Untouched Until Marriage by Chantelle Shaw Read Free Book Online Page B

was a member of his family, his beloved mother’s sister, while Libby had been his father’s mistress—a cheap little gold-digger. ‘I will not tolerate you speaking about any member of my family so disrespectfully,’ he snapped. ‘You are here because my father wished it, but I suggest you remember your place.’
    His arrogance ignited Libby’s temper like a match to dry tinder. ‘What exactly is my place?’ she demanded, throwing back her head so that her flame-coloured curls danced around her face. ‘Your precious aunt looked at me as if I had crawled out of the gutter. And what does puttana mean, by the way? Maybe I’ll ask Silvana to translate for me.’
    Raul glared at her furiously. Never in his life had anyone challenged his authority or spoken to him in such a way as Libby had. He was tempted to grab hold of her and bring his mouth down on hers in a punishing kiss that would shut her up. His nostrils flared as he struggled to control his temper, but his eyes were as cold as chips of granite as he met her gaze. ‘It means whore,’ he said grimly.
    â€˜Oh.’ Libby’s temper deflated like a popped balloon and she felt sick inside. She had been under no illusion that she would be welcomed at the Villa Giulietta. Raul must have been shocked to learn that he was not his father’s sole heir, and he clearly resented her, believingas he did that she had been Pietro’s mistress. He had accused her of being a gold-digger who had targeted a much older, wealthy man—but a whore! ‘That’s horrible,’ she muttered, tears filling her eyes.
    Dio! Libby was a brilliant actress, Raul brooded, infuriated by the pang of guilt that gripped him when he saw her lower lip tremble. She looked so hurt and so achingly vulnerable, but in his experience most women were manipulative, and he was convinced that she was no different. ‘ Zia Carmina was my mother’s sister. After Eleanora’s death she remained close to my father,’ he explained harshly. ‘You must understand that my aunt was deeply shocked to learn that her brother-in-law, whom she loved and respected, had had a secret mistress and a child.’ He frowned. ‘You are so young. Dio , Pietro was old enough to have been your grandfather. It is not surprising that Carmina finds your presence here difficult when she is still grieving for my father.’
    â€˜Grief doesn’t give a person licence to be nasty,’ Libby said, rounding on him. ‘I’m grieving too.’ The pain of losing her mum was still raw. During the day she had to be strong for Gino, but most nights she still cried for Liz. ‘These past few months have been the worst of my life,’ she told Raul thickly.
    Surely Libby was faking the emotion that throbbed in her voice? She could not really be as devastated by his father’s death as she appeared? Raul stared at her in frustration, not knowing what to make of her. Before he had met her he had pigeonholed her as a brash tart devoid of any scruples. But Libby was nothing like he had imagined. If she were to be believed, it seemed that she had genuinely cared for Pietro. But why had such abeautiful young woman been attracted to a man forty years older than her if it hadn’t been for his money? he asked himself angrily.
    Raul tore his gaze from Libby, feeling a sudden need to get away from her. It would have been so much easier if she had been a hard-as-nails bimbo, he thought savagely. He wanted to despise her, but every time he looked at her he was consumed with a burning sexual hunger that shamed him.
    He crossed the room and flipped open a briefcase sitting on the coffee table. ‘It has been a long day, and I am sure you want to settle in. Your bag has been brought up from the car and the rest of your things at the flat will be packed up and sent on in a few days.’ He lifted a sheaf of documents from the case and