‘No chance,’ he said, shaking his head very slowly as he continued his leisurely appraisal. ‘I’d like to cover all your grievances while they’re still fresh in your mind.’
The orchard was the least of those right now, Annalisa acknowledged as she fought to control her breathing.
‘The bath will give you time to calm down,’ he went on, but the dark humour in his eyes told her he knew how unlikely that was. ‘You don’t want to miss the chance to get everything off your chest, do you, Annalisa?’
His gently chiding tone was far too provocative, Annalisa realised as she fought to keep her mind on her battle plan. ‘All right,’ she agreed. ‘That suits me fine. But I’ll make supper.’ That fixed him! On Ramon’s boat she was subject to his will. In her own home she dictated the terms.
‘Sounds good,’ he murmured. ‘I’ll even soap your back.’
‘This is purely a business meeting,’ she reminded him quickly. ‘And I have a perfectly good loofah.’
His knowing look slid effortlessly into something approaching innocence. ‘If you change your mind—’
If she prepared a simple meal she could say what she had to say and be safely tucked up in bed before midnight, Annalisa thought, holding his stare.
‘Shall we go?’ Ramon suggested.
‘I’m ready,’ she said. ‘The sooner we start, the sooner we can sort out the problem.’
The corners of his mouth tugged down wryly. ‘I’m sure we can. Whether now is the right time—’
The bath at the finca was a marvellous cast iron affair that could comfortably accommodate a family of four. Having treated herself a selection of expensive products at the beauty salon, Annalisa added a good splash of scented bath oil before reaching across to turn off the taps. ‘Judged to perfection,’ she murmured. But while the flow of water from the hot tap responded at once, the cold tap wouldn’t budge. The choice was flood the floor or— ‘Ramon! Can you give me a hand here? Quickly!’
She had left him sprawled on the sofa in the front room, chilling out to some music, but he reached her in seconds, bursting through the door.
‘Are you all right?’ he said, anxiously scanning the room.
Annalisa stood back and pointed to the tap. ‘I can’t turn it off.’
‘The tap?’ Ramon said, as if he had been expecting a collapsed ceiling at least. Moving in front of her, he applied brute strength to the problem.
‘Brilliant!’ Annalisa exclaimed. ‘But your shirt’s all wet,’ she observed when he straightened up again.
‘Then I’d better take it off and you can dry it for me,’ he said with a grin.
Before she could argue he was stripped to the waist. Moving fast, he grabbed her arm and reached for the zip on the back of her dress. ‘Just in case this gets stuck too, I’d better see to it while I’m here,’ he whispered against her neck. His warm breath sent shivers round her shoulders that spread all too fast.
‘Are you cold, Annalisa?’ he demanded softly, knowingly.
‘Cold? No!’ she protested, trembling and laughing at the same time. But the touch of his naked chest against her arm was having a cataclysmic effect on her senses. ‘A little tired, maybe…’
‘You should take a good long soak in the bath,’ Ramon advised huskily, his warm hand lingering on the soft swell of her buttocks where the zip fastener ended.
But just as her will-power was faltering he pulled away.
‘Dios! You’re covered in scratches,’ he said. ‘Where’s your antiseptic?’
‘In that cupboard over the washbasin,’ Annalisa said, holding her dress together as best she could.
Fishing around, Ramon pulled out a small bottle and some cotton wool. Unscrewing the top, he sniffed and grimaced. ‘If you’re not stinking of this when you come down I’ll send you straight back again.’
‘Thank you,’ Annalisa said, snatching it out of his hand. Who said romance was dead?
Why didn’t it help that she had nothing to regret? Annalisa mused as she put away the last of the dishes. The meal had lasted for hours, and then they had talked on for hours after that. Ramon had been a revelation…even if the business issues had been somewhat overlooked. She hadn’t realised before just how badly she had been missing the simple art of conversation. Except that where Ramon was concerned of course, nothing was simple.
And now it was dawn and she was alone again. She had made him a hastily prepared breakfast—freshly laid eggs whipped up with melted butter and lightly cooked…
She swerved from the sink to dash away some tears, her emotions at odds with the mundane household tasks. Taking a few steadying breaths, she went back to finish the chores. There was no comfort in them, but at least there was some semblance of normality in the routine. But when that was done there was nowhere left to go but back to the moment when the dream that perhaps they could be friends after all had been laid bare for the sham it was. The hammering on the front door had been the start of it—she had already been halfway off her chair when Ramon stopped her.