The Italian's Fake Fiancée

13

    On arrival at the airport, a private jet was already waiting for them.
   
    "Remember, we must always act like we're in a relationship. Now I know this might be hard for you, but do this for me please," Leo muttered staring at her.
   
    They were inside the private jet, which Paige learned belonged to his family, and for several minutes the opulent interior and decor had her gawping like a fool. She couldn't be blamed; she had never been inside one before now.
   
    When she turned to her boss, she noticed his eyes were on her, and he seemed to be waiting for an answer.
   
    Paige fought the urge to laugh. It wouldn't be hard to do what he was saying because she was in love with him. How hard can it be to express what she already felt?
   
    She let a smile grace her face and nodded her head in understanding. "I perfectly understand."
   
    "Are you sure you do?" He looked doubtful. "Because that would mean kissing, holding hands, touching." He paused as if to let that sink in. "We are going to find ourselves in situations where we will have no choice than to do all of that. Are you sure you can do that?"
   
    Again his face bordered on uncertainty.
   
    Paige nodded her head and swallowed. He was watching her. His little to no description of the situation had put ideas in her head and she found herself imagining a scene where he was touching her.
   
    Under his penetrating gaze, her face reddened, and she pulled her gaze away from him.
   
    Few seconds later, the sound of his voice rapping out smooth Italian caused her to turn her head, watching him converse with the hostess in a language she could not understand.
   
    Left in the background she noted the fine lines of his face, the typical high cheekbone, the sharp jawline and firm slim lips. Paige's heart somersaulted from the futile longing of what was so out of reach.
   
    He finished and turned his dark gaze to her, explaining why he was acquiring a fake fiancée, unaware of the deep feeling which resonated in her.
   
    He told her everything and anything he could think of and by the time he was done Paige's lid was dropping from tiredness, but before she fell into a deep slumber, she felt two hands lift her and take her to the en suite bedroom on the private jet. There she let herself succumb to sleep.
   
    Little more than two hours later they arrived at the airport and dismounted.
   
    A black, long, shiny limousine was waiting for them which took them straight to the Palazzo D'Angelo in the town of Montepulciano where they were greeted at the door by Leo's mother, Flavia who told them Leo's sister, father and uncle had gone to the vineyard and would be back before dinner. The rest of the family she would meet during dinner.
   
    After subjecting her to her cool stare, Flavia warmed towards Paige when Leo told her she was his fiancée. Muttering something in Italian which Paige couldn't catch, but had brought Leo's mouth to one side. Paige looked between mother and son but said nothing.
   
    For her sake, they were speaking in English since she couldn't understand Italian. Flavia asked about their journey and asked Leo to take her to his room, which they would be sharing. As couples about to get married, there was no need to find Paige a different room. Flavia's words.
   
    Curious to see how Leo lived, she followed him up the stairs. For it was said to know a man better, you have to see how he lives. Paige was surprised at the exquisite taste of her boss.
   
    One, the bedroom was overly large with a balcony that overlooked the pool. Draped in dark colors of green and cream, the room looked positively masculine. It wasn't hard for Paige to get the impression of brown cupboards, paintings on the wall, a chandelier and of course the big white bed with several pillows on it.
   
    After dismissing the manservant who had brought in their luggage, Leo turned to her and said, "You're okay?" Paige smiled and nodded her head, and he told her to freshen up and dress for the dinner, which she did, dressing in another gown Leo had bought for her.
   
    When he returned for her. She noticed he had already had his bath elsewhere for his brown hair was slightly damp, and he was dressed down, clad in a white shirt and a blue pants. His shirt sleeves had been folded to rest on his arm, and Paige got a glimpse of the strong arm beneath.
   
    He stopped in front of her then, towering over her. His eyes making a quick detour around her body and back. "You look ravishing," he announced.
   
    Paige blushed at the compliment and suddenly found her hand busy as she couldn't stop herself from pulling her hair behind her ear.
   
    It meant nothing, she told herself before she starts getting any ideas. He was just being nice and paying you a compliment. But, If he paid her any more attention than he already was, Paige feared her feelings would double, which was funny because the essence of this fake engagement was to devote enough attention, so his parents would actually think he was serious with her.
   
    Oblivious to the things running in her mind, Leo took her hand and stirred her towards the stairs.
   
    Halfway he stopped and tipped her chin up. Paige's eyes widened, and she wondered what he was doing. Was he going to kiss her? Had she been wrong? He removed his hand and tucked it into the pocket of his pants, staring intently at her. His gaze unnervingly direct.
   
    "Paige, I want you to be the smart woman you have always been. Don't let anyone intimidate you. And when I say that, I mean my sister." He stopped, as if afraid he was not conveying his message accurately. A frown drawing his dark brows together. "Do whatever you want and say whatever makes you feel comfortable, just not something that would embarrass me."
   
    As he stirred her toward the dining room Paige wondered what he was on about, and why he would need to say all that to her, however, immediately they stepped into the dining room she understood why.
   
    The dining room was on the ground floor and exquisitely furnished. The table was so long, it was filled with people she didn't know. Several pairs of eyes landed on her all at once, similar faces and Paige, who had always prided herself on her self-confidence, faltered.
   
    With that many eyes on her, she felt the urgent need to shrink back and disappear, that was until she felt Leo's reassuring hand on her back and gradually she cleaned that idea away from her mind and her confidence slowly sipped in evident in the assured steps she delivered In her heels and the answering smile on her face which Flavia returned, waving them over to the seat opposite her.
   
    Paige stifled a sigh of relief as Leo stirred her to the table and introduction began and by the end of it she knew who was who. She knew there was an uncle, sister, father, mother, cousin, aunt, a grandma and a second cousin twice removed.
   
    They just came in numbers of two or three. As the many inquisitive eyes left her, Paige began to relax and had even accepted Leo's suggestion to help her select her food as she didn't know most of the local dishes on the table, and they had been kind enough to let her taste some to see what she liked when Rosa turned to her and said,
   
    "So how did it happen?"
   
    Was it stupid to say she didn't like the evil glint in the woman's eyes? Paige sensed instant dislike from Rosa, it was only natural she returned it. No one likes someone who had taken it on first meeting to dislike them.
   
    Leo dropped his fork. "Rosa!"
   
    There was no mistake the vehemence in that word, but Rosa turned what Paige would call a fake smile to her brother and said, "Brother what harm can a little question like that do, you know that's what women do." When put like that, there was no denying her logic.
   
    All eyes turned to Paige. It seemed everyone wanted to know how she got involved with Leo, but no one wanted to be the one to break propriety and ask her when she had just begun eating. Paige held her fork a little tighter than she ought to. "How did what happen?" She managed with a fake smile of her own, knowing whatever this was it would not end well.