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‘Then why were you seen kissing him at your charity event in Tuscany last month?’
‘Would you believe me if I told you it was a mistake?’
He surged to his feet in one smooth bound, a volatile emotion bristling from his large frame. ‘No. The fact is your obsession with him continues, and you don’t seem to be interested in the small matter of him being committed to another. You just want what you want, don’t you, Carla, and to hell with the consequences?’
‘No, of course I don’t. I’d never do that—’
‘But you did.’ He strolled closer, a predator stalking his prey, until he stood over her. ‘The evidence speaks for itself.’
She shook her head, unable to believe she was having this conversation with Javier. ‘It’s obvious you’ve made up your mind about me. I said I’d return to New York with you. So why are you still here? I’m not exactly in the position to make a run for it.’
A dark frown clamped his brows. He shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged. ‘You fell asleep before I got your word that you’ll stay away from Angelis from now on.’
Carla sat up gingerly and swung her legs over the side. The wave of dizziness that washed over her was blessedly brief. ‘He’s my agent. Avoiding him will be impossible. And counter-productive, don’t you think?’
‘You can and you will. Angelis has enough executives to ensure he has no personal dealings with you from now on. I’ll contact him myself to make sure the request is understood.’
‘Are you going to forbid me from letting him become my trainer too, which was his suggestion?’ She shook her head. ‘If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were jealous. And you don’t wear it particularly well.’
Deep, unamused laughter erupted from his throat, mocking her every word. ‘Don’t de
lude yourself. Scandal may sell newspapers, but my company has remained free of it up till now and I intend to ensure it stays that way. As for training you, we’ve agreed that it would be better if someone else assumes that role.’
Her unhurt hand gripped the side of the bed. ‘You’ve been discussing me with Draco behind my back?’
‘I’ve been trying to minimise the impact of what’s happened—what are you doing? You shouldn’t be on your feet.’
Carla swayed for a moment before she managed to steady herself. ‘I should if I want to use the bathroom. Or are you going to forbid that too?’
A faint wash of colour highlighted his sculpted cheekbones and his lips pursed for a moment. ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
She wanted to protest the ridiculousness of the whole situation. But she was too busy wincing as she placed her weight on her left foot. Too late, she remembered she’d landed hard on her hip. A second later, she was swung off her feet.
The shock of the sudden action halted her breath for a second before she regained her senses. ‘What are you doing? Put me down!’
‘No. You’re in no fit state to be walking anywhere.’
He hoisted her up, his steps sure and confident as he strode into the adjoining bathroom. Painfully aware of her dishevelled state, she buried her reddening face in his chest. And was immediately bombarded with the unique, undeniably male scent of him. The urge to take greedy gulps of him assailed her, forcing her to do the opposite and hold her breath as he slowly lowered her to her feet.
Unable to stop herself, she risked a glance at him, to find his burnished bronze gaze on her.
‘Umm...you can let me go now,’ she ventured, her senses screaming at the electrifying grip he had on her arms.
He frowned. ‘Will you be okay?’ he asked brusquely. ‘I’ll go and get the nurse—’
‘There’s no need. I’ll be fine.’
He stared at her for a few more seconds. Then he carefully stepped back. ‘Don’t lock the door,’ he instructed.
Carla resisted the urge to perform an uncharacteristic eye roll. ‘I’m not made of glass, Javier. I’ve suffered more falls in my career than most people will in a lifetime.’
If anything her answer drew an even deeper frown from him. ‘Is that supposed to reassure me?’
‘I wasn’t aware that you needed my reassurance. Just my acquiescence to your every demand.’
His eyes darkened. ‘You laid down the rules of our relationship, querida. Don’t complain now that I’m playing by your standards.’
Carla was puzzling over that cryptic remark when he shut the door and left her in peace for the first time since waking up in hospital. She didn’t doubt that she’d invited some degree of the hell Javier seemed intent on visiting upon her. But overall his actions pointed to a deeper reaction to what she’d done to warrant his almost volatile anger. Had she really bruised his ego that much? How could she have, when he’d been associated with some of the most captivatingly beautiful women in the world, both before and after their unfortunate one-night stand?
