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Hell, was this feeling ripping through him actually jealousy? Just because she’d been having a conversation with that boy?

Javier was shocked and confused at the same time. He floundered as he tried to harness the necessary tools to deal with an unfamiliar emotion.

Eventually, he told himself that jealousy had nothing to do with it. She’d come to the party with him, so flirting with other men was unacceptable.

‘You came with me,’ he said gruffly. ‘I don’t approve of you flirting with other men…’

‘You don’t approve of me flirting with other men?’

‘I’m not having this conversation with you here. Let’s go.’

He scowled and refused to listen to any protests she might have about wanting to stay longer. She just shook her head, clicked her tongue impatiently and followed him as he made for the doors.

‘Aren’t you going to thank your host for inviting us? Or should I say inviting you?’

‘If I see him on the way out.’

‘You’re so rude, Javier.’

He glanced sideways at her and half smiled.

‘I mean it. It’s rude and I don’t want to go,’ she insisted a little weakly.

‘You really want to hang around here for another few hours?’

Hope stared at him and felt herself drowning in those dark eyes. She imagined them making love and knew that she wanted to leave with him right now a lot more than she wanted to stay there for a few more hours.

‘You’re so damned bossy,’ she perfunctorily protested.

‘That means you want to quit this spectacle as much as me.’

‘Just for the record, I wasn’t flirting with Oscar. He’s a very nice young man and he was telling me about his job.’

‘He has a job?’

They were out in the open. There were chauffeurs and drivers waiting on standby for guests leaving.

‘Did you pre-book someone to take us back to your villa?’ she asked, momentarily distracted and puzzled as they made for the nearest driver, who stood to attention next to a shiny black SUV as they approached.

Behind them the mansion was ablaze with lights. It was cooler outside and the velvet black sky was studded with stars.

It felt suddenly, wonderfully peaceful. She realised she’d had her taste of the novelty of the gala ball and was really happy to be leaving it. Like rich food, too much of it could leave you feeling nauseous.

‘There’s no need to prebook these drivers. No one knows what time they’re leaving. They’re here to ferry people as and when they’re needed.’

‘How handy. Yes, Oscar has a job. He’s in events management.’

‘Which is what? Exactly?’

He levered himself into the SUV alongside her and waited for the driver to slam the door shut before he looked at her.

‘He was getting to that before you interrupted us.’

‘Ah. So we’re both in the dark about what that particular occupation involves. Know why I was particularly keen for us to leave?’

‘Why?’

Javier slid shut the privacy screen between the driver and the back seat of the SUV.