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‘Not in the least.’

‘And that’s not the sound of you being a martyr?’

‘If I had some broken bones in my ankle, you’d be the first to hear me yelling in pain.’

‘Glad to hear it. Just for the record, I’m not doing this because I don’t want you slowing me up by not being able to function. I’m doing this because I’m a human being and I actually want to make sure you’re okay.’

His hands, moving oh so softly over her ankle, along the back of her calf and up to the tender spot behind her knee, was as devastating as a branding iron on her naked skin.

She tried not to squirm. She had to clench her teeth together to control a shameful wetness pooling between her thighs.

‘Right, give me your other foot.’

‘I honestly don’t think…’

‘Good idea. Let me do the thinking. So far, I think you’re going to be just fine but…’ He looked up at her. ‘It’s a damn good thing we’re not going anywhere today. In fact, I’m reaching the conclusion that we should stay here for a couple of days just to be on the safe side. Why don’t you spend the rest of the morning taking it easy? You can sit by the pool. You’ll enjoy it there. Very relaxing.’

‘I didn’t bring a swimsuit, remember?’ she sniped. ‘Because this wasn’t going to be a holiday?’

‘I remember.’ He suddenly grinned. ‘And if I hadn’t, then I’m confident you would be the first to remind me. You’re beginning to get a little predictable.’

His eyes rested on her just a fraction too long until she felt the slow crawl of colour seep into her face.

‘I just… I don’t need anyone’s help,’ she spluttered defensively, hoping to mask her confusion at what her rebellious body was getting up to.

‘Do you usually do that?’ Those dark eyes remained pinned to her face.

‘Do what?’

‘You know what I’m talking about. Reject help when it’s offered.’

‘Of course I don’t do that.’ She squirmed under his narrowed, curious stare. She shuffled herself into a more comfortable position while the silence stretched between them to breaking point. ‘What do you want me to say?’ She glared at him but instead of retreating, he raised his eyebrows and continued to look at her in silence.

‘I suppose I’ve always been the one to do the helping,’ she finally conceded. ‘My mother was always either a domestic goddess or busy weeping under the duvet, depending on the direction of her love life.’

‘Confusing times for you.’

He was finding it difficult to tear his eyes away from her breathtakingly pretty heart-shaped face. The auburn hair tumbled over one narrow shoulder and he could make out the gentle contours of her small breasts under the vest she was wearing beneath the linen shirt.

He didn’t dig too deep when it came to women and he wondered whether his unexpected physical response to her was the reason he was so tempted to prolong this conversation and find out more about her.

Her voice was compelling, low and husky. He enjoyed listening to it.

She shrugged.

‘It was what it was,’ she said eventually. ‘We all have to deal with the hands we get dealt in life. You did. And Carlos.’

‘I was older,’ Javier said reasonably. ‘And when money is no object, dealing with problems is a lot less stressful.’ He frowned and thought about what he’d just said. ‘Or maybe it’s just easier to buy your way out of tricky situations. In the end, the tricky situations are still there. They never really go away. They’re always going to catch up with you.’

‘Is that what you think happened between you and Carlos? It was okay when he was younger? But when he got older and started questioning things, it became easier to throw money at what you thought were problems you didn’t have time to deal with?’

Their eyes met.

How had their conversation strayed into this closely guarded territory? Javier wondered.

He felt the slide of unstable ground beneath his feet and was reminded of the importance of guarding his emotions, of self-control.

‘Here’s what I think,’ he said smoothly, his expression once more remote and polite. ‘I think you should try standing. See how you feel.’