it be such a terrible life?’ he turned and asked her. ‘I would take care of you two so well.’
She stared back at him.
‘You could come here often and still have your career.’
‘Career?’ She gave a short, incredulous laugh. ‘I seem to remember you offering me that once before; it didn’t last very long.’
The hurt was still there—even recalling that moment took her straight back to the pain he had caused her. ‘Anyway, the Grande Lucia has been sold...’
‘The contracts are not signed yet.’
And it didn’t appease her—because Bastiano was his friend, but that meant little to Alim, she was sure.
He was ruthless and would get his own way.
Well, not in this.
‘I don’t want to work for you,’ Gabi said, and her voice was certain. ‘I want my own career.’
‘And you could have it. I would see you often.’
‘Where?’
‘Mostly here,’ Alim said. ‘And once things were more settled for my country I could spend more time with you and Lucia in Rome...’
‘You mean once you are married and have an heir?’
‘Yes.’
And even if it appalled her, it was the life he had been born to, Gabi knew.
‘You didn’t approve when it was your father,’ she pointed out.
‘I did not know then that they had made things work.’ And he told her a little about how he had found out his mother was happier than he had believed she was.
‘I think we could do it even better than them.’
He made the unpalatable sweet, for now the winds buffeted the walls of the desert tent and she could almost imagine a little family here at times. But then her eyes closed on the madness that her mind proposed she consider; she saw the image of Fleur sitting taking refreshments alone; she thought of the other injured parties that an illicit love brought.
‘I wouldn’t do that to your wife,’ Gabi said. ‘And I shan’t do it to our child.’
‘You’d deny her a chance to be with her father?’
‘Never,’ Gabi said. ‘You can come and see her whenever you choose.’
She was braver in words than in thought, not that he gave her a moment to think.
‘I want you to move into the Grande Lucia.’
‘It’s about to be sold.’
‘Bastiano isn’t going to be kicking out the guests...you’re to move there forthwith.’
‘No.’ He was pulling her into his world, and she would not allow it. ‘I shan’t be your lover and I shan’t be your mistress.’ She rolled onto her side and faced away from him.
‘Gabi, just think about it.’
‘No.’ She was crying because he made her weaken. ‘Haven’t you heard a word I’ve said?’
‘I heard all that you said,’ Alim told her as he spooned in from behind, his hand on her stomach and his mouth at her ear, ‘but I think we need to speak at more length.’
The only length she was certain of was the one that was nudging between her thighs and Gabi knew it would soon be the delicious experience all over again.
Not just now but for the rest of her life.
‘No, I need to get back to my baby.’
She felt lost and reckless to be in the desert with him, and her mind was made up.
‘I shan’t be your mistress.’
Gabi’s mind was almost made up but she was open to persuasion in his arms. And so she climbed out of the vast bed before she shattered again to his touch.
‘Get back into bed,’ Alim said.
He lay uncovered and beautiful and she had never fought harder not to simply give in to his demands. ‘The only way I’ll sleep with you again is as your wife.’
‘Wife?’ Alim’s tone told her how impossible that was. ‘I am offering you—’
‘I don’t want to be your mistress, Alim.’
‘Please,’ he angrily retorted. ‘You want centuries of history wiped out just for you?’
A few months ago she would have backed down, almost apologised for being so bold.
Yet what they had found together had changed her, and for the better.
She had a baby to think of too.
His love, though not on offer, made her strong.
‘I don’t just want it,’ Gabi hotly responded. ‘I insist on it.’
‘Oh, you do, do you?’
‘Yes, and now I want to leave.’
He just lay there.
‘I said—’
‘I heard.’
He rolled over and the world was invading because here in their remote haven Alim retrieved his phone.
‘The helicopter will be here within the hour.’
Gabi breathed out in relief, but her relief was short-lived.
‘Now,’ he said, ‘get back to bed.’
OH, IT SHOULD feel wonderful to be back in Rome and to step into her mother’s house and hold Lucia.
She brought her baby back to her flat and drew the drapes on the world to create her own little haven of peace.
But peace was fragile and, Gabi knew, at any moment it could be, would be shattered.
That much Gabi was certain of.
The days passed and she heard nothing from Alim, but the lack of contact did not serve as relief.
She knew he was working his way towards them.
Indefinable, indescribable.
Gabi just knew.
For seven mornings, the sun rose as promised in the
