The Platinum Collection: A Diamond Deal. Susan Stephens

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СКАЧАТЬ absolutely starving, aren’t you?’

      ‘Would you like me to get you something to eat, signorina?’

      ‘Oh, no, that’s okay. I don’t want to keep you from your friends.’

      The youth was off like a hare from the traps. Eva smiled ruefully, knowing she was just a game to him. She was just a game to Roman too... She looked around, trying to find him, and came up blank. Never mind, she’d get something to eat. Chefs in tall white hats had been working tirelessly on several barbecues all night. She chose a giant-sized baguette with all the trimmings, and it was only when she bit into it that she realised how hungry she was. When had she last eaten?

      ‘I see you’ve finished dancing.’

      ‘Roman? Sorry...’ She swung around and almost choked. ‘You startled me.’

      ‘So I see. You’d better wash that down,’ he said as he offered her an ice-cold misted bottle.

      The sharp tang of homemade lemonade made her cough and splutter even more. This was hardly the role she had written for herself back in Skavanga—the role featuring a confident heroine who knew exactly what her mission was, and how to achieve success. In that version of events she would be forthright and concise. She would be dignified and compelling. She would not be choking on a sausage sandwich.

      She tried hard not to notice that Roman was barefoot with his chinos rolled up, or that he had the most incredibly powerful calves. He’d been wading in the surf, judging by the spray covering his clothes. And she was paying him a great deal too much attention. And in all the wrong places, she realised, lifting her chin to meet his mocking gaze.

      ‘I hope you’re having a good time?’ His face was deeply shadowed as he asked the question.

      How could she not? She would have to be wood from the neck up not to lap up this sort of encounter. It was scary. It was exciting. It was so much more than she had ever dreamed it could be. Moonlight made everyone more mysterious, and Roman Quisvada by moonlight was a mystery like no other.

      ‘It can’t be easy for you when you don’t know anyone here, Eva.’

      ‘But everyone I’ve met has been so friendly.’

      ‘So I’ve noticed.’ He glanced around as if to convince himself that the youth had gone. ‘Handkerchief?’ he suggested.

      She had been trying surreptitiously to lick her lips while he was distracted. ‘Thank you...’

      ‘I apologise for leaving you to your own devices for so long.’

      ‘You don’t need to apologise. I was extremely well looked after.’

      He didn’t like that any more than she liked Roman monitoring her behaviour at the party. But under the circumstances wasn’t it better to call a truce? ‘It’s a very good party. Thank you for inviting me.’

      ‘I didn’t have much option.’

      ‘And neither did I,’ she fired back, lifting her chin to confront him.

      Who knew what Roman was thinking? There was calculation and even a little humour in his gaze, as if he knew something she didn’t. Time to go, she reasoned, but then he broke the standoff between them with a laugh, and the night breeze chose that same moment to ruffle his thick black hair. As he raked it roughly into place she was mesmerised.

      ‘The party isn’t over yet, Eva. I take it you didn’t find a room for the night?’

      She silently thanked the shadows for hiding her burning cheeks. She hadn’t even thought to ask.

      ‘That’s all right,’ Roman soothed as if he had known all along she would forget. ‘You’ll stay with me. I haven’t changed my mind.’

      But she had. It would be crazy to stay with him. She had so many fantasies rampaging through her head, but if he touched her. If he—

      ‘Don’t look so worried, Eva. All I’m offering is a bed for the night.’

      Her eyes narrowed. ‘What else would you be offering?’

      Her voice might be dismissive, but she was disappointed. She was even a little humiliated to think Roman didn’t want to try to get her into his bed.

      Perhaps he knew.

      No. He couldn’t know that bold, brash Eva Skavanga was painfully inexperienced. How shaming would that be? He’d probably laugh. She’d probably join him. It was ridiculous for a woman who carried on as she did to be so naive.

      ‘Problem, Eva?’

      ‘Why do you ask?’ she flashed defensively.

      ‘You’re frowning again?’

      ‘I don’t have a problem.’

      Even Eva Skavanga had to remember her manners.

      ‘And I’m very grateful to you for allowing me to stay the night.’

      There was no problem. The palazzo was as big as a hotel. Her fantasies would be the closest she’d ever get to Roman. And that was quite close enough.

      * * *

      They had made their way back to the dance floor again. She barely had a chance to register this before one of the girls she’d been talking to earlier pushed her playfully into Roman’s arms. Before she could disentangle herself Roman tightened his grip. She stiffened immediately.

      ‘You’re not going to cause a scene, I hope, Eva?’

      She didn’t trust herself to speak while her body was busily registering every tiny shift and change in Roman’s muscular frame. ‘Surely, I don’t have to dance with you?’ Her throat tightened on every syllable.

      ‘Would that be so terrible?’

      Roman’s voice was warm and sexy, and everyone was watching them to see what she would do.

      ‘I don’t think you have a choice.’

      Didn’t she know it! She turned to smile at the other girl, who was now dancing happily with her partner. ‘One dance,’ she gritted out ungraciously.

      ‘One dance will be more than enough for me,’ Roman assured her with amusement.

       CHAPTER SEVEN

      ‘NO TRICKS, NO JOKES at my expense, no underhand tactics of any kind,’ Eva warned as they stood facing each other on the dance floor. Her body, predictably enough, was going crazy during this speech.

      ‘If only you didn’t need me quite so much,’ Roman taunted softly. ‘If only you could vent your anger openly as you are used to doing, and tell me exactly where you’d like me to go. You’d feel so much better, wouldn’t you, Eva?’

      Smug bastard. Why had she taken so much trouble tracking him down?

      Every СКАЧАТЬ