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comforting, he thought, and then cursed sharply. What did he need with comfort? All he wanted was somewhere he could withdraw from his hectic business life and enjoy some quality time. The Bella Terra estate offered everything he wanted. And it had the added advantage that at least one of the neighbours shared his love of solitude.
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    â€˜I really enjoyed that,’ Kira said as they reached the front doors again after the grand tour.
    â€˜You sound surprised?’ He raised his eyebrows.
    â€˜I am! I only agreed to stand in for that estate agent because I was sure you wouldn’t turn up this afternoon. I tend to try and avoid people, when I can.’
    â€˜You couldn’t avoid me,’ Stefano reminded her, stepping out of the house and striding off across the terrace. He was intent on seeing the grounds. That made Kira nervous. The bulky clouds rising up over the far ridge of hills were backlit by a blood-red sun. Despite that warning, he kept heading away from his helicopter, and towards the storm. Kira didn’t share his confidence.
    â€˜Shouldn’t you be going, Stefano?’ she called, needing to draw his attention to the threatening sky.
    He turned. ‘Anyone would think you were trying to get rid of me! I like this place, Kira. I want to see the rest of it.’
    â€˜But it’s going to rain!’
    He was unimpressed. ‘Get wet, get dry again. That’s my motto. I’m going to be living in this beautiful villa, so I should start thinking like a country person. Maybe I can learn to look on the trees as nature’s umbrella.’
    Kira wasn’t sure if he was joking. She hated uncertainty, and followed him to find out. A growl of thunder prowled into the valley, which was something else she didn’t like. She stopped dead.
    â€˜You’re going to walk around the grounds in this weather? You might get struck by lightning! Are you mad?’
    He paused. ‘I’ve been called many things in my time, but never that!’ After another second’s thought, he started towards her as rapidly as the storm. As hereached her side, he narrowed his eyes. ‘Are you scared? Is that it?’
    â€˜Of course not,’ Kira said, raising her chin defiantly and determined to shadow him whatever the weather might throw at them. ‘Nothing scares me.’
    He didn’t look convinced, but swung away across the terrace again.
    â€˜Come on, then. I’ve seen enough of your landscape work from the upper floors to know that I want you to work for me,’ he announced, leaving her to run and catch him up. ‘After hearing about what you did for Sir Ivan, I’ve decided my town house in Florence needs a new designer. I want more greenery, and a roof garden. When you’re not busy with that, you can act as consultant to some inner-city work I’m funding. Currently, it lacks focus. Community projects have been successful elsewhere. Your input may be exactly what I need. I’ll want you to design something to appeal to everyone, and then organise working parties to—’
    â€˜Wait!’ Kira tried to halt the imperious flow of instructions. ‘That all sounds good and important, but I can’t simply drop everything on your say-so!’
    He stopped, as the sun went behind a cloud.
    â€˜Why not?’ He stared at her, uncomprehending.
    â€˜Because…I’ll have to consult my schedule,’ Kira replied with dignity. She decided that Stefano was clearly far too used to getting everything his own way. Still, a chance to design the roof garden for a no doubt exceptionally beautiful town house in Florence…
    â€˜With the loss of the Bella Terra’s owner, you’re one client down. You’ve already said as much. I can fill that gap for you,’ Stefano announced affably. ‘You’ve already told me you hate canvassing for jobs and courtingpublicity. I’ve seen what you can do, and I’m