The Accidental Engagement (16 page)

He studiously ignored Ivy’s questioning looks as she all but jogged to keep pace with him. This was not the time to get into it. Not when there was still so much on the line. He’d talked to his fellow investors back in the states that morning and had assured them that the merger was a done deal. But despite his words, everyone knew it wasn’t a done deal until the contract was signed.

Daniel could afford to take the loss and his partners could as well, but it would be a serious blow to his career. He had painstakingly built a reputation as the man who got things done in the cutthroat world of venture capital. All it took was one slip, one mistake, and his hard-won reputation would be a memory and everything he’d sacrificed to get to the top would be in vain. He would have to start all over again.

He forced a smile when the old man spotted them and headed toward them with his grandchildren. One of the little ones ran up to them and Ivy caught him in her arms and picked him up. She looked so natural with a child in her arms. She deserved to be with someone who could give her a family. A fresh wave of guilt swept over him; this one having nothing to do with Angela.

Jack walked toward them, his little sidekick running beside him with a grin that spread from ear to ear.

“Looks like someone had fun.” Ivy greeted Jack with a kiss on the cheek.

“This one had a blast,” Jack said, tousling the little girl’s hair. “Uncle Jack, on the other hand, is ready for a nap.”

Daniel watched Jack slip an arm around Ivy’s shoulders as he pulled her against his side and kissed the top of her head. He should be pleased. They were playing their roles to perfection, just as he’d asked. He turned away from the happy couple.

“I’d better get these little ones back home for a nap or their mother will never forgive me,” Brunelli said.

“I think I’m ready for a nap myself,” Ivy agreed.

“It’s settled then. Let’s head back to the villa.” Daniel tried his best to keep his tone calm. He could feel Ivy’s questioning eyes on him. He’d have to tell her something at some point but not now. Now all he needed was a moment alone with the duplicitous old Italian who was carrying a grandchild in both arms as he led the way to the parking lot.

Daniel rode back with Brunelli, and insisted that Ivy and Jack drive back in another car. He’d suggested that they take their time and do a little sightseeing. A new couple wanting some alone time would only help sell the lie—and it would give Daniel a chance to confront Brunelli on his ulterior motives.

* * * *

Ivy and Jack were quiet as they drove the winding back roads to the villa, killing time so it looked as though they’d snuck off for a little hanky panky, as their host called it.

Jack was driving, which left Ivy free to stare out the window and stew over Daniel’s odd behavior. The range of emotions she’d witnessed threw her for a loop. He’d been shocked to see that woman, then genuinely happy, then he’d all but lied to her about who the woman was. But the oddest part of all was his reaction once they’d joined the others. She could have sworn he was furious, but with whom?

“Penny for your thoughts?”

Jack’s voice brought Ivy back to the present. “I’m sorry, what were you saying?”

“You look upset. Is everything all right?”

Ivy turned back to look out the window. She hated to lie to her new friend. She tried to stick as close to the truth as possible. “I was just thinking about the festival. Brunelli’s grandchildren really are sweet, aren’t they?”

Jack nodded. “You’re a natural with them.”

“I should be. I have four nieces and nephews to practice on.”

Jack glanced over at her. “Do you think you’ll have kids someday?”

“Of course.” The words came out without a second of hesitation. Family had always been the most important thing in her life. It was a given for her that she would have a family of her own.

Jack seemed to be mulling that over. “Good, you’ll make a great mother. And Danny is born to be a dad. Although, I think we both know who the disciplinarian will be in your household. Something tells me Daniel will run a tight ship.”

Ivy knew she should shut her mouth since no words seemed to be coming out of it, but her jaw was fixed in place. Her mind was reeling. He
knew
? Jack took one look at her expression and burst out laughing. “Oh please. Give me some credit.”

“How did you know?”

He rolled his eyes. “The chemistry between you two is through the roof. If you could see the way you look at one another…” he trailed off with a shake of his head.

“Do you think Brunelli knows?”

“No, I think he believes that we’re a couple. You’re both on your best behavior when he’s around.”

She let out a sigh of relief. How horrible if they’d gone to all this work only to ruin it in one careless moment. There was so much at stake for everyone involved in this charade. A charade that had been going on for far too long and had gotten way too complicated, as far as she was concerned.

She let her head drop back against the seat. “I hope this deal happens soon.”

“You and me both. Lying like this is killing me.” Jack’s tone was unusually serious. Sometimes she got the feeling that everyone underestimated Jack, including her. He clearly was having just as a hard a time lying to the people he loved as she was.

“Jack, can I ask you something?”

“Of course. Ask away.”

“All of these lies we’re telling, do you think they’re worth it? If it means hurting the people we love?”

He was quiet for a moment. “I’d like to think we’re helping the people we love in the long run, at least.”

“So the end justifies the means?”

“Something like that.” He looked away from the road for a moment to study her expression. “Don’t you agree?”

“I guess so.” She heaved a sigh as she recalled her last conversation with her parents. They were so strong and proud, even in the face of a foreclosure. When this deal was signed, she could take away all of that stress. “I mean, yes. I do think it’s worth it.”

“But?”

Ivy struggled to put her finger on what exactly had her so perturbed by Daniel’s run-in with that woman. It wasn’t jealousy over the woman herself, per se. Although that was definitely part of it. It was the nagging feeling that there was so much more to Daniel that he was keeping from her. Jack was waiting for her response. But what? Why was she having doubts now?

“I know why this deal is so important to me. And I know why you’re so invested in this merger—it’s a chance to fulfill your dreams. This is the opportunity of a lifetime.” Jack’s answering grin spoke volumes.

“I guess what I don’t quite understand is why this means so much to Daniel. What does he have at stake? Aside from money, I mean.”

He shrugged. “This is what he does, it’s who he is. His business is his life.”

Ivy mulled that over as she watched the scenery slip past her window. Was he really the single-minded businessman everyone believed him to be? She had a flash of his grin when he woke her with kisses and saw the tender look in his eyes when he held her in his arms.

“Do you really believe that?”

“That he’s all business? Yeah. I mean, I’ve never once heard him talk about friends or family or anything other than the merger, for that matter.”

Ivy frowned as she stared out the window. She tried to remember any time Daniel had mentioned anything other than business. Even when the two of them were alone and in the most intimate setting imaginable, he never spoke about himself or his life outside of the company. Every time she brought it up, he steered the conversation back to her, asking her about her family, her friends. She wracked her brain trying to remember a time when he’d mentioned anything personal. Surely he must have told her about
something
.

At Ivy’s silence, he hurried on. “Not that that’s a bad thing. That’s why I like working with him. It’s not personal for Daniel.”

Ivy looked at him in disbelief. “And you’re saying that’s a good thing?”

Jack’s fingers tapped the steering wheel and there was a long pause before he spoke. “I made the mistake before of mixing my personal life with business. My first investors were was also my brother and my so-called best friend.”

She studied his clenched jaw. “I take it he’s not your best friend anymore?”

Jack gave her a rueful smile. “No. We’re not even on speaking terms any more. I trusted him because of our friendship and my brother…. He made the colossal mistake of trusting me. Like the idiot I am, I didn’t get a lawyer of my own to read through all of the papers my friend had me sign.”

He shook his head in disgust and she winced in sympathy. “What happened?”

“Let’s just say that in the end, all of my hard work ended up becoming his property and I was left with next to nothing.”

“Nothing except for your name and reputation for genius,” she reminded him.

He smiled over at her but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Exactly. That much at least was enough to get me meetings with new investors. But the world of venture capitalism is cutthroat. It’s hard to know who to trust.”

“But you trust Daniel,” she said.

He looked surprised. Almost offended. “Of course. But that’s my point. I trust Daniel because it’s all about the deal with him. There’s nothing personal about it.”

She smiled over at Jack, breaking the serious mood. “I don’t think that’s true at all. You wouldn’t trust him if you didn’t believe he was just as invested as you are. If you didn’t believe that he was honest and had integrity and was looking out for your best interests.”

Jack smiled over at her. “You really are smitten, aren’t you?”

Ivy grimaced. “Is it that obvious?”

“Well, let’s just say, he’s lucky to have found a woman who can see the best qualities in him despite his best efforts to keep them hidden.”

Ivy rolled her eyes. “He’s not that bad. I know he can act like a tin man but he does have a heart you know.”

“If you say so. You know him better than I do.” He wriggled his eyebrows suggestively. “You know him far more intimately, if you know what I mean.”

Ivy laughed and looked pointedly at her watch. “Have we stayed away long enough yet? I’m beginning to tire of all this hanky panky.”

Jack let out a snort of laughter and picked up the speed. “Do you mind if I just drop you off? Brunelli’s son told me he’d give me a tour of the plant.”

He looked as excited as a little kid at Christmas. “Go nuts. I can occupy myself for an afternoon.”

The villa was oddly quiet and empty with the little ones sleeping. She wasn’t sure where the other grown ups were. Maybe they needed a nap even more than the kids. She wandered from one room to another, unsure of what to do with herself. There must be a library around somewhere.

She was headed in a direction that she hoped led to a library when she heard their voices. Or rather, when she heard Daniel. She’d never heard him raise his voice before and the sound of his fury was frightening.

“You have gone too far, Gianni. I mean it.”

She couldn’t make out Brunelli’s words but he sounded like he was trying to appease him.

“I don’t care how great your intentions were, you had no right to interfere with my family. How long have you been friends with my grandfather? Because I don’t remember you being around when I was a kid.”

Again there was a soft murmur, Brunelli trying to calm him down, she imagined, but Daniel only got louder.

“If he told you everything, he must have told you about the ultimatum he gave me and how I chose to leave him and the family. I made my decision, Brunelli. What’s done is done.”

She heard a door slam and footsteps heading toward the veranda. Ivy hesitated for a moment before following. She found Daniel alone out back, staring out at the rolling hills that seemed to go on forever.

“Daniel?”

He didn’t answer. She walked up behind him and laid a hand on his back. “Go back inside, Ivy.” His voice was gruff.

She stayed where she was. “What happened?”

“I mean it, Ivy. If Brunelli comes out here and finds us together like this….”

Ivy let out an exasperated sigh. “Just forget about the precious deal for one minute and tell me what’s going on. Maybe I can help.”

He spun around so quickly, her hand was knocked aside. “You know how you can help? You can go back inside and stay away from me. The only reason you’re here is to play your role. That’s it. If you can’t do that one simple task—” He cut himself off with a curse.

Tears pricked the back of her eyes but she blinked them back. He was emotional, he was venting. She could take it.

He turned his back again and raked a hand through his hair. “Goddammit, Ivy.”

She knew there was every chance that Brunelli or one of his brood would walk out at any moment. “Come on,” she said. “Let’s go for a walk.”

* * * *

Daniel felt like the worst kind of heel. He tried to apologize for his outburst but she waved him off. She grabbed his hand and led him down a path that veered away from the main house. “Where are we going?”

“Somewhere we can talk without interruption.” Despite her size, she had the air of a commander and he brooked no argument as he followed her into a thicket of tall trees. There was a clearing in the middle with some large boulders. She perched atop one and patted the spot next to her.

He sat down and let his head drop into his hands. She didn’t push him but he knew she was waiting for him to speak. “He wants me to reconcile with my family.” He looked up then and saw her watching him with concern. And something more.

Alarm bells went off. He was entering into dangerous territory—or maybe he’d entered that dangerous territory the moment he’d kissed her in the elevator. The look she was giving him screamed commitment and future. Damn it, why had he given in to temptation? He should never have strayed from the jaded, worldly women of his set. Now this beautiful, sweet woman was going to get hurt and it was his fault.

She was waiting for him to continue and he found that he actually wanted to tell her the whole story. He
needed
to tell her. The time would come for him to put an end to their tryst—as soon as the deal was done and the engagement was called off, he would end their affair. There was no room for a woman like her in his life—not in the long run. In the meantime, while she was still in his life, he was compelled to be honest with her.