Exotic Nights

‘Thank you for my lunch.’

Angel laughed, and it sounded false to her ears. ‘Oh, God, that. I don’t know what—’

‘It was sweet.’

Angel was glad she was alone, because a raging fire of humiliation was burning her up from her toes to her head.

‘I’ll be home at seven. See you then.’

And the connection was terminated. Angel’s heart was thumping out of control; she felt shaky and clammy all over. She was a mess. She was in love. And she was doomed. The Parnassus family were going to have the last laugh after all.

CHAPTER TEN

THAT evening, after they returned from dinner, Angel felt like a limp rag. For once in her life her joy of making jewellery had been eclipsed by something else, Leo, and protecting herself around him. She marvelled at how men could have no feelings invested in a relationship and yet make you feel as if you were the only woman in the world.

All evening Leo had been solicitous. Angel had told herself it was just for show, but when Lucy and Ari had briefly left the room to tend to their children Leo had turned to Angel and taken her face in his hands, pressing a hard kiss to her mouth almost as though he couldn’t help it, as though he needed it, and her body, traitor that it was, had responded.

It had only been when they’d heard a teasing, ‘You know, there are some spare rooms upstairs if you like …’ that they’d broken apart. Angel had felt unbelievably raw and shaken.

‘Penny for them?’

Angel looked sharply at Leo from where she was taking off her shoes inside the door of the villa. She looked down and shrugged minutely, feeling the intense need to self-protect.

‘Nothing, really—just that I hope Lucy likes the earrings and bracelet. It’s the first time I’ve done something in a while and—’

Leo was close, and when Angel stood he tipped her chin up with a finger, making her burn inside.

‘She’ll love them. Ari loved them. You’re extremely talented.’

Angel blushed and could have kicked herself. Why, oh, why couldn’t she pull off the whole insouciant thing?

He came too close then, and took her arm just above the elbow. She trembled and tried to pull away. His eyes flashed a little.

‘A nightcap?’

Angel answered on instinct, needing to get away, ‘Leo, I’m really—’

‘Please?’

Something in his face made Angel stop. Her heart beat faster. She shrugged minutely. ‘Okay, I guess …’

She followed Leo into the palatial drawing room, a little perplexed. If she didn’t know better she’d imagine that he wanted to talk to her about something.

He asked her what she wanted, then poured a Bailey’s for her and a whisky for himself. He handed her the drink.

After a long moment that seemed to stretch taut between them he said, ‘Angel, I think we both know that any arrangement we had is out of the window. I won’t and can’t stop you if you want to leave.’

Angel’s heart clenched so tight she thought she might faint for a second. Her hands unconsciously clenched around her glass, and she was glad she was sitting down. ‘I—’ she started to say, but Leo was still talking.

‘But I don’t want you to go, Angel.’

Her heart started to beat again. ‘You don’t?’ she croaked.

He shook his head. ‘We’re not finished yet. I still want you.’

We’re not finished yet. I still want you. Nothing about love or feelings. But, like earlier, she reminded herself: what did she expect after overhearing his conversation with Ari?

‘The jewellery workspace is yours, Angel—yours for as long as we’re together. After this commission from Ari, and with a little advertising, you’re going to be inundated with commissions. This could be the start of a real career for you.’