‘I’m offended you think that my thoughts come that cheap,’ she said, her smile evident in her voice. Their bodies were touching ever so slightly and each passing touch, with the warm water slapping against them, turned her on. Even through the haze of intense happiness washing over her, Sophie was astute enough to realise that giving him any kind of unedited version of what wasactuallygoing through her head would be a horrendous mistake. ‘I’m thinking that it’s a shame the sea back home is way too cold to do anything like this. I could float along and just fall asleep right here. Penny for yours.’
With his own question thrown back at him, Niccolo found himself actually considering what she had asked. What was he thinking?
And just for a second, he was alarmed by the disconcerting realisation that he was thinking that he didn’t want this to end. In a life spent in the fast lane, where decisions were made that changed lives and finding time out was always something that had to be worked at, this was relaxation at its most perfect, and he didn’t want it to end.
It was a ridiculous thought, of course. Hadn’t he lived with a first-hand vision of how life panned out for people who didn’t throw everything into work?
Evalina, touring the world until she was a little too old for the luxury of being a nomad, would have ended up in a pitiful, low-paid job had it not been for him.
His parents, irrespective of their love for one another, had similarly failed to realise the vital importance of putting work first and had ended up vulnerable to the consequences, which had been miserable.
He had built his life on the very simple acceptance of certain unquestionable facts.
You worked hard, you accumulated wealth, and you gained freedom from anyone to have a say over the direction of your life.
So this fleeting notion that relaxing as he was doing right now could possibly have any kind of place in his high-octane life was, frankly, foolish.
But it still unsettled him that he could even think like that.
‘I’m thinking,’ he drawled, ‘that this has been a very successful trip work wise and, as an end to my very satisfying closure on the de Luca deal, a couple of hours here couldn’t be better.’
Sophie felt a cool trickle run through her because that was as direct a reminder she could get that what they were enjoying had its limits, boundaries beyond which it would not be allowed to run.
‘And,’ she pointed out, stung by the fact that she had become way too involved with someone who just wanted a playmate for a few days, ‘it’s also been great for you and Annalise.’
‘Meaning?’
He flipped over, treading water for a few seconds, while his eyes met hers, cool and questioning, and that cold trickle got a tiny bit colder.
But they were lovers and why shouldn’t she say what was on her mind? He was only allowed so many ground rules!
It was a mischievous thought but, once lodged in her head, it stubbornly refused to budge.
They were in a bubble where he was no longer her employer and she was no longer his employee. She could revert back to being tactful and discreet when they returned to the UK, just as she would revert back to being the woman who no longer had the pleasure of touching the man she never wanted to stop touching.
‘You’re not really that interested in hearing what I have to say, are you?’ She looked at him for a couple of seconds and then forked off, back towards shore, swimming as fast as she could and aware that he was easily gaining on her without much effort.
But she made it back to the beach and stood up, heading straight for one of the towels in the big canvas bag and wrapping it around herself.
When she turned, it was to see that he had slung a towel round his waist and was moving to the one on the ground, beckoning her to accompany him, his expression no longer cool and remote.
‘I’m not used to people being as forthright with me as you are,’ Niccolo told her quietly, which, for a moment, rendered her a little speechless because she had expected him to move into defence mode, prepared to guard his precious ivory tower whatever the cost. ‘You want to talk to me about Annalise, and of course I want to hear what you have to say. So tell me and don’t think that you have to hold back.’
Sophie hazarded a small smile. ‘When I first arrived,’ she said boldly, ‘I would say that the interactions between the two of you were incredibly formal.’ She ignored his developing frown and the dark flush spreading across his high cheekbones. He lookeduncomfortableand her heart went out to him. Ivory towers had definite drawbacks, and not having the privilege of people daring to confront you had to be one of those drawbacks. Perhaps even his aunt and his parents would not go where she was now determined to tread, but then they would be in his life for ever, whereas she was a temporary fixture, soon to be dispatched.
‘Formal...like how?’
‘I could see how much you love your daughter, Niccolo,’ she said gently. ‘And it’s obvious how hard you work to give her the sort of life you never had, but sometimes I almost got the feeling that you might feel more comfortable if she just saluted you as a greeting instead of running towards you for a hug.’
She watched as he raked his fingers through his hair, and her keen eyes noted that there was just the slightest tremble there, although his expression remained composed and pensive.
‘Now,’ she said on a deep breath, ‘you just seem so much more relaxed around her and I can tell she feels it as well. She lights up when you come into the room. I don’t think she really knows that, and you probably don’t either, but I see it because I’m perched on the outside and sometimes it’s easier to spot stuff as a spectator.’
‘I’ve...yes... I’ve known it as well...’ His voice was gruff. ‘I’ve seen the way Annalise feels more comfortable around me.’ He shot her a crooked smile. ‘Maybe you have something to do with that.’ He shrugged.
‘I don’t think so,’ Sophie returned thoughtfully, then she paused, before adding, ‘I won’t be around for much longer, so you have to promise me that it’s a closeness that’s going to last, to get stronger, even.’
Not going to be around for much longer...
