and they’d sat in his den with their now ritual night-time drink. ‘Serena is not and never has been my bed partner.’
‘But she’d like to be? And you’ve taken her out? There’s more to it than a professional relationship?’
Luigi drew in a deeply pained breath. ‘She’d like there to be,’ he admitted.
‘And you’re strong enough to withstand the allure of a beautiful woman?’
‘Serena, yes.’
Megan’s eyes narrowed. ‘So there have been others?’ Her tone was deeply accusing.
‘You can’t blame me,’ he rasped, his eyes dark and resentful. ‘I’m a red-blooded male, full of sex hormones that need feeding now and then.’
‘So that’s what I was doing, feeding your hormones?’ Megan’s head began to spin. It was one way of putting it, she supposed. He’d always been highly sexed with a hot-blooded Latin male possessiveness that had at one time thrilled her, but now sent a sickening chill into the very heart of her soul. She fed his need; it was as simple as that. And she had compromised herself by agreeing to move in with him!
He had a lot to prove before she’d allow him into her bed again—and if he dared to let any other woman assuage his sexual urges then she’d be out of here quicker than he could say I’m sorry.
‘You’re different, Megan, you should know that. You’re my wife, you’re mine, and we need each other. Haven’t we proved it?’
He stood close and she could smell the very maleness of him. It excited her beyond measure but she knew that she had to be strong. ‘I need you like I’d need a boil on the end of my nose,’ she spat. ‘I’ve managed very well, thank you, for the last four years. The only reason I’ve agreed to stay is for Charlotte’s benefit. But if you give me hell, like you’re doing at this moment, then I’ll run away again.’
‘You’d be that selfish?’ he blazed. ‘You’d deprive my daughter of her father’s guidance just because you—’ he stabbed the word incisively ‘—can’t handle the idea that while we’ve been parted I’ve had other girlfriends. God dammit, woman, I didn’t think I was ever going to see you again.’
‘So now I am here have you told Serena it’s hands off time? Have you told her we’re back together?’
‘We had other more pressing issues to discuss.’
‘So you haven’t told her,’ accused Megan, her eyes glinting. ‘Damn you, Luigi, you’d better do it quickly, because if I take any more calls from her I’ll fill her so full of home truths that she won’t even want to work with you, never mind insinuating herself into your bed.’
Megan knew that she was getting too wound up for her own good but she couldn’t help it. She was afraid that everything was going to go pear-shaped, and she’d end up being even more hurt than before. And this time Charlotte would be hurt too. This was her main concern.
‘I can assure you, Megan,’ he said in a low growl, ‘that you are my number one priority. Serena never has nor ever will enter the equation.’
He looked as though he wanted to kiss her, actually bowing his head and inching closer. Pulses began to race and Megan knew that if she hesitated it would be too late. With speed born of panic she flung open the door. ‘I wish I could believe you. Goodnight, Luigi.’ And she slammed it behind her.
Her heart raced as though she’d run a hundred-yard sprint. It would be so easy to fall back into their old ways, to become Luigi’s wife again in every sense of the word. But it was too soon. He had to prove himself first. She must take control of her feelings, not give the slightest hint that she wanted him like she never had before. It was going to be hard but she had to do it, for the sake of their future.
Sleep didn’t come easily. What was easy was remembering Luigi in bed beside her. The space felt empty. She felt empty. If they had nothing else in common she couldn’t deny that they made a spectacular couple in bed.
Frequently she wandered into Charlotte’s room to check that she was OK. She looked so beautiful and so innocent with not a care in the world, happy to be in this house with her father, and for her sake Megan was glad that she’d agreed to stay on.
When she went down to breakfast the next morning Megan was surprised to see Luigi seated at the table, the morning paper spread out in front of him, a steaming cup of coffee in his hand. Luigi was very much a coffee man. He’d once told her that he’d had so much tea poured into him as a child that it had put him off it for life.
‘Good morning.’ He looked up with a warm smile. ‘Did you sleep well?’
Should she lie and say yes, or tell the truth? Megan lied. ‘Brilliantly well, thank you. And yourself?’
‘Yes, I had a good night too.’
But she knew they were both politely lying. She was willing to bet that he’d tossed and turned the whole night as well, wishing they were together, reliving the magical moments they’d shared. Feeling stirred by them, feeling a hunger that was hard to dismiss.
Even as she’d walked into the room and their eyes met, Megan’s senses had skidded out of control and she’d had to turn away quickly, making a big thing of helping Charlotte into her chair.
Charlotte chatted away to her father and Megan was able to take a firm hold of her dithering emotions. This was ridiculous. How could she live with Luigi and follow her own self-imposed rules feeling as she did? Why not share his bed? Because, came the severe answer, you’ll be doubly hurt if it doesn’t work. And that had to be the truth.
Not until Edwina had brought in their breakfast did Megan question Luigi. ‘I thought you’d be at work. It’s a quarter past eight. If I remember rightly you’re normally at your desk by seven-thirty.’
‘So you didn’t believe me when I said I was going to change?’ he asked with a mocking lift to an eyebrow.
His hair was neatly combed, his jaw clean-shaven and he smelt heavenly. For the life of her she couldn’t remember the name of his cologne, but he had always used the same one for as long as she’d known him. To her it was an aphrodisiac and as she inhaled it she closed her eyes and dreamt of him making love to her.
‘Is something wrong?’ asked Luigi sharply.
‘What? I’m sorry. No! Nothing! And, no, I didn’t believe you. But I’m glad to see that you’ve kept your word.’ He was wearing a white silk shirt, open at the throat, and she had an insane urge to touch his chest with her fingertips, to feel the strength of that muscular body, to—
‘Megan?’
Again he brought her back to the present.
‘Are you sure you’ve had enough sleep? You look as though you’re in a trance. Shall I take the day off and look after Charlotte while—?’
‘No!’ she exclaimed strongly. ‘There’s nothing wrong with me. I was thinking about something, that’s all. Mmm, this bacon smells good.’
As they ate she was aware of him watching her, and when Charlotte had finished and run away into the kitchen to ‘help ‘Wina’ he said, ‘Something’s
