‘I’m sure you can work something out with the charity. I’m happy to make a donation to cover your absence if you like.’
‘I…’
‘And we’re not going to Greece. Ari and Perla are getting married at their resort in Bermuda.’
‘Different continent, same response.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘Do I need to remind you that we’re only three weeks into our agreement?’
Her fingers trembled and she threw the box down on the sofa. ‘No, you don’t need to remind me. Call me foolish, but I thought we were getting beyond that.’
‘I’m trying to, Inez.’
‘Then ask me nicely. For all you know, I may be busy next weekend and would need to rearrange my plans for you.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘Busy doing what?’
‘Splitting the atom. Shaving my legs. Rehearsing to join a circus troupe. What does it matter? You didn’t bother to ask. You only brought me trinkets and ordered me to be ready to fly off to Bermuda.’ Her mouth trembled and she firmed it.
‘You’re angry.’
‘You’re very observant.’
‘Tell me why.’
She laughed. Even to her ears it sounded as if it could’ve easily cut glass. His eyes narrowed as she shook her head. ‘What would be the point?’
‘The point would be that I would listen.’
She placed her feet on the carpet and tried to stand. He caught her hips and kept her seated in front of him.
This close she could see the hypnotic gold flecks in his eyes. She wanted to drown in them. Wanted to drown in him. She tried to calm her racing pulse.
His gaze dropped to her mouth, then down to her chest and a different sort of fever took hold of her.
‘That necklace—’
‘Is just a necklace. I thought I’d give it to you now so you could get an outfit to match for the wedding.’
‘And the trip?’
‘I need a plus one. I need you. And you can hate me if you want but I’m not prepared to leave you here so Benedicto can hound you.’
‘I can take care of myself.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘I don’t doubt that. But can you tell me that he won’t view your refusal to take his calls this last week as a betrayal?’
Her heart skittered. ‘And you think he’ll harm me in some way?’
He glanced meaningfully at her arm, then back to her face. ‘Sorry, anjo, I’m not prepared to take that chance.’
Darkness and light. Tenderness and ruthlessness. It was what kept her emotions on a knife-edge where this man was concerned.
‘Will you come to Bermuda with me? Please?’
She glanced at the velvet box. ‘I will. But I’m not wearing that necklace.’
‘Fine. We’ll find you something else.’
‘I don’t need anything—’ Her argument died on her lips when he picked up her sketchpad. She grabbed at it but he held it out of her reach. ‘Theo, hand it over.’ She breathed a secret sigh of relief when her panic didn’t bleed through her voice.
‘You’re supposed to be designing me a boat.’
‘I’m still working on it. I’ll show it to you when it’s done.’
His gaze brushed her face and settled on her mouth. The intensity of it made her insides contract. After a minute he handed the pad over and rose. ‘I look forward to it. We’re dining in tonight. I’m in the mood for an early night.’
He left the room just as silently as he’d entered. She realised her fingers were clamped white around her sketchpad and slowly relaxed them.
She flipped through the pages until she came to the one she’d been drawing. It was one of many featuring Theo asleep. She stared at it, seeing the vulnerability and gentleness in his face that he covered up so efficiently when he was awake. When he was asleep he was all light, no darkness. There was a boyishness about him that she only caught rare glimpses of during the day.
Darkness and light. Unfortunately, her heart refused to be picky about which it preferred because, awake or asleep, Theo had captured her emotions so efficiently she was beginning to fear she was falling in love with him.
* * *
The nightmare started the way it always did. A glow of light signalled the men’s arrival. Followed by the rope ladder and the heavy descent of thick boots, tree trunk thighs and towering thugs.