Master of Bella Terra by Christina Hollis Read Free Book Online Page A

grew closer. Finally, when they were at the furthest point of the tour, the rain began. Warm drops the size of pound coins darkened the dust, first in ones and twos, then in a downpour of tropical proportions.
    â€˜We’ll head for there!’ Stefano shouted over the torrents of rain. He was pointing at her cottage. ‘It’s the only blot on my landscape. We might as well make use of it before my men clear it away.’
    â€˜What?’ Kira shrieked, but her horror was drowned by thunder roaring right overhead. They dashed for the house, but as they got closer Stefano faltered at the sight of garden flowers spilling through the woven hazel fencing.
    â€˜So someone lives here?’ he shouted over the downpour.
    â€˜Yes—me!’ Kira raced past him and flung open the door of her little retreat.
    Breathless and soaked, they tumbled into the house.
    â€˜I didn’t realise this estate came with a tenant,’Stefano said as Kira kicked off her sandals and padded, dripping and barefoot, into the kitchen.
    â€˜It doesn’t. I own La Ritirata outright,’ Kira told him proudly as she returned, carrying a couple of hand towels.
    â€˜I wasn’t aware of that. How much do you want for it?’ Stefano looked at her quizzically.
    â€˜Oh, it’s not for sale!’ Kira laughed, running lightly up the wide stone stairs to fetch some larger towels from the airing cupboard. Stefano followed her for a few steps. Leaning back against the cream-painted stone wall, he looked up at her as she stood on the landing.
    â€˜Of course it is. Everything is for sale at the right price. You could find yourself a nice little hideaway in this valley, well away from La Bella Terra. Then we could each pretend we were totally alone in the landscape.’
    â€˜That’s the point. There are no other houses—not for miles. That’s partly why I love it here so much.’
    â€˜You could build yourself another paradise anywhere, Kira!’ he went on. ‘I’ve seen the proof, remember. Go on—name a figure. Anything you want, and it’s yours.’
    â€˜All right, then—a million pounds!’ Kira called down with a giggle.
    â€˜Done. I’ll have my staff draw up the paperwork as soon as I get back to the office.’
    Kira waited for him to laugh, but he didn’t. He was in deadly earnest.
    â€˜You’re joking!’ she gasped. ‘This place isn’t worth a fraction of that sort of money!’
    â€˜My peace of mind is beyond price,’ he announced.
    Taken aback by the determination in his voice, Kira shook her head.
    â€˜Well, you may not have been joking, but I was. My house means the world to me,’ she told him firmly. ‘No amount of money would tempt me to give it up. La Ritirata gives me what I’ve always wanted—independence and contentment. I’ve worked hard for my little home, and I feel safe here.’
    A tremendous blast of thunder rattled the windows. Stefano smiled.
    â€˜I notice you aren’t so nervous, now we are within your own four walls,’ he observed. ‘You’ve obviously made a real commitment to this place.’
    â€˜I have.’ She nodded, glad he appeared to have accepted she wouldn’t be moving.
    â€˜In that case, I can’t wait to benefit from the Bella Terra effect. I own a lot of investment properties around the globe, but I can’t honestly call any of them home. If I see a place with potential, I buy it,’ he told her, looking around her neat and compact little home appreciatively. ‘Yet none of my houses have ever developed the comfortable, lived-in feeling of this place.’
    â€˜I spend as much time as I can here. Maybe that’s the secret of my success.’
    â€˜It really works,’ he said as she started back down the stairs towards him, holding out a huge fluffy towel. ‘Living alone in a place like this, you must be as brave and