Page 14 of What a Lord Wants

“I know you, my Domenico.” She turned her attentions back to him. “You’re a man with great talent and greater ambitions, and you will never be satisfied without me. You’ll never find a woman who can truly replace me. Not in your studio.” She trailed a fingertip along his jaw. “Certainly not in your bed.”

Then she cupped his face against her palm and rose up to bring her mouth to his in an inviting and sultry kiss.

Eve flushed and looked away, although it wasn’t embarrassment that sped through her but anger, and a hot jealousy she had no right to feel.

He took the woman’s arms and set her away. “We’re done, Constance. It’s over.”

But his attempt to dissuade her only amused her. “Not until I say it is.”

Putting an end to the conversation, she stepped past him, trailing her hand over his broad shoulder as she went. She stopped and looked at Eve, not bothering to hide her disdain.

“Whatever do you see in this pathetic girl?” she called out to him.

Eve looked down at the book she held in her hand, trying to hold it still despite the anger that made her shake. “Il maestro mi ha detto che ero bella, alla mia anima,” she commented, loudly enough for both of them to hear and know that she’d understood every word they’d said.

She raised her eyes from the book. It was her turn now to cast a scrutinizing gaze over a very surprised Constance. Eve dismissed her with a sniff, returning her attention to the book, although she couldn’t have said for the life of her what picture was on the page.

“Perhaps he grew tired of having to compensate for superficiality and seeks a deeper satisfaction in his art.” Eve didn’t dare to look up as she added, “And in his bed.”

Constance gave a sound of strangled fury.

Forcing herself not to look away from the book, Eve turned the page with trembling fingers. But she kept her back straight and her shoulders relaxed, as if she wasn’t bothered one whit by that awful woman.

“Howdareyou!” Constance seethed, but Eve didn’t glance up to discover which one of them she was accusing. Good God, how her hands shook!

“Goodbye, Constance.” Vincenzo moved toward the door, clearly wanting her to leave.

“We are not through, do you hear me?” she bit out. When she reached the door, she lowered her voice into a chilling promise. “You’ll regret this.”

With as much dignity as she could muster, she glided from the studio.

“I already do.” He shoved the wicket closed after her. It rattled on its hinges, and the latch clattered as it dropped into place.

A silent stillness fell over the studio.

Eve knew without having to look at him that he’d leaned back against the door and folded his arms over his chest in that way he did whenever he wanted to appear relaxed but was anything but. He couldn’t possibly be relaxed after a lovers’ spat like that.Herheart was pounding furiously, and their fight didn’t truly involve her. She’d simply been caught in the fray.

“I told you that you were beautiful, did I?” he called out quietly to her in English, translating the insult she’d given to Constance in Italian.

“Yes.”

“All the way down to yoursoul?”

She shrugged. “It was implied.”

He laughed, a low and deep rumble that fell through her like soft summer rain. She couldn’t stop a warmth from blossoming inside her.

“Be careful with Constance,” he warned, his cautionary words contradicting his amusement. “She didn’t leave here of her own accord.”

So Eve had surmised. Rather easily, too.

“She isn’t the sort of woman who handles jealousy well.”

Obviously not. “I can take care of myself.”

“Apparently.” He pushed himself away from the door and arched a brow. “Ma’am?”

“I was only showing respectful deference.”