The Heat Of Passion

'When I was informed that your father had been helping himself to company funds,' Carlo continued levelly, ‘I was delighted. In fact, I was triumphant.. ,’

'Yes,' she said painfully. ‘I knew that,’

'And you were right, I didn't give a damn about

Gerald. All I saw was a very useful weapon. I could have

handled Sunny on my own if I'd needed to,' Carlo

drawled half under his breath. 'What I really wanted

more than anything was to get you flat on your back on

the nearest bed and make you pay for walking out on

me six years ago '

'You wanted revenge. I kn-knew that,' she asserted shakily, moving away from him, no longer able to bear any form of proximity. It was over, wasn't that what he was telling her? He had dealt with Sunny; now it was her turn.

Carlo drove not quite steady fingers through his thick

black hair, looking less in command of himself than was

the norm. 'I'd be lying if I said I regretted it. I didn't.. .1

don't,' he adjusted, seemingly bent on giving her the

kind of honesty that only hurt her more. ‘I didn't

care

what methods I had to use to get you back '

'Tell me something I don't know!' Jessica condemned in a choked voice, desperately fighting off tears of pain and an increasing urge to show him the door.

There was a long silence and then, Carlo expelled his breath sharply. 'I still love you...'

There was an even longer silence while she stared back at him in shock, afraid to trust her own hearing.

'Still?' It was a whisper of awed hope. 'You still love me?'

'What the hell do you think I'm doing here with those tapes?' he demanded roughly.

'You were pretty objectionable when you came

through the door '

'You walked out on me ‘

'And you thought of the last time.' With a look of remorse, she flung herself into his arms. 'Carlo... don't you know when you've won?'

He trembled against her. ' Won?' he repeated uncertainly.

'Don't you know that I love you?'

With a groan, he crushed her into a fevered embrace. 'We've been stalking each other like wary animals!' he vented furiously. 'How long have you loved me?’

'It feels like forever,' she mumbled truthfully. 'As if