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As for Dex, he barely said a word. Beth found her attention drawn to him over and over again. He sat at the head of the great table, wearing a black formal evening suit and brilliant white shirt, his handsome features set in a hard mask of iron control. He looked even more dangerously formidable than usual. The few times he caught her glance, he stared at her so coldly she quickly looked away, afraid the others would notice.
She heaved a sigh of relief when the meal ended and coffee was served in the drawing room. She sat down on the sofa and gratefully took the cup of coffee the houseboy handed her.
'We did not meet in the best way,' Anna said, sitting down beside Beth. 'I am sorry, but Paul—we fight, I see you. . . I do not know. . .'
'I was his goddaughter.' Beth helped Anna out with her halting English. 'It's all right, we laughed about it afterwards, and I am very happy for you both.'
'Thank you. I wish to be friends.' They smiled a smile of mutual understanding. 'I also apologise for my brother. He thinks he protects my honour. He thinks Paul has betrayed me. He sees him kiss you and goes pazzo.'
Whatever pazzo meant, Beth was pretty sure she did not want to discuss it.
'Beth does not understand, Anna, and she looks tired.' Dex appeared at the side of the sofa, his narrowed gaze concentrated on his sister, and he said something quickly in Italian before looking down on Beth. 'Come, I will show you to your room.'
Her green eyes clashed angrily with cool grey. Cheeky swine! she thought. More or less saying she looked a wreck. And whose fault was that? 'I can find my own way.' Beth jumped to her feet. Dex's height was intimidating.
'After my disgraceful behaviour earlier, please allow me to redeem myself by acting as a good host,' Dex drawled smoothly.
She wanted to object, but he made it sound so reasonable. Was she the only one to recognise the cynicism in his tone? She looked around for Paul but he had joined Anna on the sofa, and unless she wanted to make a scene in front of the happy couple there was nothing to do but agree. She said her goodnights, and, not looking at Dex, walked out of the room.
Once in the hall Beth dashed for the stairs, but Dex, with his long legs, was at her side in a second.
'You can drop the good host act,' Beth said tersely, ascending the stairs, very aware of his long-limbed body matching her step by step. 'I know the way, thank you very much,' she told him, trying to ignore the way her heart pounded too fast as he shadowed her so closely, and vainly trying to convince herself it was the exertion of climbing the stairs.
His hand gripped her shoulder as she reached the landing and turned to go right. 'Not so fast, Beth, we need to talk.'
Beth was wearing her one and only formal dress, the slip of black and gold satin. She felt the searing imprint of his fingers on her naked flesh, and trembled inside. She shrugged, trying to shake him off. Looking up at his harshly handsome face, she gave him a tight-lipped smile, refusing to let him see how much he disturbed her.
'No, I think not,' she responded distantly. 'We are guests at a wedding, nothing more. Let's just leave it at that.' And, turning on her heel, she'd actually made it to her bedroom door when Dex's voice stopped her.
'Good, so you
have no objection to my telling Paul the truth about the relationship between you and I? That is a relief,' he drawled sardonically.
Beth, in the act of opening the door, spun around. 'What?' she looked up, meeting his eyes with horror.
Dex was standing a foot away, his eyes narrowed speculatively on her flushed face. 'Lying even by omission can get a person into a heap of trouble, I always thought. Don't you agree?' he asked, in a voice laced with sarcasm.
Beth knew he was referring to her, and she had a feeling it would be a long time before he forgot she had lied to him. Nervously she backed into the bedroom. He followed her inside without waiting for an invitation, and closed the door firmly behind him. Switching on the light, he looked at Beth, and she almost stumbled under the sheer intensity of his gaze.
'I only want to talk,' Dex said, with the tilt of one dark brow. 'Not leap on you.'
'All right,' she breathed, but spun on her heel and crossed the room to the window. She needed the time to gather her wits, and, swallowing hard, she turned slowly around to face him.
He stared across the room at her. 'Is this bedroom all right for you?'
The mundane question came as a surprise. Beth glanced around the luxuriously appointed bedroom, her glance lingering on the lovely four-poster bed with the elegant floating drapes. 'It's fine,' she said. 'A vast improvement on mine at home.'
Seeing the direction of her gaze, Dex drawled, 'Oh, I don't know. I have very fond memories of your bed.'
Her head jerked back and she looked at him, a vivid image of his large naked body, limbs entwined with her own, flashing in her mind's eye. Her green eyes widened warily on his dark face. She didn't trust him an inch, and she was none too sure about herself. Suddenly the intimacy of the situation hit her. She shivered, and nervously smoothed the skirt of her dress down over her hips with damp palms.
Dex shook his black head and smiled grimly. 'Don't panic. I said talk, and that is what I meant.' He moved a few steps towards her and then stopped, and Beth had the weirdest notion that he was also nervous.
'So?' she prompted softly.
'I owe you an apology. You were right. I did ask you out because I thought you were going out with Paul Morris, and I did do it for my sister. Under the circumstances I would probably do it again.'
Beth finally had her apology, back-handed though it was. She should have been pleased. But knowing the truth and having it spelt out were two different things, she realised sadly. It was no surprise, she tried to console herself, but instead all she felt was simmering pain and anger. 'You really are despicable. I think I hate you,' she said flatly.
