The Italian's Passionate Revenge by Lucy Gordon

Author:Lucy Gordon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2008-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

Next day Vincente left for good and the apartment felt bleak and empty. Half an hour of wandering around it alone was enough to bring Elise to a decision and send her out to pick up a cab. She was away for several hours and arrived back with her arms full of folders.

A text from Vincente announced that he would pick her up at eight that evening, belatedly adding, ‘if that’s all right.’

He looked surprised when he arrived at the apartment.

‘I thought you’d be dressed up and ready to go out.’

‘Sorry. I meant to be, but I got reading and forgot the time.’

‘It must have been fascinating.’

‘It was. Look.’ She showed him the folders. ‘They’re from the place I was studying fashion when I was here before. I’m going back.’

‘You mean as a pupil?’

‘Yes. The current term will finish next week but they’re going to let me join the lessons, just to see if I can still fit in. Then I’ll enroll properly for next term.’

Vincente browsed through the papers while she hurried to get dressed. When she returned he was frowning, but he said nothing until they were settled in a restaurant in the next street.

‘You don’t need to do this now,’ he said.

‘But I want to. I can’t live a useless life. I need to be busy. I’m going to see the estate agent and insist that he makes a real push to sell the apartment, so that I can find something smaller. Then I can have some sort of life of my own.’

‘Are you going to have any time for me?’ he asked satirically.

‘I’ll make a little time,’ she teased. ‘If you’re good.’

‘Good?’

‘I meant virtuous.’

‘Oh, you meant that, did you?’ he demanded sardonically.

‘Now, what else could I possibly have meant?’

‘Eat up, you little shrew.’

Afterwards they strolled back to the apartment, but at the street door he said thoughtfully, ‘I suppose this is the moment when I kiss you virtuously goodnight and go home.’

‘You do and you’re dead.’

Laughing, they went up together. The love-making was delightful and satisfying, but she thought she detected in him a kind of wariness.

‘Why do you keep looking at me like that?’ she asked.

‘I keep wondering what you’re thinking of. Me, or your new career?’

‘Anyone would think you were jealous.’

‘Let’s say I’m possessive. I want you to myself. Jealousy is for people too weak to do anything about it. Don’t ever expect me to behave like a gentleman and bow out. Because, I warn you, I’m no gentleman. Never try to brush me aside.’

She gave him a considering look. ‘Is that what I’m going to do?’

‘You might be foolish enough to try.’

‘And if I did?’

‘I wouldn’t let it happen.’

An awkward imp made her say, ‘But suppose I really wanted to drop you? That would be my decision.’

‘No, cara. When and where it ends between us is my decision. Never forget that.’

His voice was soft, and in that very softness she thought she detected a hint of menace. The imp grew annoyed.

‘Are you saying that you’d try to force me?’

‘That depends on how you define force.

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