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She hesitated for a moment and then nodded. ‘Yes. Yes, they have. I may love my brothers but I’d hate to be anything other than their baby sister. They’re rogues, and when they were growing up they treated women appallingly. I’ve learned lots about men by watching them. And because they know exactly how men think and act, they scare off anyone male who shows an interest in me.’
‘Ouch.’ Carlo gave a rueful smile and glanced around him at the dark shadows. ‘So can I expect to be pounced on any moment?’
Zan looked at his shoulders and laughed. ‘I don’t think you’ve got much to worry about. So, now you know about me, how about you? All I know is that you’re part-Italian. What I want to know is, which part?’
He shot her a suggestive smile that was so sexy she almost stopped breathing.
‘If you’re good, I’ll show you later.’
His teasing drawl made her blush, but she couldn’t help smiling. There was something so good-humoured and honest about him.
‘Well, judging from your slight accent and the fact that you were muttering something incomprehensible when you were lying on top of me, I assume that Italian is your first language. Which must mean that you live over there usually. So what are you doing in London?’
‘Having a change from Italy.’ His answer was so smooth and glib that she lo
oked at him closely, wondering if he was hiding something. He caught her look and smiled. ‘Plenty of doctors from EC countries come and work in England. It isn’t unusual.’
‘So where were you working last?’
‘In a private clinic outside Milan.’ He gave a rueful smile. ‘Most of my patients were nothing like Kelly, I’m afraid.’
‘Too posh to push?’
He smiled in appreciation. ‘Something like that.’
‘Well, it was decent of you to take a look at Kelly for me.’ She glanced at him. ‘Don’t think I don’t know that most doctors would have refused. Too worried about litigation.’
Carlo looked unconcerned. ‘I’m well insured.’
And very experienced and self-confident. She also suspected that he would never refuse to help a patient. He was that type of man.
‘This is where I live.’ Zan stopped outside a block of flats and Carlo leaned against the wall, his eyes watchful.
‘So…’ he drawled softly. ‘Are you going to invite me up?’
She stared at him, caught by the intensity of his gaze. Excitement curled in the pit of her stomach and she struggled to be sensible.
‘I don’t usually invite strangers up to my flat.’
His smile had a peculiar effect on her knees and she felt them wobble alarmingly. ‘I’m very glad to hear that.’ He moved fractionally closer to her, his eyes never leaving hers. ‘But we’ve already kissed twice and spent an evening together so we’re not exactly strangers.’
She laughed to disguise her awareness of him.
‘We spent the evening in a filthy flat with a man who wanted to hit both of us. Is that your idea of a perfect first date?’
‘It was different,’ he admitted, his gaze dropping to her mouth and lingering there. ‘You can trust me, Zan.’
She hesitated, common sense wrestling with temptation.
‘I don’t know anything about you.’
Except that he was strong, clever and stunningly good-looking.
‘What do you want to know?’ He smiled down at her. ‘I’m Italian, I’m an obstetrician, I have one older brother and one younger sister. I also have a black eye.’
She smiled back and then looked at him cautiously. ‘You’re not married?’
His gaze didn’t shift from hers. ‘No wife. No kids.’
