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‘I am curious as to why you call her Renata though,’ he said, more to distract himself than anything else.
Tension seized her again but he didn’t make a move to alleviate it. Not without risking giving himself away.
‘She was a teenage mother. She liked it when people assumed she was an older sister rather than mother and daughter. She forbade us...um...me from calling her Mamma when I started school.’
As he watched her Alessio realised one thing. Whether or not his instincts proved right—and that‘us’just now was painting a definitive picture that made things so much clearer—didn’t minimise her pain.
Not if such a simple thing as claiming the woman who gave birth to her by her rightful label distressed the woman before him. Perhaps her emotions ran much deeper than he’d initially believed.
Deciding it was time to return to the realm of distance and neutrality, he dragged his hands off her silky-smooth nape, ignoring the mournful loss of her warm, supple skin. To allay the effect, he shoved his hands into his pockets. ‘I came here for a reason,’ he gritted out.
A flash of something lit her eyes before she nodded. ‘What is it?’
‘I managed to get through to my client. He’s going ahead with your suggestion.’
Genuine delight lit up her eyes, chasing away most of the shadows. ‘He is? That’s fantastic!’ Her eyes searched his for a moment longer. ‘Does that mean I’ve passed the interview?’
Alessio’s insides tightened with that curious mix of pride and fury. Answering ‘yes’ drew a line beneath their association, got her off the hook from whatever game she was playing. He wasn’t ready for that yet.
His gaze slid past her to the snow-white landscape and, for the first time since his arrival at his chalet, he found he didn’t quite mind the deplorable circumstances he found himself in.
‘Let’s not jump the gun yet. There are several stages to get through first.’
‘Like what?’
His gaze returned to her. Not so wise ideas tumbling through his mind, Alessio decided to try one last theory. ‘Come downstairs. We’ll celebrate this win and discuss next steps.’
Now that he’d accepted the high probability that this womanwasn’tGigi Parker, he was noticing further irregularities that made him kick himself. For instance, she had a prepossession, a stillness that her sister—and he assumed he was looking at a twin version of the woman who stole from him—that Gigi didn’t possess. Even the way she gravitated to the Christmas tree when they entered the living room, looking at it with almost childlike delight when the other would’ve completely ignored it.
Alessio could barely keep himself from staring at how the festive lights twinkling on the tree highlighted her smooth skin and perfect cheekbones, the full curve of her lips.
But he wasn’t here to be enthralled by her beauty.
He crossed the room, deliberately walking close. Whatever she saw in his face made her inhale sharply, then pivot to examine an ornament.
‘A drink? A cocktail perhaps?’ he asked, watching her carefully.
She shook her head, then, catching his gaze, hesitated for a moment.
Another domino fell.
He recalled his thought that first night that she was playing a part. He’d believed it was just to secure the job. But she’d been playing a part because she wasn’t who she claimed to be.
Santa cielo.What an utter fool he’d been.
‘Um... I’m good with wine, thanks. Then I need to make another call.’
A perfect opportunity. ‘You left your phone upstairs. Here, use mine.’ He plucked his phone from his pocket of his joggers, saw the blank space where the bars should be, and cursed.
Her eyes widened but he saw a flash of relief in the depths, shoring up his conviction. ‘Don’t tell me...’
‘Yes, we’ve been cut off again.Non importa.We’ll use the time wisely.’
Crossing to the drinks cabinet, he reached for his favourite cognac. After pouring her a glass of Merlot he brought the drinks to where she stood.
Their fingers brushed as she took hers, the expected sizzle of electricity arriving on cue. Alessio was close enough to see the pulse leap at her throat, to watch her take a sip and swallow. Despite the charged air between them, she didn’t move to fill it with mindless chatter.
This woman who delivered succinct, invigorating conversation also knew the art of silence. Alessio hated how much he liked that.
