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‘Now I understand,’ he murmured softly.
He looked up at her, his expression relaxed and composed, and yet she knew he was watching her closely.
She scowled at him. ‘I doubt that. You and I are at opposite ends of the spectrum.’
Her heart thudded against her chest as his eyes met hers. ‘And opposites attract!’
CHAPTER FIVE
THERE WAS A pulsing silence. Flora stared at him, imprisoned by the dark, lambent heat in his gaze, and then he smiled—a lazy, knowing smile that made her whole body shiver.
‘You really shouldn’t believe everything you read in the papers, you know,’ he said softly. ‘Although naturally I’m flattered that you find me so interesting.’
Her face flared with anger and embarrassment. ‘I do not find you interesting!’ Reaching out, she tried to snatch the paper away from him, but
he fended her off easily.
‘No, no, no! I don’t normally read this drivel, but since you were so kind as to buy a copy...’
‘I did not buy it,’ she said shrilly. ‘Someone left it on the table!’
‘Of course they did,’ he murmured, his pacifying tone clearly designed to provoke more than placate. ‘Now, let’s see what I’ve been up to!’
Flora sat back in her chair, gritting her teeth as his eyes skimmed over the newsprint.
Finally, he looked up at her and shrugged.
‘Is that it?’ she snapped. ‘That’s all you’ve got to say?’
He frowned. ‘I’m a public figure. Being in the gossip pages goes with the territory.’
She gave him an icy glare. ‘I’m not talking about the ethics of journalism. I’m talking about the fact that you’re engaged to be married!’
Amusement flickered across his face. ‘You want facts? Okay. I’m not engaged, so naturally there will be no summer wedding.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘Nor did I date her sister or her stepmother.’ The corners of his mouth twitched. ‘And I’m absolutely not going to expand into shipping. Which is fortunate as it sounds quite painful, don’t you think?’
Flora swallowed. It would be so easy to smile back at him. He was so ridiculously handsome, with his tanned skin, jay’s wing eyes and sleek dark hair—all gold and blue and black, like a portrait of some medieval prince.
But that curving smile was as dangerous and deceptive as any hairpin bend, and curling her fingers into her palms to stop herself from grinning back at him, she scowled. ‘Okay. So she’s not your fiancée,’ she said stubbornly. ‘But she’s still your girlfriend.’
Massimo took a mouthful of coffee and frowned. ‘Alessa? No. She’s just—easy!’ He met her eyes and shook his head impatiently. ‘Not that kind of easy. I mean she’s uncomplicated. She’s single and fun. She doesn’t have an agenda and she’s photogenic. A dream date! At least according to my public relations team.’
Flora stared at him incredulously. ‘Her name is Allegra.’
His face didn’t change, but she saw something glitter in his eyes. ‘Whatever. She comes to any name.’
She felt her face drain of colour. ‘You’re disgusting.’
His face hardened. ‘I thought you wanted facts?’
She shook her head. ‘I don’t want anything from you.’
Massimo watched her closely. She was lying. Her body was betraying her. She wanted him. Just as he wanted her. Or she had done until he’d made that stupid crude remark.
Watching the tension on her face, he shifted in his chair. ‘I’m sorry. That was a cheap thing to say.’
She turned towards him, her face flushed. ‘Yes, it was.’
Her eyes met his, and he saw the green flecks dancing angrily in their tawny depths.
