such as it would be. Daniel could be counted on to respond with nothing but laughter at the fact that his big brother had found himself tying the knot prematurely. Actually, tying the knot at all.
‘I had no idea that cruise ships could be called toys...’ Alexa was distracted enough to say.
‘In which case you don’t know my brother.’
Alexa thought that that was just as well, because coping with one was bad enough. Two alpha males didn’t bear thinking about.
She pulled open the car door and stepped out into a balmy night. Of course he walked her to the door. No protective arm around her shoulder this time, though! Instead both hands were firmly thrust in his trouser pockets.
‘Isn’t your chauffeur going to think that we’re not behaving the way two nearly married people should be behaving?’ she couldn’t help but ask sarcastically, reaching into her bag for the house key, even though she knew that her mother was probably hovering very close to the front door so that she could pounce the second it was opened.
Theo lounged indolently against the door frame, looking down at her as she pulled out the key to insert it into the lock.
‘Is that an invitation?’ he asked softly.
Alexa raised startled eyes to his.
‘What—what on earth are you talking about now?’ she stammered, as her wide-eyed gaze was caught and held.
She had the oddest sensation that the oxygen was being sucked out of the air she was breathing as she continued to stare up at him. Her heart was fluttering madly, like a caged bird in a desperate bid for escape.
‘What do you think?’ Theo asked, in that same soft, lazy drawl that gave her goosebumps.
‘Are you suggesting that I actually want you to...to...?’
‘Kiss you? That’s exactly what I’m suggesting...’
‘Then you couldn’t be further from the mark!’ she snapped, blushing furiously and hating him for reminding her of their kiss, which she would rather have forgotten. ‘I’m fine with you being...being attentive when we’re out together, but the last thing I want is to be kissed by you! Do you know something, Theo De Angelis? You’re the most egotistical, arrogant man I have ever met!’
‘I know. I think you’ve told me already. But you make a valid point... Just in case...’
She sensed what he was about to do and yet it still took her by surprise—and this time there was an urgency to his kiss that hadn’t been there before. His mouth assailed hers, his tongue seeking out hers. He curved a big hand behind her back and pulled her towards him.
He could feel the softness of her breasts squashing against his chest and knew that he was losing his cool. Again. But her mouth was nectar-sweet—and after all, he told himself, it was all for the benefit of a driver who might or might not be taking note. Why take chances...?
‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’ He straightened. ‘Engagement ring shopping. Who would have thought...?’
With which he headed back to the car and Alexa, thoroughly unnerved, let herself into the house.
AS PREDICTED, THE next day the centre pages of all the newspapers had been printed with at least half a dozen pictures of the loving couple. Whoever had taken the photos couldn’t have done better when it came to capturing angles that actually seemed to prove the lie that they were in love.
Theo’s arm was always around her. In several pictures Alexa was looking up at him, mouth parted, the very picture of an enraptured girlfriend—as opposed to wearing the teeth-clenched, resentful expression, which was a lot closer to the truth.
Cora Caldini, who was waiting for her when she emerged at a little after eight, had all the papers spread out on the massive dining room table and Alexa stifled a sigh.
‘I know this has all been unexpected for you,’ her mother said gently, ‘but there’s so much to be said for a whirlwind romance—and looking at these pictures...my darling, you sparkle.’
Alexa helped herself to coffee and a croissant from the basket of fresh bread on the sideboard. Sparkle? Did minnows sparkle in the presence of hungry, prowling sharks?
‘He’s certainly a force to contend with,’ Alexa forced herself to say. ‘And you’re right. It wasn’t...er...exactly what I had in mind when I thought about meeting the man of my dreams. In fact I’m a little dazed—because he’s just the sort of guy I never thought I’d...um...fall for. But...well...life is full of surprises, I guess...’
Unable to be more effusive than that, she scanned the photos once more and wondered whether the reporters had bothered with any other guests at all, or whether they had just decided to trail along behind Theo, snapping pictures.
‘Isn’t it...?’ Her mother beamed. ‘And sometimes surprises turn out all the better for being unexpected. It reminds me of when I met your father, as a matter of fact. Of course I’d seen him out and about, but at a distance, and when my parents arranged for us to meet face to face... Well, it really was love at first sight. He was nothing like what I’d expected, and I just fell for that rogue on the spot.’
Always mindful of the consultant’s warning words several months ago, in the wake of her mother’s third stroke, Alexa reluctantly decided to backtrack.
‘Theo’s...er...certainly not what I expected,’ she conceded. ‘I suppose he’s quite intelligent, and he has a certain amount of...er...charisma...’
‘Funny...your father likes him very much.’
Then perhaps he should marry Theo, Alexa thought nastily, surprising herself because she wasn’t an uncharitable person by nature.
‘That’s good.’
‘And I know you, my darling. You’re as headstrong as I was at your age. If you really didn’t like Theo I think we’d all know about it by now! You just don’t want to jinx anything—which is why you’re being reticent—and I completely understand. It took your father and I ages to have you, and I didn’t tell a soul I was pregnant until I couldn’t hide it any longer! So I won’t press you. Now, tell me what your plans are for today.’
Alexa told her mother and could immediately feel her tummy clench at the prospect of a few hours browsing for a ring and then having lunch in a trendy restaurant with him.
The memory of that blistering kiss the night before had preyed on her mind all night, and she had awoken determined to make sure that they kept a cool distance from one another when there was no one around.
Her thoughts drifted while her mother chatted about rings and reflected on how fast she and Carlo had progressed from that first meeting—marrying within three months and never regretting a day of their long and happy marriage.
Naturally Alexa had known that the man was good-looking. But why did he have to be so good-looking? Averagely good-looking would have been all right. She felt that she might have been able to cope with that. But something about Theo De Angelis sparked a reaction in her that burned as fierce as a conflagration.
