Luc grinned at her obvious bemusement. “Murphy was a stray. He sort of adopted me.”
Lia could see now that the cat was a little worse for wear, one ear ripped and a scar down his nose. She reached out a hand and stroked him. Murphy rubbed his head against her hand.
Luc smiled. The effect was devastating, and for a moment, Lia actually felt jealous of the cat, held in his arms. She pushed the thought away. That wasn’t going to happen—not again. But still, she found herself staring at him. He caught her gaze for a long moment then looked away.
“Let’s finish the tour.” He lowered the cat to the floor.
There was one room he didn’t show her, just waved a hand toward it. “That’s my office.”
Lia glanced at the door. She was sure she could find out all about Luc Severino if only she could get in there. Wouldn’t that be good, she mused silently, get in there, find some incriminating evidence, and get the blackmailing bastard at his own game. She came out of her happy daydream to find Luc watching her, an amused expression on his face.
“Don’t even try,” he drawled. “You’ll never get past the locks.”
“I bet I could, if I wanted to.”
“They only open with my thumbprint,” he said wagging his thumb.
Lia was impressed—talk about high-tech—but she wasn’t going to let Luc see that. “I saw a film like that once, but it was eyeballs.”
“A retinal scan.”
“They got into that room,” she said with anticipatory relish, “by cutting his eyeballs out.”
Luc laughed. “Bloodthirsty little thing, aren’t you? Remind me not to leave the carving knives out.”
Despite herself, Lia laughed. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to try to get into your office. I told you, I was looking for information on my father that night. I’m not interested anymore, so your secrets are safe.” She gave him a suspicious look. “What have you got in there that’s so secret? Some sort of criminal plans?”
He ignored her question and led her back into the living room.
“Why don’t you sit down?”
She avoided the cream leather sofa and perched instead on one of the chairs. He took a seat opposite. Lia peered around. “Anyway, there’s one important thing you’ve missed on this tour. Where are the cameras?”
“You’re in danger of becoming paranoid, cara.”
“Yeah, right. How can you say that when the only reason I’m here is because you got me into a compromising position and took photos of me? Who knows how many times you’ve done this sort of thing before for your own nefarious purposes.”
“Nefarious?” he said with a chuckle. “I’ve been called many things, but that’s a new one. And it may come as something of a surprise, but I do not actually make a habit of seducing women in my office.”
“So why make an exception with me?”
“It seemed like a good idea at the time.” He relaxed back in his seat and studied her. “Can’t you accept that I wanted you, found you attractive and desirable? And you, Lia, why did you sleep with me?”
“I thought you knew why. I was using you, of course. Getting you all relaxed so you would fall asleep and I could search your office. Hey, and guess what—it worked.”
“So how many men have you slept with?”
“That’s none of your business,” she said stiffly.
“Humor me.”
She bit her lip, but really it was no big deal. “Two.”
“And I’m presuming one of them was me,” he said smiling. “I knew you were innocent.”
“That doesn’t make me innocent. And don’t go thinking it means anything. I’ve just had my mind on more important matters.”
He examined her for a moment making her want to squirm. “The man I saw you with at the stables, who is he?”
“Which man?”
“The one you kissed.”
Lia thought back, puzzled. She wasn’t in the habit of kissing men at work. Or anywhere, really. Then she realized whom he meant. “Pete.”
“Pete?”
“My boss. He’s a good friend.”
“Boyfriend?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but no.” Not that he wouldn’t have liked to be, but she didn’t say that. “He gave me a job when I was sixteen, and I’ve worked there since. Now he’s my trainer as well, and he lets me compete on his horses—it’s a good job.” She glanced across at Luc. He didn’t appear impressed, but at least he changed the subject.
“So, why did you really want to find your father in the first place? After all this time?”
Lia considered the question, but there was no real reason not to tell him. The reasons no longer applied. Now that Pete was going to buy the land from her, there was no way Luc could use the information against her. “I told you, my mother died. I hadn’t realized until then that the situation was so bad—she’d been paying the mortgage by selling jewelry, paintings, anything and everything. Well, by the time she died, it was all gone. I knew my father had taken out a mortgage on the house before he disappeared. I wanted him to give the money back.”
“So why don’t you want to find him anymore?”
“I don’t need the money now. I’m selling the land that goes with the house. It’ll be enough to keep us going for the next few years.”
“Selling. Who’s buying?” Luc asked suspiciously.
“Pete.”
“I don’t want you taking money from him.”
Lia stared at him in amazement. “I’m not taking anything from him, he’s buying some land. And what business is it of yours anyway? Look, forget about it, it has nothing to do with you.” She got to her feet, impatient. “Why don’t you just tell me about your big plan? What do I need to do for you to destroy those pictures and let me go home?”
“There’s time for that later.”
“Why not now?”
He frowned at her. “Are you always this impatient?”
Lia thought for a moment. “Yes.”
“Well, sit down again, and I might tell you what’s going to happen. Can I get you a drink first?” he asked.
She cast him a snarky look. “Do I look like an absolute imbecile? Been there, done that, and it’s so not happening again.”
He laughed softly. “Don’t blame it all on the alcohol. You were amazingly easy to seduce.”