‘Don’t worry. He’s an angelic-looking child,’ he said, in a soft tone that captured Jess’s attention.
‘He can be a little terror,’ the woman said ruefully. She glanced at Jess. ‘You know what they’re like at two—into everything.’
She nodded at the woman and smiled back, trying to ignore the knife-blade that sliced through her heart. What had Katie been like at two years old? she wondered. Had she been ‘into everything’? She would never know, and the reminder of all she had lost was an ache inside her that never went away.
The woman picked up the little boy and carried him back to her table. ‘Cute kid,’ Drago commented as he attempted to clean his trousers with a napkin.
‘I’ve noticed that Italians really seem to love children,’ Jess said musingly. ‘Have you never wanted to marry and have children?’
‘I’m happy with my life the way it is.’
Puzzled by the sudden curtness in his voice, Jess studied him curiously. ‘You were so gentle with that little boy. I think you would make a great father.’
‘Madonna! Can we drop the subject?’ he snapped. ‘My personal life is not up for discussion.’
Jess felt a flare of irritation at his arrogant tone. ‘Why not?’ she demanded. ‘I’ve told you things about me and what happened with Seb. Why don’t you want to talk about yourself?’
He made no response, and the hard gleam in his eyes warned her to back off, but Jess refused to be dismissed. She knew she meant nothing to Drago, but the reminder that he only wanted a sexual relationship with her hurt more than it should.
‘Maybe you’re hiding some terrible secret?’ she taunted.
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
His mouth tightened, and to Jess’s surprise he seemed uncomfortable. She sensed there was something in his past that he wanted to keep hidden. Was it a woman? He had a reputation as a playboy, but perhaps he’d once had a relationship that had been important to him. The idea evoked a sharp stab of jealousy inside her.
‘Have you ever been in love?’ she blurted out.
His eyes narrowed and his impatience was tangible, but after a few moments he shrugged and admitted tautly, ‘Once. A long time ago.’
Jess caught her breath. ‘What happened?’
‘Nothing happened. The relationship ended and I grew up. It was an educational experience,’ he said, with heavy irony that made Jess even more intrigued. It sounded as though he had been hurt, and she guessed he had not wanted his relationship with the woman he had loved to end. She longed to ask him more questions, but he did not give her the opportunity as he glanced at his watch and stood up.
‘I’m going to the hospital to talk to the doctor about Angelo’s headaches,’ he said abruptly. ‘Fico will take you back to the palazzo. The party is due to start at eight o’clock tonight.’ He made an effort to lighten his tone. ‘I’m sure you will want to spend some time getting ready. I appreciate that you have agreed to act as my hostess. This dinner party is an annual event attended by senior management staff from Cassa di Cassari’s worldwide operation. My mother and aunt usually attend, but this year they naturally wish to devote their time to Angelo.’
‘No problem,’ Jess said in a fiercely bright voice.
She was determined not to let him see how hurt she felt by his refusal to talk about himself, and equally determined to hide the fact that she was feeling nervous about her role as hostess at the party. Drago had assured her that most of the guests would be able to speak English, but what on earth did a decorator have in common with high-flying businessmen and company executives from the world famous Cassa di Cassari? she thought anxiously.
As she stood up she was overcome by an unpleasant sensation that the pavement beneath her feet was tilting, and she gripped the edge of the table.
‘What’s the matter?’ Drago asked, frowning as he watched the rosy pink flush on her cheeks fade so that she looked ashen.
‘I just feel a bit dizzy. It’ll pass in a minute.’
He looked unconvinced. ‘I hope you’re not coming down with something. You felt dizzy when you got up this morning.’
‘It’s nothing.’ Jess dismissed his concern, not revealing that she had waited until he had left for work before she had rushed to the bathroom to be sick the last two mornings. ‘Maybe I’ve had too much sun. It’s much hotter here in Venice than in London, and I’m not used to the heat.’ That had to be the explanation, she assured herself.
‘With your delicate colouring you need to wear a hat.’ Drago smoothed a tendril of her fiery gold hair back from her face and could not resist dropping a light kiss on her soft mouth. ‘I adore your freckles, cara. Especially the ones that look like gold-dust scattered over your breasts,’ he murmured, his voice dropping to a sexy whisper that sent a little shiver of response down Jess’s spine.
One look from his glittering black gaze was all it took to make her melt, she acknowledged wryly. As she picked up her bag the magazine she had bought at the hospital slid out and fell on the floor. Drago bent to pick it up, but instead of handing it to her he stared at the front cover and his expression darkened.
‘Why do you read such trash? Gossip magazines print utter rubbish,’ he said tersely, flicking through the pages with a look of arrogant disdain on his face that irked Jess.
‘I suppose you think I should only read highbrow novels by classical authors such as…’ She frantically searched her mind for an author she had heard of whom he would deem suitable. ‘Dickens.’ It was the only name she could come up with. ‘Actually, I bought that magazine because it mainly has photos of celebrities’ houses, and I’m interested in interior design. I can’t read it because I don’t understand Italian. But don’t think that I read literary stuff at home, because I don’t. Unlike you, I wasn’t born into a wealthy family and I don’t have the advantage of a good education.’
Jess could not hide the tremor in her voice. Drago was highly intelligent and had an extensive knowledge of many subjects. She felt embarrassed by her lack of education, and he clearly thought she was a brainless bimbo. ‘At least I’m not a snob, who criticises other people for their tastes,’ she finished hotly.
Drago raked a hand through his hair. ‘I wasn’t trying to insult you. Dio, you are such a firebrand.’
His exasperation faded and he felt an unexpected tug of tenderness when he saw the glimmer of tears in her eyes. He was unwilling to explain that the photograph of a beautiful socialite on the front cover of the magazine was an unwelcome reminder of his past. Nor could he explain to Jess that watching the little boy in the café had evoked an ache in his gut. Some things were best left buried. He had never before felt inclined to talk about his past to any of his lovers, and there was no reason why he should do so with Jess, he told himself.
He gave a frustrated sigh when he saw Fico’s burly figure heading towards them across the square. What he wanted to do was take Jess back to the palazzo and make love to her but, as always, duty to his family prevailed. He was concerned about his cousin, and had promised his aunt that he would speak to the consultant and find out whether Angelo’s headaches were an indication of something more serious.
