was a salient point, she had to admit. It would be hard enough relinquishing a newborn infant, let alone one you had reared to the age of two, watching all those tiny milestones on the way past. The first smile, the first steps, the first words. How could anyone do it without a very good reason?
‘Were you adopted from Sicily or Australia?’ she asked.
‘Australia,’ he said. ‘I guess my biological parent or parents had migrated there.’
‘What about your sister?’ she asked. ‘Has she traced her biological parents?’
‘Megan was adopted by my parents when she was twelve,’ he said in a sober tone. ‘Her biological parents were abusive. I don’t think she would ever consider seeing either of them again.’
‘How tragic. It must be very hard for her.’
‘My parents have done the very best they can to help her overcome her past, but some things are not so easily resolved.’
‘I can see why you are so hesitant to go looking for your own birth parents. Like you said, you never know what you might find.’
‘Exactly,’ he said. ‘There are some things in life that are best left well alone.’
She fell into step beside him as they made their way back to his car. Alex Hunter was right, she thought as they drove back towards the turn-off to the foothills.
Some things were better left well alone…
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE cottage was in total darkness when Alex drove up the pot-holed driveway. He glanced at the little figure sitting so silently beside him, wondering if she was going to baulk at going out with him again. He had enjoyed the evening much more than he’d expected to. He knew he had limited time on the island, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t have a little dalliance without strings. Certainly Amelia Vialli was nothing like any other woman he had ever dated, and after his most recent break-up that was exactly what he needed right now. It had nothing to do with Amelia’s lack of experience of the world, although he would be lying to himself if he didn’t admit to how quaint and refreshing he found it. So many women he knew were way too polished and worldly, and Sarah, his ex-girlfriend, had been no exception. It was such a change to be in the company of a young woman who didn’t hide behind layers of make-up and cloying perfume and flirtatious, manipulative wiles. Amelia had a feisty spirit underneath that quiet humility and he loved that she showed it without reserve. And she was passionate, much more so than he could ever have imagined. One kiss had shown him what was simmering under the surface, no doubt hidden for all this time for fear of being hurt again.
‘Would you like me to wait with you until your father and brothers return?’ he offered as he brought the car to a standstill.
‘No, I’ll be fine. They could be ages and you have to operate tomorrow,’ she said. ‘Thank you for a lovely evening. The meal was wonderful.’
He came around to help her out of the car, the moonlight highlighting the perfect oval of her small pixie face. ‘But we didn’t even have dessert.’ He gave her a twinkling look. ‘That’s my favourite part of the meal.’
He heard the soft intake of her breath. ‘Maybe some other time.’
He smiled as he pressed a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth. ‘I’ll hold you to that.’
He walked her to the door, waiting for her to light a candle before he left. The soft, flickering light gave her an almost ethereal look as she turned to face him.
‘I suppose you’re wondering why we don’t have electricity connected,’ she said, a tiny glimmer of pride showing in her hazel eyes.
‘I hadn’t noticed,’ he lied.
He felt his stomach tighten with anger at how she and her family had been treated. ‘It’s not right you have to live like this, Amelia. There must be something that can be done. I could speak to someone about it for you.’
She lifted her chin as she held the door open for him. ‘We come from completely different worlds, Alex. Don’t go looking for a bridge between them. There isn’t one.’
‘That’s crazy and you know it. We are just two ordinary people who are interested in each other. Why not explore that interest and see where it takes us?’
‘It will take you back to Australia and leave me here.’
He frowned at her. ‘You don’t know that.’
‘It won’t work, Alex. I know it won’t.’
‘So you’re suddenly an expert on intimate relationships after one bad experience in eleven years?’ He hadn’t meant to sound so angry, but the determination in her manner and tone had got under his normally unflappable skin. ‘Come on, Amelia. Give this a chance. We struck sparks off each other from the word go. I haven’t felt like that before. I know this could work for now.’
‘Do they have a playboy manual that all you men consult to give you the best pick-up lines to use?’ she asked with a little curl of her lip. ‘So far this evening on at least two occasions you’ve used the very same lines my ex-lover used to get me to sleep with him.’
Now he was really angry. ‘Amelia, don’t cast me in the same mould as that idiot. I don’t see why we can’t just see what happens.’
‘You want a relationship with an outcast peasant?’ she asked with an arch of one brow.
‘You are not a peasant. I don’t see you as anything other than a beautiful young woman who is throwing her life away.’
‘So you fancy yourself as Prince Charming intent on rescuing Cinderella from her life of drudgery, do you?’ she asked with biting sarcasm.
‘I’m no prince,’ he said tightly. ‘I’m just a regular guy who is very attracted to a woman for the first time in I don’t know how long.’
She rolled her eyes. ‘That is such a line.’
He clenched his fists, trying to get control. ‘Look, I can’t help it if some things I say have been said before in another context. That’s not my problem—that’s yours. All I know is I have a short time here and I don’t want to waste any of it on arguing when we could be developing a connection instead.’
She gave him a smile touched with sadness. ‘You’re wasting your time with me, Alex. Go and find yourself someone who is able to move with grace and ease in your world. I would only embarrass you. After all, isn’t that really why you bought me this dress? So you could take me out in public without cringing?’
He raked a hand through his hair in frustration. ‘I give up. All right, you win. I’ll leave you alone. I get the message loud and clear. Sorry it’s taken me so long. I must have dating dyslexia or something. You can live your little nun’s life hidden up here in the woods—see if I care. I have better things to do with my time than try and get you to change your mind.’ He moved through the open door to the moonlight outside. ‘I guess I’ll see you some time on the ward.’
She didn’t answer.
But
