‘You can’t go to the wedding dressed like that.’
‘Well, what do you suggest?’
What made things worse was the sight of Roman dressed for the wedding. Wearing chinos, cinched with a beautifully tooled leather belt, he had a pale linen jacket slung over his shoulders and a dark shirt underneath. He looked even more amazing than before if such a thing were possible. His thick dark hair was still damp from the shower, and stubble was already shading his disapproving face. It should be illegal to look so hot. If every ruthless entrepreneur looked like Roman Quisvada, it was no wonder they could strip assets faster than Eva could throw a spanner in their works.
‘Well?’ she prompted as he continued to narrow his eyes and ponder. ‘I didn’t come here planning to attend a wedding. I don’t even want to go. You suggested it—’
‘Yes, I did,’ he admitted thoughtfully.
‘Are you ashamed of me?’
He seemed to come round, as if this genuinely hadn’t occurred to him.
‘I have no feelings regarding you at all. I just think you might feel more comfortable if you were dressed differently, that’s all.’
‘That settles it,’ she flashed, backing into the room. ‘I’ll wait for you in the village—’
With whip-fast reactions, he held the door firm.
‘Wait for me where?’ He stood belligerently in her way. ‘You’ll come with me—and you’ll come with me now. This isn’t a multiple-choice, Eva. The decision has already been made.’
CHAPTER FIVE
‘DO YOU SERIOUSLY think anyone will notice what I’m wearing?’ she said, starting to worry.
‘Everyone will notice what you’re wearing.’
‘Because I’m with you,’ she scoffed.
‘They’ll be curious,’ Roman admitted with a shrug.
I bet they will. ‘Why don’t you just say I’m an employee who turned up unexpectedly?’
For the first time he seemed amused. ‘No one will believe that, Eva. They know me too well to think I could be surprised that way.’
‘Because all your employees do what you tell them, I suppose.’
He gave her a sleepy look that suggested everyone did as he told them—with one notable exception. ‘Maybe they’ll think I’m a roadie with the band?’ Lifting her shoulders, she let them drop again.
‘Is that what you want people to think?’ Roman’s lips pressed down attractively.
‘I don’t care what they think—’
‘But I think you do,’ he said. ‘These are good people, Eva. I think you’ll want them to like you.’
That was the one answer she hadn’t expected—the one answer she didn’t have a smart retort for. Concern from Roman was so unexpected that, quite inappropriately, her eyes filled with tears. She wasn’t used to people other than her sisters showing concern for her. They were generally afraid to in case she bit their head off. She had never been so wrong-footed before. And had never felt quite so out of place.
‘I’m just trying to be practical, Eva,’ Roman pointed out. ‘I’m trying to help you. Why can’t you accept that? And we don’t have much time.’
As he glanced at his watch she knew he was right. It would be rude if the one man who was surely a valued guest arrived late at the party. ‘So what do you suggest?’ she said, shrugging unhappily.
‘That belt,’ he murmured.
‘What belt?’ she said, frowning impatiently.
‘The one you’re wearing on your jeans. It’s very pretty.’
She was surprised he’d noticed. It was a good belt. She’d bought it when she had bought a few things in memory of her mother who had been über feminine. It was just a slim leather belt inlaid with polished turquoise set in silver.
The belt was giving him a welcome distraction from the sight of Eva’s spectacular breasts pressing against her too-tight top. They were just one more attribute she seemed totally oblivious to. The belt had given him an idea. Yes, he could do without attending his cousin’s wedding with the complication of such an unconventional ‘plus one’, but as she was going, and as, contrary to Eva’s opinion of him, he wasn’t in the habit of humiliating people, he wanted to help her out.
‘Where are you going?’ she called after him as he backed off and strode away down the corridor.