The Art of Deception (Choc Lit) Read Free Page B

were taking on a golden hue in the rays of the early morning sun.
    No wonder Max Castanien had fallen in love with the area, she thought.
    A light breeze swept across the side of the mountain and she felt the coarse grass tickle her bare toes. Looking down at her feet, she saw that her sandals were damp where they’d brushed against the dew-tipped poppies and grape hyacinths growing among the grass.
    She glanced up and stared again at the view, a wave of sadness sweeping through her. She was about to spend the best part of two months in a stunning place, and she should be looking forward to relaxing and spending a blissful summer doing something she really loved. Instead, she’d have to be constantly on her guard to make sure that the beauty of the place, and the undeniable attractiveness of her boss, didn’t distract her from her task, even for a moment. And what’s more, she was going to have to put up with another of that hateful family – Max’s nephew. It was going to be one long stressful summer, and she almost wished she’d never met Max Castanien.
    She mentally shook herself – she mustn’t think like that. She’d sought him out and she’d come to Umbria for one purpose alone. That had to be her top priority. No, her only priority. It was the sole reason she was there. The rugged appeal of her boss, the beauty of the place, the thrill of her first paid teaching job – all paled to insignificance next to the goal that had brought her there.
    With a last glance at the panorama in front of her, she turned round and walked quick ly back to the house. Reaching the terrace, she shook some loose gravel out of her sandals, then she picked up the chair nearest to her and added it to the semi-circle.
    ‘ D’you want a hand?’ she heard a female voice call.
    Looking up, she saw a red-haired girl on the terrace in front of the patio doors. ‘It’s OK, Clare; I’m fine thanks. But it was nice of you to offer.’
    ‘ I don’t mind helping, if you want me to,’ Clare said, coming towards her.
    ‘ It’s very kind of you, but I’ve done it now. It wasn’t exactly demanding – a chair for each of the six of you, one for me, a table, an easel and some equipment.’
    ‘ There are only five of us,’ Clare said. ‘At least, there were only five of us at dinner last night, not counting you.’
    ‘ There’s a sixth, but I don’t know whether he’s joining us this morning or not. He and his uncle arrived from England late last night. They’re in the main house; you can just about see it if you look over there.’ She pointed towards the row of tall, dark cypress trees which ran down the side of the garden to the top of the slope. A stone house could be glimpsed through the trees. ‘Both of the houses belong to Mr Castanien. His main home’s in England, though.’
    ‘ Wow, he owns all this? Is he tall, dark and handsome? Forget that – is he married or single? And what about the nephew?’
    Jenny pushed a smile to her lips as she arranged the final chair so that it faced the other six. She looked at the arrangement, and moved her chair back a little, increasing the distance between her and the others. Straightening up, her eyes strayed towards the row of cypress trees. He could arrive at any minute – she felt a nervous fluttering in her stomach.
    ‘ You can have the uncle. I’ll have the nephew,’ Clare went on cheerfully.
    ‘ Sight unseen?’ Jenny said, struggling to inject a playful note into her voice. Her stomach in knots, she went over to her easel and pulled it to the side of her chair so that it faced the semi-circle.
    ‘ You bet,’ Clare giggled. She rushed forward to help with the easel. ‘And it’s not completely sight unseen – I’ve seen the house. Or houses. If this is what they’ve got here, just imagine what they’ve got at home. Oh, look; we’ve got company. It’s Paula.’
    Jenn y’s gaze followed Clare’s to a woman with long black hair, who was standing under the leafy