‘So you wired her five thousand dollars.’

Issy nodded guiltily. ‘I hate myself. You’ve been so good to me.’

‘You did the only thing you could, Iz. You were protecting your family. I only wish you’d felt able to come to me in the first place.’

‘I wish I had too,’ Issy admitted. ‘But I was scared – I felt so stupid and alone, like it was somehow my fault.’

‘I don’t ever want you to feel like that again. But I’m glad you’ve finally told me, so I can help properly.’

Issy stared up at him, wide-eyed. ‘What do you mean?’

‘We’ll get your mom better, I promise. Honestly, leave it all to me. I don’t want you to worry about anything. You’ve been through enough.’

Issy could hardly believe what she was hearing – Brad was going to help her. She wanted to throw her arms around him to say thank you, but she wasn’t sure it was appropriate. She felt as though she didn’t know anything any more. Her world had been turned upside down and back again these last few days.

‘And you know what else?’ Brad was grinning, and Issy cautiously smiled back. Hope was blossoming inside her, and she was beginning to feel as though things might finally be going her way. Brad held up the envelope in his hand. ‘I’m going to accept your resignation.’

‘What?’ Issy’s face fell, then she nodded glumly. ‘I understand, I just thought—’

Brad cut her off. ‘I don’t want you as my PA,’ he said, looking at her intently. ‘Look, you can tell me to go to hell if I’m out of line, but I want … well, I want you,’ he finished, his voice raw with emotion.

‘What are you saying?’ Issy breathed, wanting him to spell it out, wanting to hear him say the words so there could be no mistake.

‘Issy, I’m saying I’m crazy about you. You’re incredible – intelligent, beautiful, an amazing person. A great friend. The idea of you not being in my life is … Well, I don’t even want to think about it.’

A doubt was niggling at the back of Issy’s mind – was it all too good to be true? ‘Isn’t this a bit sudden?’ she protested. ‘The rest of the world thinks you’re still married to Lexi.’

‘You want to know the truth?’ Brad’s eyes were trained on hers, as though willing her to understand. ‘Lexi’s had flings before. I’ve always turned a blind eye and forgiven her – I felt like it was partly my fault for not making more of an effort with our marriage. I guess it just seemed easiest to stay together. You know what changed this time?’

Issy shook her head.

‘You. My feelings for you. That’s what gave me the push to finally end it with her. I couldn’t stop thinking about you and, after the other night at the ball, I dared to hope that you might feel the same way.’

Issy felt as though she was walking on air, floating somewhere high above and looking down on the scene below. It was everything she’d dreamed of hearing Brad say. He was crazy about her, and he wanted to be with her.

‘So what do you say?’ Brad asked, and Issy was moved to detect a trace of uncertainty in his voice. ‘Shall we give it a try?’

Issy didn’t say a word. Instead, she leaned forward and kissed him passionately, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him close. It was all the answer Brad needed.

Chapter 37

BRAD RESCUES NEW LOVE LUCIA FROM NEAR-DEATH!

BRAD REDFORD IN REAL-LIFE MOVIE RESCUE!

LA LEONESSA’S LIFE SAVED BY BRAD REDFORD!

Lucia was in her private hospital room, located in a converted palazzo with a magnificent view over the Grand Canal. She was sitting up in bed, and a kind nurse had brought her a selection of newspapers and magazines to browse while she convalesced. They were spread out across the white sheets, and Lucia had devoured them, hungry for news of the outside world. But she’d become tired quickly and couldn’t read for too long. Her brush with mortality had left her surprisingly shaken. With more time on her hands than she’d had in many years, lying alone in her hospital bed, she had been reflecting on all aspects of her life. The gossip magazines were a welcome distraction.

She was unsurprised to find that the helicopter crash dominated the headlines, with endless pages given over to inaccurate speculation presented as fact. The true story was shocking enough, but the press had added two and two together and come up with five hundred. Lucia had been shocked to learn that Brad Redford and Lexi Parker had announced their intention to divorce. She’d been even more astonished to discover that the press were painting her as the reason for the split. Since she’d been pictured with ‘Brad’ during her dinner with Marco, the journalists had assumed they were having some wild affair, claiming that Brad had left Lexi for Lucia. Not only that, but he’d apparently saved La Leonessa’s life in the most dramatic fashion.

Lucia smiled wryly. Ordinarily, she’d have been delighted with blanket coverage like this, basking in the attention as the world’s media put her front and centre of every article. To her surprise, though, she found she really didn’t care. Bianca, her agent, had been calling daily with offers of huge deals in exchange for her side of the story, but so far Lucia had turned them all down. Perhaps, when she was feeling stronger, she’d change her mind.

There was a knock on the door and a nurse entered.

‘I have a visitor for you,’ she smiled, before standing aside.

Lucia looked up curiously. She couldn’t see who it was at first, due to the enormous bouquet of red roses he was carrying which completely covered his face and chest. Then he set them down on the first surface he saw and rushed over to Lucia.

‘Davide,’ she gasped. He looked the epitome of Italian cool in his chinos and black polo neck. The dark hair greying at the temples gave him an air of maturity, and he was sporting a deep tan from his recent holiday. She couldn’t believe he was here, and wondered if the medication was making her hallucinate.

‘I came as soon as I heard,’ he said, clasping her hands and smothering her with kisses as the nurse discreetly shut the door.

‘I thought you were in Mustique.’

‘I flew back on the first flight I could get. I was so worried. What happened?’

‘I don’t know exactly. There was an accident, and the helicopter crashed into the lagoon. I can’t swim, and I blacked out, but I was rescued—’

‘By Brad Redford,’ Davide said darkly.

Lucia laughed softly. ‘That’s not quite the full story. I believe it was … one of the hotel staff,’ she said carefully, ‘who came to my rescue first. We were surrounded by boats – one of them just happened to be driven by Brad Redford. Who is not my lover,’ she added, ‘despite what the press are saying.’

‘Was it that man again?’ Davide pressed. ‘The same one you were dining with last week?’

‘Are you jealous, amore mio?’ Lucia asked. But her tone was calm, and she wasn’t playing a game. She sounded merely curious. ‘Is that why you rushed here to see me? Are you planning to give up everything for me? Or did you merely enjoy the grand gesture?’

Her questions stopped Davide in his tracks, and Lucia could see that he was wondering at her behaviour. She was acting completely differently to how she would have done before the accident, but a lot had changed for her. Everything had changed, in fact.

‘Lucia,’ he said softly. ‘I love you. That’s why I came racing here to see you, but I … I can’t leave my family for you. My wife, my children … I’m sorry.’ He lifted her hands to his lips and kissed the back of them. ‘I always told you that, and nothing has changed. You are incredible, you know that. You’re so special. My little firecracker,’ he smiled sadly. ‘But I have a duty and …’

‘I understand,’ Lucia said quietly. ‘Then this is goodbye.’

Davide looked horrified. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Exactly what I said. I can’t be your mistress any more. I deserve better.’

‘If this is an ultimatum …’

‘No, Davide, not this time. Go, be with your family. But please, don’t contact me again.’

‘Lucia, you can’t mean it. I’ve never met anyone like you. We adore one another. And our passion … I can’t live without it!’

Lucia smiled wryly. ‘I’m sure you can, Davide. We’ve had a lot of fun over the years. But now it’s over. Please don’t be sad or angry. Let’s be dignified about this.’

Davide looked at her, his gaze sweeping over her. ‘You’re … different somehow. I don’t know how to explain it.’

‘It’s true,’ Lucia agreed. ‘You can’t go through an experience like I have – to look God in the face and tell him it’s not your time – and not be changed by it. Life is fragile, and precious, and not to be wasted. I can’t spend it frivolously any more, chasing after a married man. I need someone who is worthy of me. Who loves me for me. It’s possible I may not have my reputation for much longer anyway.’