“He left. Come,” he insisted in a silky tone, but she had the impression he was suppressing explosive anger. “What do you like? Eggs? Florenza doesn’t speak English or German.”
“Niente grazie,” Mira said shyly to the older woman. “Just coffee and muesli with yogurt?”
He relayed her order and Florenza nodded before she bustled away with the clothes.
Mira closed a few more buttons on the shirt. It fell to mid-thigh, covering her more thoroughly than the average sundress, but she still felt exposed.
They were lovers, though. She didn’t have to feel self-conscious around Rocco, did she?
He wore casual linen trousers, a shirt open at the throat and an inscrutable expression. She searched his face for his thoughts, but was off balance after all they’d done last night.
“How did you sleep?” He gave away nothing as he settled her at the table in a protected corner of the terrace, where the sun’s rays gathered to warm the tiles.
“Fine.” He knew exactly how she’d slept. He’d been there, making love to her in the night with dreamy strokes that had had her drifting back to sleep while her body was still pulsing in post-orgasmic waves.
“Shy, cara mio?” He paused in taking his seat and cupped her chin, insisting she meet his gaze. “Or something else?” His eyes were obsidian. Sharp and hard and cold. Delving.
Critical?
Her heart lurched.I can’t do this again.
Last night, she’d abandoned every inhibition, allowing him full run of her body, and it was betraying her now. Her cells and skin and nerve endings were responding to the warmth of his hand, craving more of his touch, willing him to caress her throat and flow his hand down beneath the shirt to her aching breasts.
But this crackle of animosity put her firmly on the defensive.
Drawing back, she poured herself a glass of orange juice.
“Who was here? Someone with your PR department?” Last night’s restaurant had discouraged photos, but they’d had an evening of kissing and dirty dancing. Something might have been posted.
“Is that what you want?” he asked.
“Publicity? I thought that was the plan.”
“I want to know whatyourplan is.” He leaned forward, gaze cutting down her front in a way that stung far too deeply.
What had she done wrong? She’d been a virgin, so she didn’tknow. Her breastbone vibrated with an ache of inadequacy, but she refused to play this game again—of trying to please and failing.
“My plan is to go to Praiano. I told your Salerno office that I would start the renovations on my villa once I’d spoken to you. Now that I have, I can begin.” She smiled at Florenza, who brought her cappuccino and a dish of berries with a dollop of yogurt and a sprinkle of muesli atop it. “Grazie.”
“We’re engaged.” His voice dripped with sarcasm. “What happened to your revenge against Otto? Did you get everything you wanted last night?”
“Did you?” she blurted, trying to pick up her wide-mouthed cup, but her hand was shaking so badly, she only sloshed liquid over the rim.
His gaze snapped to her, and he watched her tuck both hands into her lap before he came back to her eyes.
She lifted her chin, hating how vulnerable she felt. How discarded.
“Do you know why I want to hurt him? It’s not about money and broken promises. It’s because he spent most of my life hurtingme.” Her voice quavered, but she snatched at what little dignity she could gather while her body still ached from their exertions last night. “I never understood why he hated me and I spent too many years trying to figure it out. Trying to make him like me.”Do not cry, she ordered her hot eyes, blinking against the sting. “Seeking revenge against him is puerile. I know that. Especially if it means I have to play that same guessing game with you. I won’t.” Her throat was so tight, her words were barely audible. “I won’t sit here and wonder why someone who acted like he wanted me last night is now treating me like I’m stuck to his shoe.”
Her chair scraped as she stood.
His hand clamped around her wrist.
“Do not,” she warned in the growl of a trapped animal.
“He’s had a spy inside GPS for months. Do you know that? Because I just learned of it this morning.”
“I didn’t.” She shook off his grip and remained on her feet. “But I’m not surprised. I told you Otto interferes when competing with GPS. For what it’s worth, he and Axel were locking horns over unrealistic budgets and cost overruns. I suspect Otto accepts losses on those projects purely to take them from you. Because he hates you.” Did she enjoy throwing that at him? Not really.
