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For a long moment, her eyes were locked with his, then Zac looked away, glancing round him. ‘Your apartment is charming.’ He paused. ‘I presume the furniture belongs to you? Do you wish to have it at Mannion?’
‘I hadn’t thought that far ahead,’ she confessed. ‘But maybe the desk and the sofa, if there’s space for them. And my books. Everything else can go to a charity shop.’
‘I will make the necessary arrangements tomorrow.’
‘Thank you.’ She hesitated. ‘As a matter of interest, how did you know where I lived?’
‘I made it my business to know,’ he said laconically. ‘Now get dressed, finish your packing and we will go.’
‘What about my car?’
‘I will have that collected tomorrow and brought to the hotel.’
Like waving a magic wand, Dana thought rebelliously as she went into the bedroom to change.
It was a silent journey to the hotel. Dana stood tensely beside Zac in the lift as it whisked them swiftly and silently to the penthouse.
She hadn’t really appreciated its magnificence on her first visit, she thought as she looked around her. She’d been too thrown by finding herself confronting Signor Ottaviano.
‘I hope you will be comfortable here,’ Zac said courteously. ‘Whatever you require, you have only to pick up the phone and ask.’
‘An hour ago I was starving,’ she said. ‘Now I seem to have lost my appetite.’
‘You have had a disturbing day,’ he said. ‘I will order some hot chocolate for you, and then I suggest an early night.’ He saw her stiffen and smiled sardonically. ‘But not with me, carissima. I hope that reassures you.’
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘I mean—no. I don’t need reassurance.’ She paused. ‘What did you mean earlier—about our parting?’
‘We will discuss it another time.’ His tone was dismissive. ‘Now, I will let you rest. A domani, Dana mia. Until tomorrow.’
She watched him walk away across the room, her mind teeming. Knowing there was something she needed to say, but unable to find the words.
It was only when the door had closed behind him that she heard herself whispering, almost desperately, ‘Don’t leave me. Don’t go.’
And felt herself reel in shocked disbelief at her own stupidity.
CHAPTER TEN
‘ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY sure about this?’ said Nicola, her face anxious. ‘I’m not defending Adam—I think he’s behaved abominably and not for the first time—but Zac is seriously not the kind of man you marry on the rebound. And if you’re having any second thoughts, maybe now’s the time to say so.’
Second thoughts, third thoughts and every other kind of thought there is, Dana returned silently. But they’ve changed nothing.
Aloud, she said, ‘It isn’t a bit like that, I promise.’
Although, she thought ruefully, she was damned if she knew what it was like.
She added, ‘And Adam is perfectly entitled to make a new life in Australia.’
Nicola snorted wrathfully. ‘If that was all! But you haven’t heard what he’s been saying—bad-mouthing Zac to anyone who’ll listen. I’d almost forgotten how vindictive he can be when he lets that Mr Charm image slip.’ She paused. ‘Yet you saw how he was with Aunt Mimi.’
‘Yes.’ And with me, Dana thought, biting her lip.
‘He felt she’d made him look a fool, and he could never stand that,’ Nicola went on. ‘And he was furious with me for inviting you for that weekend. Said he thought he’d made sure you were the last person he’d ever see again.’
She pulled a face. ‘And he went ballistic when he discovered Eddie and I were still being married from Mannion. I didn’t dare say that Zac had asked us to be the witnesses at your wedding.’
‘I expect you’re wise,’ Dana said carefully. ‘Now calm down and have some more tea. And another cream cake.’
Nicola surveyed the loaded trolley which had been ceremoniously wheeled into the suite some fifteen minutes before and groaned. ‘Don’t tempt me.’ She gave Dana a quizzical look. ‘How does it feel to be living in the lap of luxury?’
Dana forced a smile. ‘I suppose—luxurious. Would you like the guided tour?’
‘Tea in the sitting room is one thing,’ said Nicola, glancing towards the bedroom. ‘But invading Zac’s privacy is quite another. I’ll pass.’
