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‘Yes. Hastings International has a very long history. It started after the war, to rebuild, but in all those years its potential has never been maximised. No growth further than Europe.’
‘And that’s what you want to do? Grow it?’ Emma asked.
‘Yes. I want to see it on every continent.’
She smiled. ‘Something tells me you’ll do it.’
‘Without doubt.’
Alex winked. His passion was contagious, Emma thought. Everything about him seemed so deliberate. So intense. It was as if he blotted out everyone else because he was the sun, and Emma ached to burn.
Alex leaned forward. ‘Tell me...’ he said. ‘Why do your sister’s texts get under your skin?’
Emma had hoped that she was being at least a little successful at hiding her irritation. Clearly she wasn’t. She debated how she should answer. There was no way she was going to tell him how much she envied the love and attention Lauren received. Nor would she tell him how much Lauren detested her. In the end she settled for an edited truth.
‘We have a bit of a love-hate relationship,’ Emma said lightly. ‘My mother should have dealt with it—I’m sure you know what that’s like.’
She was certain that Lauren wouldn’t have listened to her mother, though, and once she’d involved her father, her mother would have backed down anyway.
‘Not really. I don’t have a mother,’ he replied.
Emma’s cheeks flamed red. ‘Oh! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to be insensitive.’
Alex seemed to realise what he’d just shared and brushed it off. ‘Don’t worry about it—really.’
Their meals were served and the awkward moment was quickly forgotten. Especially when Alex noticed a little drop of cream at the corner of her mouth. He wiped it off with his finger and she felt her heart stutter as he licked it clean. She could feel the burn in her cheeks.
‘Was that good?’ she asked, somewhat breathily.
‘Yes,’ he said. And then he leaned closer and whispered, ‘But you taste better.’
A shudder passed through her. They needed to leave before they were arrested for public indecency.
Once they were finished Alex paid, despite Emma’s protests. He knew there was still something he needed to make clear.
‘Emma, I need to be honest with you. I don’t do relationships. I do simple, and fun, and then it’s over.’
He held his breath, waiting for an embarrassing explosion that never came. Alex firmly believed that love was for fools. It simply didn’t exist. Lust was real. Tangible. Something that was irrefutable and then, once indulged, gone. A fleeting thing that made sense.
‘That’s good, because neither do I. I like simple. Simple is good,’ she replied.
‘In that case, Miss Brown, lead the way.’
They left the restaurant and Alex noticed Emma sliding her hands into her pockets again. He wanted to yank them out and place them around him. Wanted to wrap his arm around her as their feet swallowed up the ground underneath them.
He couldn’t do that. She was affecting his sensibility. But that wasn’t the person he was, and he wouldn’t give her any hope that he could be. So he widened the gap between their bodies.
And immediately regretted it.
This was actual torment. He tried to seem laid-back, but felt his body pulled taut like a bowstring.
They went to watch the yachts and boats on the Yarra—or at least tried to. They stood so close together that he could feel Emma’s heat. His arms ached to slide around her as they leaned on a concrete balustrade. But he couldn’t touch her after what he’d just said to her. Not out here. Not when that would make it seem as if they were some sort of couple.
Emma couldn’t know that his hands were clasped so firmly together so that he wouldn’t be tempted to kiss her in front of all of Melbourne. Tempted to make her moan out his name with the city before them, making it theirs. He pushed off the rail. They had to keep moving. He had to get himself under control.
Alex pushed his sunglasses high up on the bridge of his nose, taking a last look at the river. It was a reminder of all the loves he’d found and indulged by himself. Alone. He was better off that way.
Emma took them on a walk through Alexandra Gardens and past the Arts Centre, but as they made their way back towards the city he was barely paying attention to where they were. All he could feel was Emma’s presence, and all he wanted was to be back in his apartment, where his hands could be all over her.
