a group of men who had thrown a cover over her head, and tied her hands before brutally manhandling her into a van and on to some unknown location.

They hadn’t touched her apart from moving her around but the threat of it had hung in the air, heavy and oppressive. The worst thing for Lili had been the not knowing when someone would grab her or pull her up or march her forward or push her down. She’d had no control, or privacy.

She breathed deep now. Years had passed since she’d managed to escape, and she’d carved out a life for herself where she was in control. This place had become a sanctuary to her. Safe. Behind closed gates. With security. A handful of staff who respected her space and never came too close.

She actually felt like she’d healed in the past year and then Cassian Corti had turned to face her and put out his hand and she’d almost had a panic attack on the spot. Somehow managing to mutter something about dirty hands.

He’d looked at her as if she’d had two heads. She was a freak.

‘Lili?’

Lili looked up. It was Maria holding an empty coffee-pot. She said, ‘He wants more coffee.’

Lili took it from her and forced a smile. ‘Thank you, I’ll bring it up, you can go and check that his office is ready for his meeting. They’ll need paper and pens. Make sure there’s water.’

‘Of course.’

The girl left and Lili pushed all the memories aside and filled the pot with fresh coffee. She took a deep breath and went back up to the terrace to find Cassian Corti with shades covering his eyes now, face turned towards the lake. She made her presence known. ‘It’s going to be a beautiful day. Any plans aside from meeting your solicitor?’

He turned away from the lake and towards her. She refilled his cup with coffee. He said, ‘The coffee is good, you know how to make it well.’

She put the pot down. ‘I’m a bit of a coffee snob. I like it strong.’

He lifted his cup towards her. ‘Me too, this is perfect, grazie .’

He was still looking at her but Lili couldn’t see his eyes. Her skin prickled but it had nothing to do with fear. It was awareness and it was so surprising that Lili couldn’t name it for a second. When she did she told herself she was being ridiculous. She was a woman with a pulse, her reaction was that of a straight female reacting to an Alpha male. Basic biology and chemistry at work. Nothing more.

But, he was the first man to spark that awareness, which was disconcerting.

He said, ‘Actually, after I’ve freshened up I’ll meet Matteo in the gardens and have a look at how they’re being kept, if you’d let him know?’

‘Of course.’ Lili seized on the opportunity to escape and told herself that her tripping pulse had more to do with the sudden activity after months of inactivity than anything to do with her charismatic boss’s arrival.

* * *

About an hour later when Lili felt sure that her boss must have freshened up and gone out to meet Matteo, she went up to his bedroom suite with the small overnight bag that had been with him on the boat, delivered by Tommy after they’d got back to the villa.

So used to navigating the villa on her own without fear of running into anyone, Lili pushed open his bedroom door and went over to the massive four-poster bed that dominated the room. The French doors that led out to the terrace were open, curtains moving gently in the breeze.

She put the bag on the bed just as she also noticed his discarded tuxedo. He had a fully stocked closet full of clothes here so he’d obviously changed into something else.

Lili picked up the suit and his scent hit her nostrils. Leather and amber notes mixed with something sharp, citrusy. Tantalising.

A movement out of the corner of her eye made her turn her head and it was only then she realised that a full length mirror in the bedroom was showing a reflection of the shower in the bathroom, and it was too late to turn away. What she was looking at would be burnt onto her brain forever.

Cassian Corti was in the shower, his back to her, arms lifted, hands in his hair. The water sluiced down over his body, perfectly honed muscles moving under sleek olive-brown skin.

His shoulders were broad, as was his back, narrowing down to lean hips and down to strong thighs. But she couldn’t take her eyes off his powerful and muscular buttocks. Slightly lighter in colour.

Lili was filled with a longing, yearning sensation that started in the very pit of her being and spread out to every limb, making her blood pulse. She had the strangest urge to take off her clothes and step into the shower behind him and slide her arms around him and press close to his back—

Her blood ran cold. She never ever imagined touching someone else. But she suddenly had the ground-shifting realisation that if she was the one doing the touching, the prospect was exciting, not terrifying.

It was too much to unpack. Cassian Corti had been at his villa for barely an hour and Lili was unravelling all over the place. She turned and fled before he could find her gawping at him as if she’d never seen a naked man before, which, she hadn’t.

The thought of him witnessing her arrested moment was enough to galvanise her out of the villa and back down to the gates at the lake to make sure they’d been locked again.