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‘What does it say?’ Anger overtook the suspense, filling her mind and her body. He’d set her up. He’d used her. Had that been his intention even as he’d entered her home and tried to convince her to go to Milan? She swallowed down the sour taste of deceit, determined not to let her feelings out. She had to remain calm.
He turned to look at her, his eyes locking with hers, but the brown of his were devoid of any emotion and her stomach lurched sickeningly. What had she done—to herself and to Seb? She’d sullied Seb’s memory and her reputation into the bargain, falling into the worst trap imaginable.
* * *
Alessandro looked into the confusion of her eyes and tried to push back all the guilt he’d so far managed to keep at bay. She was angry, there wasn’t any denying that, but she also looked scared and he didn’t blame her.
‘It says your passion shows your approval of the car which claimed the life of your brother.’ He didn’t translate word for word what had been written beneath that blisteringly hot photograph. He didn’t think her anger would allow him enough time, so quickly he’d summed it up, leaving her to draw her own conclusions.
‘What’s next, Sandro? A photo of me, naked in your pool?’ The accusation in her voice cut hard and deep. Did she really think he was that callous?
What could he say? This photograph alone went against everything he’d said to her that day in her cottage. He’d persuaded her to come to the launch in Milan, telling her Seb had wanted it. Now, thanks to a rogue photographer, something he would swiftly sort out, she thought he’d set her up.
‘That will not be possible. You would not have been seen by anyone.’ He pushed the image of her swimming naked aside. Now was not the time for such heated recollections.
‘Damn you, Alessandro. You tricked me into swimming with nothing on, even had the nerve to come out in your trunks. What will the next headline say?’ Her eyes were sharp, her expression strained as she pressed her lips tightly together, expectantly waiting for his answer.
He clenched his fists against the urge to hold her, pull her towards him and calm her. Instinctively he knew that would be the worst possible thing to do. She was pushing him further away, something he was certain she would have done even without the help of the newspaper report.
He glowered at her, his pulse racing erratically. ‘I did not trick you at all. Your swim this morning will remain between us.’
‘I don’t believe you.’ The words fired from her like bullets and she stepped closer to him, chin lifted and standing so tall with indignation he would hardly have had to lower his head to kiss her lips. The temptation was great, but he resisted.
‘Have I lied to you, cara?’
Of course he’d lied to her. From the night of the accident and the moment he’d discovered the truth, the real reason Seb had crashed, he’d been lying to her. But they were lies to protect her and Seb, to keep the Warrington name out of the papers. They were lies he had to continue with. He’d made a promise, first to Seb, then to her father and he would keep both of those promises. He was a man of honour, whatever the cost.
‘If you can set up publicity like this—’ she flicked the paper, not taking her eyes from him ‘—then you are capable of anything, any lie, just to get what you want.’
He shook his head slowly, admiring the fire of anger emanating from her, not wanting to dampen the passion. But her passion was something he could no longer have; there were too many secrets, too many lies between them.
She made a sound that was like a growl and put her hands to her face, fingers splayed over her eyes. Then she dropped her hands, letting them fall with a slap against her as exasperation got the better of her. ‘I was stupid ever to have believed you—or trusted you.’
He shook his head and reached for her, desperate to offer some comfort at least. She flinched, stepping back out of his reach.
Her eyes, angry and glittering, searched his face, finally narrowing in suspicion. ‘You’ve done nothing but lie to me, Sandro; since the moment you arrived at my cottage it’s been nothing but lies.’
‘Dio mio! How can you say that?’ Exasperation coursed through him and he pushed his fingers through his hair, unable to comprehend the circles she was spinning around him. Circles that made the temptation to tell the truth almost too much.
‘Because of this.’ She snatched the paper from the desk, shaking it in front of him. ‘You used me. This has nothing at all to do with Seb. You’re just trying to ease your conscience, ease your guilt over the accident.’
