staff goodnight.
Surely James wouldn’t wait for her?
Except there he was, standing at the edge of the pavement as she exited the restaurant, making it impossible for her to avoid him.
With long strides he moved towards her and attempted to take her hands in his own, swiftly she locked them together behind her back.
‘James,’ Lily acknowledged stiffly. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘To convince you, in person, that I made the biggest mistake of my life.’ He spread his hands in a helpless gesture. ‘Emails and phone calls weren’t achieving anything.’
What could she say that she hadn’t relayed verbally at the time, and later via email?
‘Our relationship was over the moment I walked into my home and discovered you in bed with another woman.’
‘It didn’t mean anything.’ He took a step closer. ‘I was a fool. Please give me a second chance,’ he implored with desperation. ‘I love you.’
She doubted he ever had.
‘We’ve done this. Let’s not do it again.’
‘Lily—’
‘Just. go, James.’
‘Lily, I’m begging you. Please.’
She didn’t see it coming and she should have, as he pulled her close and brought his mouth down on hers with a hungry force that stunned and sickened her as she fought to free herself.
With a deep-throated growl she kicked him hard and took advantage of his momentary surprise to wrench away from him.
‘Don’t touch me, you … imbecile. She wiped a hand over her mouth and glared at him in a manner that spoke volumes. ‘If you come near me again, I’ll have you arrested for harassment.’
‘You can’t be serious.’
‘Very.’ Succinct and vehement.
He went to reach for her again … and this time Lily was ready for him.
‘Don’t.’
‘I suggest you take Lily’s advice,’ a deep, slightly accented familiar voice drawled, and she swung around to face Alessandro leaning against his gleaming black car parked at the kerb.
How long had he been standing there?
Lily tilted her chin as she regarded his inscrutable features. ‘I can manage this.’
‘Of that I have no doubt,’ Alessandro concurred in a silky drawl that sent shivers scudding down her spine.
James, however, directed Alessandro a resentful glare. ‘This is between me and my fiancée and none of your business.’
‘Ex-fiancée,’ Lily corrected at once. ‘As of almost two months ago.’
‘We’re working at reconciling.’
‘There is no we,’ she assured with considerable force.
‘And no chance of a reconciliation. ever.’
Alessandro switched his attention to James. ‘A definite no, wouldn’t you agree?’
‘She doesn’t know what she wants,’ James declared in a dismissive tone, and failed to notice the tension edge up a notch.
‘It doesn’t appear to be you.’
‘Really?’ James spared him a hard look. ‘And you are?’
‘A friend.’
James turned to Lily and indicated a compact hire car. ‘I’ll follow you home, and we can talk in private.’
Alessandro searched Lily’s features. ‘Is that what you want?’
He reminded her of a panther, waiting, watchful, and dangerous.
‘No,’ she replied without hesitation, and saw him turn towards James.
‘I suggest you leave,’ he indicated silkily.
‘Or you’ll do what?’ James demanded trenchantly.
Alessandro didn’t move so much as a muscle. Yet only a fool would ignore the coiled strength apparent in his stance. ‘Ensure you never forget my name.’
James took in the expensive suit, the indisputable air of power, the luxury car and looked at Lily with bitter anger.
‘You owe me.’
She met his gaze squarely. ‘I owe you nothing.’ He’d lived in her home, for which she had paid all the bills, maintenance, even groceries. Not to mention forfeiting deposits paid on the wedding reception venue, florist, limousines, honeymoon. The list was endless.
James hands clenched into tight fists, and for a moment Lily thought he meant to launch a physical attack. Then without a further word he moved to his car, slid in behind the wheel, and drove off with a roar of the engine and fast-spinning wheels.
Lily took a moment before she turned to face the inimitable man who stood regarding her with masked interest.
‘You, of course, just happened to be passing by.’
‘I was in the neighborhood.’
She looked at him with a degree of scepticism. ‘You expect me to believe that?’
‘Does it matter?’
His scrutiny intensified when she didn’t answer, and her eyes widened as he cupped her chin and tilted her head.
Her mouth felt slightly numb from James’s onslaught, and without thought she soothed her swollen lower lip with the edge of her tongue.
Alessandro bit back a barely audible oath as he drew her close. She touched something deep inside him, a need for one special woman in his life. Family of his own, children. Love, the true abiding kind, from which he’d considered himself immune. Until now.
A faintly wry smile curved his generous mouth as she tucked her head into the curve of his shoulder and rested there for a few seemingly long minutes.
Unbidden, he slid a hand to her nape, then slowly smoothed it down her back.
She fitted so well, almost as if she was meant to be there, and he lowered his head to brush his lips to her temple, ignoring his instinct to put her in his car and take her home. to his home.
Not an option, yet. And he experienced a measure of regret as she stepped away from him.
Alessandro retrieved his wallet, extracted a card and handed it to her. ‘My cell-phone number. Any problems, call me. Understood?’
