The Billionaires Collection. Оливия Гейтс

using her was chipping away at that mask—unveiling the real Bianca layer by layer. She couldn’t let it happen. If he saw beneath the veneer she lived behind, she would be lost, unable to guard her heart from the pain of being used—yet again.

      ‘I was most certainly not.’ Her indignant tone made him step back, but there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes, irritating her further. ‘And most definitely not by you.’

      ‘That’s not how it seemed last night.’

      ‘Last night was a mistake. The only way I would ever kiss you again is if it was necessary for this facade of an engagement. Nothing you can say or do will change my mind.’

      ‘Is that a challenge?’

      ‘You are insufferable.’ She flung the words back at him, outraged that he’d used her response last night against her. ‘It would be far more productive if we visit my family home. It’s sure to be noticed and make it into the celebrity columns.’

      ‘Very clever.’ The way he was looking at her sent butterflies charging wildly around her stomach, despite the building humiliation at his overconfident flirtation.

      ‘I’ve also lined up an interview with a top New York magazine, so you can tell of your past rather than the press dig it up.’

      ‘You really are excelling yourself. When is the interview?’

      ‘Tomorrow afternoon. Then I thought we could visit my family home next weekend, use that as a bit more engagement publicity.’

      ‘I will be at the interview tomorrow, but we will not visit your grandfather next weekend. I have a long weekend away planned for us. I have invited one of the magazines for a photoshoot, giving them an engagement exclusive.’

      Bianca’s head was spinning. That wasn’t what she’d meant at all. All she’d wanted was to set her grandfather’s mind at rest. How did he manage to turn everything to his advantage?

      ‘I’m not sure that’s such a good idea,’ she said anxiously, wondering what her family would think when they saw such a piece, let alone the fact that she’d always strived to be out of the limelight.

      ‘It is not negotiable, Bianca. It is all arranged. We will visit your grandfather as we return to New York. If I meet him in person before the article goes out, I’m sure that will settle your worries.’

      Worries? Was that what he thought of them as? It was all right for him; he didn’t care about deceiving anyone. He didn’t have any family to worry about. The fact that she was lying to her brothers and sisters was one thing, but lying to an old man, one whose life was ebbing away far too fast, was not something she was happy with.

      It hurt to think that she’d take Liev to meet him, pretend to be head over heels in love just to reassure her grandfather, then upset him, giving him more to worry about when she broke it off.

      ‘A weekend away and an engagement photoshoot aren’t necessary.’

      ‘It is if you want your bracelet before the end of three months.’

      ‘But it’s too intimate, too...’ Again she floundered for words.

      ‘It is publicity, Bianca, the sort that will achieve my aims quickly.’

      ‘I see that, once again, you have made sure I have no option but to play this your way.’ The sharpness of her tone made his brows rise. ‘Again you are all but blackmailing me.’

      ‘No, an exclusive like this was always part of the deal. Meeting with your grandfather, however, was not.’ He moved towards her and his tone softened. ‘But I am not as mercenary as you like to believe, so we will visit him.’

      Bianca was baffled by his sudden change of mood and blinked in shock as his closeness invaded her senses once more. How could she be so attracted to, so drawn by, the very man who had such power over her? Not for the first time she wished tonight’s party was already over.

      * * *

      Liev couldn’t help but take in Bianca as she looked up at him, all wide-eyed. Her dark eye make-up and deep red lipstick was back and the black silk dress clung to her like a second skin. Diamonds sparkled from her ears and around her throat, and his ring shone on her finger. She was stunning, but he was also glimpsing someone softer, someone much more vulnerable beneath.

      He brushed his fingers over her face once more and wondered if he wiped away the make-up would he reveal the true Bianca so easily. He doubted it, but talking about her grandfather had certainly made the mask slip.

      She’d also agreed to the perfect opportunity to show the world they were a couple. It was far more than he’d hoped for, far more than he’d ever imagined as he’d snatched her precious bracelet from under her nose, and exactly what he needed.

      Time away from everyone and everything would give him the perfect opportunity to find out all he needed to know about Dario Di Sione and ICE—and use their engagement in the most public way possible.

      ‘So you would have no objection to our official engagement photographs being taken?’

      ‘No.’ She looked at him sceptically and he could see the shadow of doubt in her eyes. ‘We should be at the party now.’

      He offered her his arm, enjoying the feeling of her close to him. The heightened response of his body to that closeness was more pronounced than he’d yet experienced. Bianca Di Sione was getting to him, infiltrating the barriers he’d erected as an angry twelve-year-old to keep out tender emotions. The only consolation was that she, too, was losing her fiery edge, that harshness she hid behind which was more than the make-up she wore. She was as aware of him as he was of her.

      That awareness still sizzled through him as they arrived at the party. As with any high-society event, the press were waiting outside the hotel for an opportune shot. The lenses clicked and the flashguns burst into life around them as he guided Bianca into the hotel.

      Ever the professional, she smiled, pausing briefly for the press, her body melding against his as a lover’s would, pushing his limits of restraint ever higher.

      The earlier shock of realisation that he enjoyed being with her, enjoyed the feel of her body close to his, surfaced once more. Contrary to all he’d previously expected, he actually looked forward to a whole weekend at his island retreat. Once the exclusive interview on their engagement was over they would be alone. Nothing could get in the way of him finding out what he needed to know, and more importantly, she wouldn’t be able to run home and hide.

      ‘The guest list is large and very influential,’ she said as they left the press behind for the peace of the hotel lobby. ‘I will be able to make good connections for you this evening.’

      Her voice pulled him out of his thoughts and back to the party, but his response was silenced as she let her wrap slide from her shoulders. Her strapless dress drew his attention and all he could think of was pressing his lips against the paleness of her shoulders.

      ‘Nothing more than I would have expected from you.’ Finally he managed to string a sentence together.

      ‘I will take that as a compliment.’ She smiled up at him. A real smile. One that made those beautiful lips appear even more kissable. Her eyes sparkled with genuine amusement and something happened as his pulse seemed to race. In that moment all he wanted to do was make her smile, to see the woman who lurked unexpectedly close to the surface of that tough exterior she literally painted on.

      ‘Not only are you very talented, but you look even more beautiful this evening.’

      She blushed and looked away from him. A sense of satisfaction filled him as he realised that whatever it was between them, it was enabling him to see a far softer side to her than he suspected she wanted him to see.

      She turned and walked away, taking a glass of champagne as she entered the party, giving him no option but to follow.

      * * *

      As Liev placed his hand in the small