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It was raw attraction. Something she didn’t want to feel. Not now and not for this man.
He stepped even closer, his height towering over her in the darkness, and she looked up into his eyes, wanting to appear fearless but afraid he’d see just what an effect he could have on her. Could he hear her heart pounding? Had he noticed her breath, ragged and unsteady?
‘Dangerous words, cara.’ Each word was low and soft like a cat purring, but she sensed the coil of tension in him, the cool detachment from the emotions that careered inside her. He was more like a tiger preparing to strike.
‘I came here to see what Seb had been working on,’ she said, trying hard to beat down the flutter of emotions, and walked away from him towards the stairs. ‘So, can we just do that? Then I’d like to check into a nearby hotel.’
She didn’t wait for his answer, didn’t look at his face, but every nerve in her body told her he was watching her—intently. She was about to go up the stairs when light flooded the reception area and she blinked against it and turned to face him. The sleek clean lines of the interior of the building were exactly as she would have imagined and, unable to help herself, she looked around her, trying hard to ignore the man who stood in the centre of the marble floor and the superiority which radiated from him.
‘This way,’ he said and passed her as she waited at the foot of the stairs, his scent of musk and male trailing in his wake. ‘We’ll take the lift.’
She bit her bottom lip, anxiety rushing at her. Was she really ready to see what Seb had been working on? She wasn’t, but this was what she had to do, what she needed to do before she could put the last year behind her.
She became aware that Alessandro was watching her, waiting for her to enter the lift. ‘We don’t have to do this tonight.’
Was that genuine concern in his voice? Her gaze locked with his and everything around them spun. Everything blurred as the dark depths of his eyes met and held hers. Time seemed to be suspended, as if everything was standing still. She lowered her lashes. Now was not the time to get fanciful. She’d never been that way inclined, had never hankered after notions of instant attraction. So why now? And why this man?
‘I want to.’ The words rushed from her as she stepped quickly into the lift. ‘I just hadn’t anticipated it. Today started just like any other, then you arrived...’ Her voice trailed off and she looked down at her hands, feigning interest in her unpainted nails.
‘I should have contacted you first but I didn’t think you’d see me.’ His tone was calm and so matter-of-fact she glanced up at him. He appeared totally unaffected by the whole situation.
‘I wouldn’t have.’ She flashed him a smile and, from the expression on his face, he hadn’t missed the sarcasm. ‘I wouldn’t have seen you and I would never have come here.’
The lift doors opened onto a vast office but she paid little attention to the hard masculine lines and marched out of the lift, drawn inexplicably to the wall of windows, offering an unrivalled view of Milan’s twinkling skyline.
She should feel too irritated by his assured presence to notice even one thing about his office, but that was so far from the truth it was scary. She should be thinking of Seb, should be focusing on what he’d done here, not the man he’d worked with.
‘Grazie.’ The deep tone of his voice unsettled her and, as she stopped to look out over the city, she saw his reflection behind her, saw him move closer.
‘What for?’ Her gaze met his reflected in the glass and a coil of tension pressed down inside her. She knew at any minute it could snap.
‘Your honesty. Saying you wouldn’t want to see me.’ His reflection shrugged nonchalantly, his gaze so intense it obliterated the view. All she could see was him. Then her heart plummeted in disappointment. None of this really mattered to him. It was all about the Roselli image and launching a new car.
‘I have no reason to conceal my dislike of you, Mr Roselli.’
Liar! a voice called in her head. She didn’t dislike him. She should. The fizz of attraction was at war with the blame she still laid at his door, despite his earlier assurances that the accident had been nothing more than a tragedy.
‘Dislike. Is that not a bit strong?’ He moved unbearably close, his eyes holding hers in the reflection in the window.
She had to stop this now, whatever this was. Something she couldn’t control was happening between them and she didn’t like it. Or did she?
