her chest. 'I can hardly wait.'
Rafaele felt his control slipping. She was goading him deliberately, making him feel things he didn't want to feel. He had never met a more infuriating woman, or a more desirable one. He wanted her so badly his body burned with it. The blood was already thick and heavy in his groin, the pulse of lust so strong he could feel it pounding in his ears. But acting on it was out of the question, or at least until they were officially married. She stood between him and his last link with his father. If he made a wrong move now she might pull the plug just to spite him. How could he trust her? For all he knew she might have cooked this scheme up with that cold-hearted bitch Sondra Henning. They could share the spoils of their victory, leaving him with nothing.
He was not going to let that happen.
He rearranged his features and forced his tense shoulders to relax. 'This is not getting us anywhere,' he said. 'We are arguing like children in a playground. Tomorrow is going to be difficult enough for both of us.'
'I couldn't agree more,' she said. 'That is why I am going to have an early night. If you want dinner you will have to make it yourself.'
Rafaele frowned at her churlish expression. 'I do not expect you to prepare my meals, Emma. That is what I have a housekeeper for. I have employed a temporary one to fill in until my father's lady returns from leave. She will start next week. I could not get anyone any sooner.'
'Have you told her our marriage is not a real one?'
'I did not see the necessity to do so,' he said.
'Isn't she going to think it rather unusual we will not be sharing a bedroom?'
'Many couples do not share a bedroom for a variety of reasons,' he said. 'I will tell her I am a very light sleeper if you like.'
'Fine,' she said and turned to leave.
'Emma?'
He heard her draw in a breath of petulance as she turned back to face him. 'Yes?'
He searched her features for a beat or two. 'I hope I do not need to remind you that I expect you to refrain from bringing any of your lovers back here to the villa.'
She arched her brows at him. 'Do I get the same guarantee from you?'
'Any affairs I conduct will be discreet.'
Her eyes flashed with sparks of grey-blue hatred. 'If you embarrass me publicly, then I swear to God I will do the same to you.'
Rafaele held her feisty glare. 'Do so at your peril, Emma. You might think you have got the upper hand now your goal of marrying a rich man is just hours away, but do not forget who you are dealing with. My father might have been a weak-willed pushover, but you will not find me so easy to manipulate. You put one foot out of line and you will live to regret it. I will make sure of it.'
She gave him an insolent look. 'Do you have any idea how much I loathe and detest you?'
His mouth tilted in a mocking smile. 'If it is even half of what I feel for you, then I would say we are in for a very entertaining year of marriage.'
'I am not staying married to you any longer than necessary,' she said with another defiant glare. 'Once I have what I want I am leaving.'
'Believe me, Emma Money-Hungry March,' he drawled dryly, 'I will be the first on hand to help you pack your bags.'
She looked as if she was going to fling another retort his way, but suddenly seemed to change her mind. Instead she pressed her lips tightly together and brushed past him, her gait stiff with haughtiness. It was only later, much later, that he recalled seeing a glisten of moisture in her eyes before she had lowered them out of the reach of his.
CHAPTER FOUR
WHEN Emma came downstairs the following morning wearing the wedding dress and veil Rafaele's mother had worn on her wedding day he felt a shock wave of reaction go through him. She had styled her chestnut hair into a smooth princess-like chignon at the back of her head, her flawless face lightly made up with foundation and eye-shadow and just a hint of blusher on her cheeks. Her lips were a glossy pink and the fragrance she wore floated down towards him with every cautious step