She glanced up and his dark eyes were smiling down at her with such warmth that she lost herself in the intensity of his gaze on her. His strong Roman nose, that square chin, with a touch of dark regrowth along his firm jaw. That sexy mouth curved as he watched her. ‘What are you doing here?’ she asked.

‘It is good to see you, too, dear Stella. But I think I have shocked you? You know my son wishes to settle here.’ The smile stayed in his voice. Then he gestured dramatically with his good hand, a very Italian trait that she loved about him. ‘My son is in love with this place. You knew that.’ He shrugged. ‘So, I have bought Dreamtime. Your next door, though it is kilometres away. Because the woman I want lives near there. And I have come to lay siege.’ He gestured to his bloodied arm. ‘But first, she must suture this wound caused by a piece of metal I cut badly, or so my housekeeper says.’

Stella raised the bandage and the immediate swell of blood over the jagged wound made her wince. Thank goodness Mim was out on the other boundary, so she’d have a chance to think. ‘Lay siege. What rubbish. Come back to the house and I’ll fix that for you.’

‘Stella.’ His voice held a hint of seriousness that made her look up. ‘Is it good I am here?’

She couldn’t lie – wouldn’t. There had been enough lies in her life. ‘Yes.’ But oh, what a mess. She wasn’t sure what was messier – the situation or the arm. Then he stepped forward, and despite his bloodied arm he gathered her in and kissed her. He was making no bones that he was hungry for her. And she could not deny he tasted wonderful.

Their first kiss. He really was here.

He reluctantly eased her away from him to look at her and she clung a little. His eyes darkened and she couldn’t miss the satisfied quirk to his brows. ‘The rest we will sort, then,’ he said, and gestured to her dust-covered vehicle. ‘Drive and I will follow in my car and then I will explain.’

Stella could do nothing else; her brain had turned to mush. She climbed into the truck and checked behind her as if to be sure it wasn’t all a trick of the heat. But there he was. A crazy Italian millionaire behind her in his car. Stella’s fingers shook on the wheel. She who had the steadiest hand around.