‘Which is why I rescheduled for this evening. Of course, your father chose not to grace us with his presence. So the song and dance continues, I guess.’ The hard edge was definitely in his tone again, prompting those alarm bells to ring louder.
Pietro muttered something under his breath that she was sure wasn’t complimentary. He snapped his fingers at the waiter and swapped his empty glass for a full one.
‘Well, we’ll be there at the appointed time tomorrow. We can only hope that you will not be delayed…elsewhere.’
The upward movement of Theo’s mouth could in no way be termed a smile. His eyes flicked back to her. ‘Don’t worry, da Costa, I intend to hammer out the final points of our agreement tonight. When I turn up to sign tomorrow, it will be with the knowledge that all my stipulations have been satisfied.’
The firm belief that his statement was connected to her wouldn’t dissipate all through dinner. As a host, Theo was effortlessly entertaining. He even managed to draw a chuckle from Pietro once or twice.
But Inez couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being toyed with. And once or twice she caught the faintest hint of fury and repulsion on his face, especially when her father’s name came up.
She shook herself out of her unsettling thoughts when the most mouth-watering dessert was set down before her.
Whatever Theo was up to, it was nothing to do with her. Her father had managed their family business with enough savvy not to be drawn into a scam.
With that comforting thought in mind, she picked up her spoon and scooped up a mouthful of chocolate truffle-topped cheesecake.
Her tiny groan of delight drew intense eyes back to hers. Suddenly, the thought of dishing out a little of the mockery he’d doled out to her tingled through her. Keeping her gaze on his, she slowly drew the spoon out from between her lips, then licked the remnants of chocolate with a slow flick of her tongue.
His nostrils flared immediately, hunger darkening his eyes to a leaf-green that was mesmerising to witness. With another swirl of her tongue, she lowered the spoon and scooped up another mouthful.
His large fist tightened around the after-dinner espresso he’d opted for and she momentarily expected the bone china to shatter beneath his grip. But slowly he released it and sat back in his chair, his eyes never leaving her face.
‘Enjoying your dessert, anjo?’ he asked in that low, rough tone of his.
She hated to admit that the endearment was beginning to have an effect on her. The way he mouthed it made heat bloom in her belly, made her aware of her every heartbeat…made her wonder how it would sound whispered to her at the height of passion. No!
‘Yes. Very much.’ She fake smiled to project an air of nonchalance.
He smiled at her mocking formality. ‘Good. I’ll make a note of it for the next time we dine together.’
Before she could tell him she intended to move heaven and earth to make sure there wouldn’t be a next time, Pietro lurched to his feet. ‘I never got the chance to inspect my…this boat before the opportunity to buy it was regrettably taken away. You won’t mind if I take a look around, would you?’ he slurred.
Theo motioned the hovering waiter over. He murmured to him and the waiter went to the deck bar and picked up a handset. ‘Not at all. My skipper will give you the tour.’
A middle-aged man with greying hair climbed onto the deck a few minutes later and escorted a swaying Pietro towards the stairs.
Inez watched him go with a mixture of anxiety and sympathy.
‘He’s drunk.’ Her appetite gone for good, she set her spoon down and pushed the plate away.
‘You say that as if it’s my fault,’ he replied lazily.
‘Did you really have to do that?’ She glared at him.
He raised a brow. ‘Do what, exactly?’
‘This was supposed to be Pietro’s boat.’ No matter how unrealistic that notion had been, her brother didn’t deserve to be humiliated like this.
‘Supposed being the operative word. We had a gentleman’s agreement.’ That hard bite was back again, sending trepidation dancing along her nerve ends. ‘He didn’t hold out his end of the deal.’
‘Regardless of that, do you have to rub his nose in it like this?’ she countered.