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For a brief second Alicia really thought it was a simple as that—that Dante was offering to help her because of their shared past.
‘Oh, no.’ He shook his head. ‘If there’s one thing that my mother taught me it’s that you don’t give the honey away for free. If you want my help, then you have to come back to Sicily with me. Today.’
She laughed—not an amused one, just a tired one—and hitched up her bag and walked towards the hotel.
He easily caught her up. ‘I mean it. Just listen.’
‘No,’ Alicia said. ‘Don’t try bribing me with Beatrice. You shouldwantto help...’ Her voice faded a little. Dante alreadyhadhelped. What he was suggesting now was a whole new level. ‘Why would you want me in Sicily?’
‘I’ve messed up.’ He moved her into a doorway. ‘I suggested to my family that they come with me to Sicily for the weekend and meet someone.’
‘Why?’
‘Seemed like a good idea at the time. Not so much now. Look, I’ve had a think, and maybe I don’t have to sever things with them so absolutely. You could be my excuse to pull back. I could say that I’m basing myself in Sicily more because of you...’ He smiled. ‘I’ll tell them that you’re hot-headed and needy.’
‘Get one of your actresses.’
‘Alicia, I think the best chance I have of pulling this off is you. Anyway, I amnotgiving some stranger details on my dealings.’
‘You’ve already told them I’ll be there, haven’t you?’ she accused.
‘Yep. I told you. I’ve messed up.’ He almost laughed. ‘Your lies are catching.’
She leant against the wall.
‘Come on—it would just mean a family dinner with them on Saturday. In return you’ll have a fleet of investigators doing all they can to find Beatrice.’
‘I don’t want to go back to Sicily.’
‘I’m in Syracuse...’
Alicia gave a tight shrug. Geography wasn’t exactly her favourite subject, given she couldn’t read a map.
‘Ortigia is practically its own island.’
‘I know that.’ She snapped out the lie.
‘I’m just pointing out that you won’t run into any of your past there.’ His hand came up to her arm as he said it, as if he was anticipating her walking off, and then his face came a little closer. ‘Or whatever it is you’re running from...’
Her eyes narrowed and met his. ‘It doesn’t mean I’m running just because I don’t want to go back.’
‘You’re as Sicilian as I am, Alicia. You miss it like hell.’
He knew her far too well.
‘Seriously...one dinner with my family.’
‘No.’
‘Maybe a couple of wanders around holding hands—we’re good at that bit.’
He tempted her with that alone.
‘Sex?’ she asked.
‘If you want,’ he said. ‘And I think it was established the other morning that you do.’
Alicia was suddenly incredibly grateful that she hadn’t admitted that her ruse had never included bedding him. That he didn’t know it had been sheer lust that had pulled her across that room.
