will be the judge of that.’ His mouth was thin, his dark eyes glittering.
Lia gave a squeak of protest as Gregorio grasped her shoulders and turned her in the direction of the hallway and her bedroom, walking her forward in front of him. ‘I can walk unassisted!’
‘Then do so.’ He released her, but his presence behind her continued her impetus out of the kitchen.
‘What is wrong with you?’ Lia demanded impatiently once they were outside in the hallway.
His eyes narrowed. ‘You are virtually naked in front of a complete stranger.’
‘He’s your brother, for goodness’ sake.’
‘And you met him for the first time five minutes ago—which makes him a stranger to you.’
‘“Virtually naked” would be wearing only my underwear,’ Lia defended. ‘And I don’t remember you complaining the last time I was in your suite dressed like that,’ she challenged.
Gregorio could feel that nerve pulsing in his cheek again—a common occurrence, it seemed, when he was with this stubbornly determined woman. ‘And I would not complain if you were to be dressed like that again—as long as the two of us were alone together when you were.’
‘Sebastien didn’t seem to mind the way I’m dressed,’ she taunted.
His lids narrowed to slits. ‘If you are trying to annoy me you are succeeding!’
Lia snorted. ‘I obviously don’t have to try very hard.’
Gregorio frowned. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Never mind.’ She shook her head before turning to continue walking down the hallway.
Gregorio caught up with her as she reached her bedroom. ‘What did you mean by that remark?’ he repeated as he followed her inside.
She turned to face him. ‘I’m obviously nothing more than a nuisance to you. Even more so now that your brother has arrived.’
Lia was so much more to Gregorio than a nuisance. More than he was prepared to admit. Even to himself.
‘Well?’
He scowled his irritation. ‘Do not take that aggressive tone with me!’
‘Or what?’
‘What is wrong with you this morning?’ he snapped.
‘You’ve refused to give me my first cup of coffee of the day.’
Gregorio drew in a deep breath in order to hold on to his temper. ‘Only until after you have put your robe on.’
‘And I’m still waiting for the assistance you so gallantly offered.’
Gregorio ignored her sarcasm as he helped her to put her robe on. Lia was obviously spoiling for a fight this morning, and he wasn’t about to give her one.
‘Did you know that your accent gets stronger when you’re angry?’
He finished tying the robe of the belt about her waist before stepping back. ‘Then I must presume it is always stronger when I am with you.’
Lia arched a mocking auburn brow. ‘Did you just make a joke?’
‘Doubtful,’ he drawled dryly.
‘Irony is joking.’
‘Then I must make jokes all the time.’
‘When you’re with me.’ She nodded.
‘When I am with anyone.’
Lia eyed him quizzically. ‘You and your brother aren’t much alike, are you?’
He tensed. ‘In looks—’
‘Oh, I wasn’t talking about the way you look—that’s a given,’ she dismissed without further explanation. ‘What is your youngest brother like?’
‘Alejandro is...complicated,’ he replied cautiously.
Alejandro’s problems were not discussed outside the family.
‘Like you, then.’ Lia nodded. ‘He was married, wasn’t he?’
That was part of Alejandro’s problem. And what did Lia mean by saying that he was complicated?
His life was an open book. He was a successful businessman. Wealthy. Single. He had a healthy sexual appetite, as the newspapers were so fond of reporting, and he didn’t hide the fact that he had zero patience with incompetence or triviality. Or that he was bored very easily.
Something he had certainly never been when he was with Lia...
‘You’re taking too long to answer, which probably means you aren’t going to.’ Lia sighed. ‘Can we go back to the kitchen now? The coffee is calling to me.’
Gregorio gave an exasperated laugh as he followed her out of the bedroom. ‘You are obsessed with your morning coffee!’
‘He left with a scowl on his face and returns smiling,’ Sebastien observed mockingly as Lia and Gregorio entered the kitchen together. ‘You’re a miracle-worker, Lia.’
She grimaced. ‘I think you’ll find Gregorio was laughing at me rather than with me.’
Sebastien shrugged. ‘A smile is still a smile, for whatever reason.’
‘Is that such a rare occurrence?’ Lia seemed to recall that Gregorio had laughed quite often when the two of them were together. When they weren’t arguing or making love...
‘I would say unique rather than—’
‘When the two of you have quite finished discussing me as if I am not here...’ Gregorio raised pointed brows as he handed Lia the mug of coffee he had just poured for her.
Oh, Lia was only too aware that Gregorio was there. As she’d said, Sebastien was as dark and handsome as his brother. But he possessed an easy charm that was lacking in Gregorio—although, on closer inspection, the sharp intelligence in Sebastien’s eyes gave the impression that that might be a veneer over a deeper, darker nature. But it was Gregorio she was constantly aware of. Every minute. Every second.
Lia chose to concentrate on drinking her coffee rather than make any reply to Gregorio’s comment. Until the silence in the kitchen became uncomfortable. ‘What were the two of you discussing when I came in?’ Apart from the fact that Gregorio couldn’t wait to move her out of his hotel suite.
‘Your ex-fiancé.’ Sebastien was the one to answer her.
She winced. ‘I would rather not be reminded of that fact.’
‘As would we all,’ Gregorio put in harshly.
Lia gave him a sharp glance, knowing
