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again “— personal deal from you.”
    “What could be more personal than me placing my family’s inn up as a guarantee on my loan?”
    He sent her a heated smile that deepened her blush. “You. But it is just as well you didn’t make such an offer for I would have refused your favors.” In fact he’d looked forward to doing just that so she’d know he couldn’t be beguiled. So she’d know he was in charge here—in business and in seduction!
    Her expressive eyes flared with the fire of anger. “You’re vile.”
    He smiled, for he’d been called far worse. “I simply play to win in all things. Should you fail to make your first payment, I will seize your family’s inn.”
    Then she’d regret the day she set out to deceive his father. Then he’d have the satisfaction of hurting her like she’d hurt his mother.
    “You shall have the first payment before the month is out,” she said.
    “I should hope so, bella , since this is the first of the month,” he said, and saw genuine shock register in her eyes. “Today is the due date for your first payment.”
    “No! It can’t be.”
    “I assure you it is. You have until midnight tonight to meet the terms of the loan or forfeit your collateral. Do not bother to ask for an extension or alteration to the terms for the answer will be no. Remember that, Miss Cardone.”

CHAPTER THREE
    T HERE was little chance she’d ever forget that Mr. Arrogant was in total charge of his father’s company. And her?
    Only temporarily.
    “That’s less than twelve hours away,” she said, fighting the panic that left her trembling inside.
    He gave another lazy shrug. “You’ve owed a first payment for months. Are you conceding defeat?”
    “Not at all. I’ll have the money by tonight.”
    Gemma just wished she felt half as sure as she let on.
    She had a little money put back and hoped her brother could loan her the rest. It shouldn’t be a problem as he’d told her countless times of late that he’d had excellent luck at sea with his fishing business.
    But even after that deadline was met, another one loomed in thirty days. And another after that. What a nightmare she’d entered into!
    She couldn’t continue borrowing money from her family. No, her only recourse would be to take out a loan at the bank. At least then she could get more favorable terms. At least then she wouldn’t be subjected to Stefano Marinetti’s lurid suggestions.
    There was no time like the present to appeal to Cesare’sbanker, either. Being indebted to Stefano was simply too stressful for her. Being in the same room with him was nearly more than she could bear.
    Since Signora Marinetti’s funeral when she’d first seen Stefano across the crowded room, she’d had trouble tearing her gaze away from the man whose bearing commanded her full attention. She’d known he’d bring trouble and change.
    She just hadn’t dreamed it would touch her so personally. She hated the power he exerted over her as much as she hated the untenable position she was in.
    “Your ability to meet the deadline deserves celebration,” he said, his voice a rich blend of arrogance and sensuality that whispered over her senses like silk on skin.
    “That isn’t necessary.” Or wanted.
    The less she was in his company the better.
    He lounged back in his chair and stroked his lower lip with one long, blunt finger, the gesture masculinely contemplative and sexy as hell. “I insist.”
    “Fine,” she said when this arrangement was anything but. “Is there anything else you need?” she asked in her most bland business tone, a contradiction to the riot of emotions going on inside her.
    “No, bella , that is all,” he said.
    She stiffened at the endearment, for it was just a phrase to him. Just a toss of words that meant nothing. He likely used it to charm women all the time.
    And Stefano Marinetti certainly knew how to flirt!
    She marched across the room on legs that trembled, refusing to give in to the urge to run