Craving Her Enemy's Touch

Inwardly he groaned. She thought he was putting the car through its paces for her, when all he’d been doing was giving his mind something other than her to focus on. Again he glanced at her, shocked to see a smile on her lips, and instantly he wished he wasn’t driving, that he didn’t have to concentrate on the car so that he could enjoy her smile—the first real smile he’d seen on those sweet lips.

‘It is not far now.’ Grazie a Dio! He didn’t think he could take much more of this enforced proximity, the way her light perfume weaved its scent throughout the car. His body was excruciatingly aware of each tiny movement she made.

The streamlined car willingly ate up the miles as they drove in a silence laced with tension—not angry tension but that of restrained desire. Her kiss last night had more than hinted at her attraction for him. He couldn’t deny that he was tempted by her but it was something he wouldn’t act on. To do so would be to dishonour his friend’s memory and the promise he’d made.

A sigh of relief left him as they turned off the road and down a smaller road which led to the Roselli test track. Never before had a drive here been so long and so tense. Thankfully, he parked the car behind the large building which housed the prototypes for all his cars currently being tested.

Charlie got out of the car, her full attention now on the building before her, and he knew she was anxious. The tight set of her shoulders betrayed her nerves. ‘You don’t have to do this. We can just go back to the office.’

She turned to look at him, her hand reaching up to keep her hair from her face as the wind toyed with it. Instantly he remembered how he’d pushed his hands through it just hours ago, how he’d clutched it hard to enable him to kiss her deeper, and the way she’d responded.

Maledizione! Did he have to keep going back to something that should never have happened?

‘Mr Roselli, I want to do this and I will, no matter how many times you try to dissuade me.’ The fire of her spirit sounded in every word and, as she looked at him, her pretty face set in fierce determination, he fought the urge to smile.

‘I think we can dispense with formalities now, don’t you, Charlie?’ He saw her green eyes glitter as he used her preferred name.

‘As you wish, Alessandro.’ The sweetness of her voice didn’t mask her irritation.

‘Sandro,’ he said as he locked the car and came round to her. ‘I’d much prefer it if you’d call me Sandro.’

Her gaze locked with his, challenging him with unsaid words. They held the same fire and courage Seb’s always had, although the green of hers was more like emerald. Hard and glittering.

‘As you wish, Sandro.’ She shrugged casually and turned to look up at the building. ‘Now, can I see the car?’

‘It is only the test car. The actual car will be revealed at the launch.’

She glanced briefly at him before returning her attention to the modern building, its streamlined design which curved around them. ‘Even better. I’d like to know what changes have been made since Seb drove it.’

There it was again. Accusation.

‘It is an exact copy of the prototype Seb drove. There weren’t any improvements to be made.’

She turned and looked at him, her brows raised in surprise. ‘None at all?’

He watched her intently for a moment as she did anything other than look at him. ‘No. This way.’ He moved purposefully towards the door, keyed in his code and stood back for her to enter, hoping she wouldn’t pursue the conversation further. He didn’t want to lie to her, but at the same time he didn’t think she would be able to handle the truth.

His team of mechanics were working on another project and glanced up as they entered. He noticed she ignored their speculative gazes and instead walked towards the grey test car parked in the centre of the white workshop floor, ready for them.

He followed but held back as she approached the vehicle, wanting to give her time with something that had been as much a part of Seb’s life as it was his.

She paced slowly along the car, her long jeans-clad legs doing untold things to him, and he gritted his teeth against the sizzle of attraction. This was one woman he couldn’t have but, as she slid her hand over the front wing of the car, following the sleek angles of the bodywork, he couldn’t help but wish he was the car.

‘Can I?’ She gestured towards the door and he nodded, not able to string even a few words together in any language after those thoughts.

As she slid into the driving seat he moved towards the car and leant on the open door. He looked down at her, trying hard not to notice how the seat curved around her thighs. Instead, he kept his eyes on her face, watching as she openly devoured everything with hungry eyes. Slowly she wrapped her fingers around the steering wheel, clutching it tight until the leather creaked. She looked as if she belonged behind the wheel of a car and as if this particular car had been made for her.