‘We have to talk.’
She curled up like a foetus. ‘I’m still trying to get over the last talk we had.’
She heard the strong tread of his footsteps, and then the pillow was firmly prised from the tight ball of her fists. ‘You’re going to suffocate yourself.’
Holly kept her face turned away from him. ‘I think better under the pillow.’
The pillow landed on the floor with a soft thud, and then she felt his hands curve around her and he lifted her into a sitting position. ‘I want to look at you when I talk to you.’ His fingers lifted her chin and his eyes narrowed. ‘Dio, have you been crying?’
‘No, my face always looks like a tomato.’ Mortified, she jerked her chin away from his fingers. ‘Just go away, Casper.’
But he didn’t move.
‘The staff tell me you’re not eating. They’re worried about you.’
‘That’s kind of them.’ Holly rubbed her hands over her arms. ‘But I don’t fancy anything to eat.’
‘You cancelled your engagement this afternoon.’
‘I really am sorry about that.’ She wished he wouldn’t sit so close to her. She couldn’t concentrate when he was this close. ‘But the subject was a bit—painful. I just couldn’t face it. I will go, I promise. The visit is going to be rearranged. Just not this week.’ Why was it that she just wanted to fling her arms around his neck and sob?
Terrified that she’d give in to the impulse, she wriggled off the bed and walked over to the glass doors that were open onto the balcony.
A breeze played with the filmy curtains, and beyond the profusion of plants she could see sunlight glistening on the surface of a perfect blue sea.
Although it was only early April, it promised to be a warm day.
And she’d never felt more miserable in her life.
‘Forget the visit.’ Casper gave a soft curse and strode across to her, pulling her into his arms. ‘Enough, Holly.’ His voice was rough. ‘This is about Rome, isn’t it? We’ve been dancing round the iss
ue for two weeks. Perhaps I was a little too blunt.’
‘You were honest.’ She stood rigid in his arms, trying to ignore the excitement that fluttered to life in her tummy.
She didn’t want to respond.
‘You’re making yourself ill.’
‘It’s just hard, that’s all.’ Holly tried to pull away from him but he held her firmly. ‘Normally when I have a problem I talk it through and that’s how I deal with things.’
He cupped her face, his eyes holding hers. ‘Then talk it through.’
‘You make it sound so simple. But who am I supposed to talk to, Casper?’ Her voice was a whisper. ‘It’s all private stuff, isn’t it? I can just imagine what some of the more unscrupulous staff would do with a story like that.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘You’re learning about the media.’
‘Yes, well, I’ve had some experience now.’ She was desperately aware of him—of the hardness of his thighs pressing against hers, of the strength of his arms as he held her firmly.
‘This is your chance to get your revenge.’
‘You really ought to get to know me, instead of just turning me into some stereotypical gold digger. I don’t want revenge, Casper. I don’t want to hurt you. I just want you to love our baby.’ And her. She wanted him to love her. ‘And the fact that you can’t…’ The dilemma started to swirl in her head again. ‘I don’t know what to do.’
‘You’ve lost weight.’ His hands slid slowly down her arms and his mouth tightened. ‘You can start by eating.’
‘I’m not hungry.’
‘Then you should be thinking about the baby.’