Chapter 17 A Risky Proposal

• Aria considered the question, but there was no real reason not to tell him. The reasons no longer applied. Now that Pete was going to buy the land from her, there was no way Stefan could use the information against her. “I told you, my mother died. I had not realized until then that the situation was so bad. She had been paying the mortgage by selling jewelry, paintings, anything and everything she could get her hands on. By the time she died, it was all gone. I knew my father had taken out a mortgage on the house before he disappeared. I wanted him to give the money back.” Stefan’s gaze never wavered. “So why do you not want to find him anymore?” Aria shook her head slowly. “I do not need the money now. I am selling the land that goes with the house. It will be enough to keep us going for the next few years.” His eyes narrowed, suspicious. “Selling. Who is buying?” “Pete,” she said without hesitation. Stefan’s expression hardened. “I do not want you taking money from him.” Aria stared at him in amazement. “I am not taking anything from him, he is buying land. And what business is it of yours anyway? Forget about it, it has nothing to do with you.” She got to her feet, impatient. “Why don’t you just tell me about your big plan? What do I need to do for you to destroy those pictures and let me go home?” He smiled faintly, deliberately drawing out the moment. “There is time for that later.” “Why not now?” she pressed. He frowned at her persistence. “Are you always this impatient?” Aria thought for a moment, then shrugged. “Yes.” Stefan’s eyes gleamed. “Well, sit down again, and I might tell you what is going to happen. Can I get you a drink first?” She cast him a sharp look. “Do I look like an imbecile? Been there, done that, and it is not happening again.” He laughed softly. “Do not blame it all on the alcohol. You were amazingly easy to seduce.” Aria crossed her arms. “Yes, but only because I let you. And it will not happen again.” He relaxed back in his seat and studied her, his eyes half closed, his voice low. “Is that a challenge, cara mia?” The sensual promise in his tone made her shiver before she pulled herself together. “No, it is not,” she said firmly, “and will you stop calling me that?” “Calling you what?” he asked, feigning innocence. “Cara mia?” “I am not your cara. I am not your anything. I am here because you threatened me and that is the only reason.” His lips curled into a faint smile. “Really?” He rose smoothly to his feet, moving to stand in front of her. Aria stood up as well, refusing to let herself be at a disadvantage. A wave of apprehension passed through her, but she stood her ground. She was determined she was not going to be intimidated. Still, he was so big, so commanding, and she had always been better at dealing with horses than with people. Maybe she should treat him like a stallion she was training. Stand up to him, show him who was boss, and if all else failed, castrate him. “What are you thinking?” His voice was a murmur. She blinked. “Sorry?” “You were smiling.” “Really?” she asked lightly. Tilting her head back, she forced herself to meet his gaze. His green eyes, partly hidden behind thick lashes, studied her intently. She dropped her gaze, instantly regretting it. His shirt was open at the collar, showing the strong column of his throat and the dark shadow of body hair. She remembered the feel of it beneath her fingers, surprisingly soft. Stefan smiled, the slight curl of his lips stirring unwanted memories. Suddenly she flashed back to the feel of those lips moving against hers, sliding down her skin. She stared at his mouth for a long moment until he chuckled softly, breaking the silence. He reached out and stroked his thumb across her lower lip, and that single touch caused heat to coil low in her belly. “Do not kid yourself, cara,” he said gently. “You want me as much as I want you.” The words sparked a fire inside her. She opened her mouth to deny it, but the thought of him trying to prove his point silenced her. The truth was, he might be a blackmailing bastard, but he was also the most gorgeous man she had ever met, and for reasons she could not explain, he got under her skin like no one else. So instead, she drew a deep breath and sat back down. The sooner they got this over with, whatever this was, the sooner she could go home and return to her life. “So tell me this plan of yours,” she said. Stefan leaned back in his chair. “We are going to get engaged.” Aria’s mouth fell open. She snapped it shut again, but could only stare at him for long moments. Had he really said they were getting engaged? “Never going to happen.” “Do not worry,” he replied smoothly. “I do not expect to have to go through with the actual fuss of a wedding, though we could consider the consummation part.” Aria’s eyes widened. “No way. I would rather get engaged to your monster friend Julian.” Stefan laughed aloud at the remark, the sound surprisingly carefree. For a moment he seemed almost young, almost lighthearted, and Aria did her best to ignore the strange twist in her stomach. “I doubt Julian would agree,” he said. “You are not his type.” Aria sighed heavily. “I do not want to get engaged to you.” The words sounded pathetic even to her own ears, but they were true. Stefan looked unimpressed, and she scrambled for a better argument. “Okay,” she said finally, “forget that. But what can it possibly achieve?” His answer came without hesitation. “Publicity.” Aria blinked, completely bewildered. “Yes, right, because the whole world cares if we get engaged.” His smile was faint but confident. “Do you ever read the gossip columns?” “No,” she replied shortly. “Well, you will just have to believe me when I say I can get us the publicity we need. People are interested in me. You may consider me unlikable, but many others find me fascinating.” Aria could believe it, though she ignored the teasing lilt in his tone. She was not ready to be teased by him, no matter how fascinating others might think he was. “I still do not understand,” she admitted. “So you get the publicity, we get our names in the papers, then what happens?” His expression sharpened. “And then your father, wherever he is, sees it. Or more likely, he hears about it and cannot resist coming out to congratulate you on your amazing catch.” Aria snorted. “Commiserate, more like. And I am not convinced. He has ignored us for the past ten years. I doubt he even knows Noah exists.” “I think he will,” Stefan said calmly. “Julian told me he doted on you.” “Julian was wrong,” she muttered. “We will see. I am hosting a party next Saturday. It was organized long ago, but it will be the ideal place to announce our engagement.” Aria’s lips tightened. “I do not like parties.” “Then pretend,” Stefan replied easily. “We have already established you are a good actress. So act.” He stood, crossed the room, and poured himself a drink. The amber liquid caught the light as he lifted it. “Are you sure you do not want one?” She shook her head firmly. Tonight she would stay in complete control of herself. “I would like a coffee, though.” Stefan put down his drink and walked into the kitchen. Aria sighed with relief as the door shut behind him. He was intense, overwhelming, but strangely enough, despite the blackmail, she felt he would not hurt her. Maybe safe was not the right word, but she believed he would not force her. She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. His plan had no chance of working, so there was no point in worrying about her father suddenly appearing. Pete had once suggested she take a holiday, a real break, and she could not remember the last time she had done so. She had been training constantly since she was sixteen. Her gaze swept the room, taking in the luxurious surroundings. If she had no choice but to stay here, perhaps she could make the best of it. Not that she would admit it to Stefan. She had no intention of making things easy for him. The aroma of fresh coffee filled the air as he returned. “I cannot go to your party,” she said quickly, accepting the steaming cup he offered. She took a sip. It was delicious, strong and sweet, exactly how she liked it. “I do not even own a dress.” “Do not worry,” Stefan said smoothly. “I will arrange for someone to take you shopping. You will have everything you need.” Her brows lifted. “Who? Who will you get to take me shopping? I am not sure I want to be taken anywhere.” He smiled faintly. “Her name is Maggie. She was a friend of my mother’s.” That unsettled her. She did not want him to have a mother with friends. It made him too human. She wanted to keep him firmly in the category of monster. If only he looked like one. Setting down her cup, she sprang to her feet. “I am going to bed.” He moved quickly, his hand catching her shoulder as she tried to pass. Her mind went blank as he turned her gently toward him. She stared at his lips as he lowered his face slowly. It seemed to take forever, but finally his mouth touched hers, firm yet gentle. His tongue slid softly into the warmth of her mouth, filling her with the taste of whiskey and heat. The kiss lasted only a moment before he drew back, leaving her trembling and silent.