Da Silva's Mistress by Tina Duncan Page B

know about the two of you?’
    Morgan dragged in a breath, then released it slowly. ’Come on, Luca. Just for one second assume I’m telling you the truth. If you go to Joseph with these crazy accusations, what do you think he’s going to do?’
    ‘Deny it.’
    ‘And…?’ she prompted. He knew Joseph as well as she did. Knew how close he and his wife were.
    Luca raked a hand through his hair and around the back of his neck. ‘And he’d tell Stefania.’
    Morgan folded her arms. ‘I rest my case.’
    Dio, but this was impossible.
    Morgan was still playing with his head.
    Black was no longer black.
    White was no longer white.
    Instead, everything was a murky grey that had the clarity of mud!
    While he believed Morgan was genuinely concerned about Stefania’s health, her reasoning confirmed neither her guilt nor her innocence.
    Luca gritted his teeth until his jaw ached. Clamped his hands into fists until his knuckles turned white.
    So what did he do now?
    Morgan had accused him several times of being unfair.
    Such charges did not sit well with him.
    He was a man of honour.
    Men of honour had principles.
    Principles that included being just and equitable.
    His list of reasons for believing Morgan was innocent was now just as long as the one to prove her guilt.
    Surely that meant there was room for reasonable doubt?
    Grudgingly, Luca had to concede that there was.
    But did that mean he was prepared to give Morgan the benefit of the doubt?
    No! Not when Stefania’s happiness was at stake.
    Did that mean he was prepared to get her her job back and forget the whole thing?
    No, and no again. Not when there was the slightest chance he could be wrong.
    And was he prepared to forget having Morgan as his mistress?
    Double, triple, quadruple no. Not when he wanted her more than he’d wanted any woman.
    Luca wished he could adopt a neutral position where Morgan was concerned, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so.
    He had to stick to his guns!

Chapter Six
    L UCA INSISTED ON taking her to an Italian restaurant the following evening.
    ‘Have you been here before?’ he asked, after the waiter had seated them at an intimate corner table for two.
    Morgan laughed. ‘I hate to tell you this, Luca, but normal people can’t afford to eat in a place like this.’
    ‘I realise that. I just thought someone might have brought you here.’
    She tensed, angling her chin into the air, their conversation the previous day still fresh in her mind. ’Someone? Someone like Joseph, perhaps? Is that what you’re suggesting?’
    Luca frowned across the table at her. ‘Actually, I wasn’t thinking about Joseph. He wouldn’t bring you here. It’s too high profile. Too public.’
    The implication that Joseph would want to keep their relationship private made the tips of her ears burn. It was obvious Luca still believed she and Joseph were having an affair—despite what she’d told him yesterday.
    Overwhelmed by the impossibility of the situation, Morgan thrust back her chair and rose tautly to herfeet. ‘This isn’t going to work. I feel like I’m walking on eggshells all of the time. And all because you’re too stubborn to listen to the truth.’
    His jaw tightened. ‘Sit down, Morgan.’
    It was a command. A command she intended to ignore. She shook her head. ‘No. Remember condition number one? You’re not allowed to tell me what to do!’
    He leaned across the table and gently touched her hand. ‘Please?’
    Morgan stared at the back of his hand. It was covered in scratches. She frowned. ‘What happened to your hand?’
    ‘Baci scratched me.’
    ‘Baci…?’
    ‘My sister’s cat.’
    Her face cleared. Yesterday she’d remained hiding in her bedroom until Luca had finished discussing Joseph before returning to the lounge room. She remembered him telling Stefania he’d check up on her cat for her. ‘Is it in a cattery?’
    He nodded. ‘Yes, I went there this afternoon.’ He held up the backs of both hands for her to