Maybe he should’ve taken her up on that offer she’d made by placing her mouth on his. He was not averse to a fling with a beautiful and willing woman. There was red blood in his veins, after all. Sex without strings. Add in a meal or two, sharing a glass of champagne, and it sounded good to him. Especially when he’d be heading back home to London next Saturday.
Alesha lives in London.
London was huge. They’d never bump into each other unless it was deliberate, and why would it be? He hadn’t found out where she worked, and had no intention of doing so. She might be a nurse but there were many hospitals and medical service centres around the city.
Right then the woman causing his brain fade looked up and locked startled eyes on him, crimson creeping into her cheeks. ‘Hello,’ she said quietly.
He crossed the room and straddled a chair, his hands on the back as he studied her. ‘Hello back.’
Her gaze dropped to the book and once again she began telling a story.
A quick glance showed Capeka wearing a frown and her head lowered. He’d wrecked the moment. ‘Sorry,’ he said as quietly as possible. ‘I should’ve thought before I acted.’
It’s your fault for getting in my head.
‘It’s okay. She’s tiring anyway. It wasn’t as though she was about to run across and crawl onto my knee. Unfortunately, that’s going to take a lot of time and care so it won’t be me she finally trusts enough to get close to.’
‘You’re starting the process though. That’s good.’ Last night he’d been thinking she was a bit of a loose cannon with her stress, drinking and that kiss. Though not at the fire. There she’d been calm and efficient, skilful and caring as she helped young Stevan. Nor did that describe the quiet, contained woman sitting opposite him now. Not even close. First impressions didn’t always pan out. But usually he first got suckered into believing the woman was wonderful when really she was a conniving scheme wanting something from him. Could second impressions be just as wrong? Please no. So far all Alesha had wanted from him was a kiss and maybe follow-up sex. He couldn’t argue with that. It certainly didn’t appear to come with the I’m taking all you’ve got attitude of his ex.
You didn’t see it with her until it was too late either, he warned himself.
Sweat broke out on his brow. It was time to get out of here, go find a kid who needed his attention, because right now his brain was on the blink, focusing on Alesha when it knew better. He wasn’t in the market for a woman.
Hot and Alesha were suddenly in the same thought. His fingers dragged down his face. This was absolutely bat crazy. Get out of here.
Alesha stood up, unfolding her body slowly. ‘I brought your clothes back.’
‘I saw a bag on my mother’s desk. Thank you.’ He had to turn away or drown in the deep brown speckled pools fixed on him, full of nothing but friendship. Friendship was good. Even Alesha’s wary version. It wasn’t enough. Had to be more than enough. He wasn’t about to add to her hurt. But he could alleviate it for a while.
‘Easy. Our girl’s watching you from under her eyebrows.’ There was hope in Alesha’s voice.
‘Capeka. It means stork.’
‘I heard.’ Low laughter erupted from that sensuous mouth. ‘It suits her. Not sure that’s good, but if it works then what does it matter?’
‘Capeka.’ Kristof spoke softly in Croatian. ‘Did you like Alesha’s story?’
The girl nibbled her bottom lip and stared at the floor. Then slowly she nodded, once.
Alesha looked from the girl to him. ‘What did you say?’
‘She’d like you to come back and read to her again.’ Sort of. What had possessed him to say that? He didn’t want her hanging around here. Not when his belly knotted and his groin tightened just being in the same room. All very well to think a quick fling was a good idea, but every time he saw that darkness at the back of Alesha’s gaze he knew he had to stay away. Adding to her pain was not happening on his watch.
‘No problem. I’ll drop in tomorrow.’
No surprise there. ‘This could put restraints on your sightseeing.’ He hadn’t forgotten why she was here.
‘I’m sure I can fit it all in.’ Alesha closed the book and placed it on the table. Nodding at Capeka, she smiled. ‘I’ll be back tomorrow morning.’ Then she headed for the door.
Kristof translated before following. And promptly wished he hadn’t when his mother confronted him.
‘Kristof, you said you couldn’t find anyone to take as your partner to the fundraising dinner. I’d like you to take Alesha as a thank you to her for spending time with Capeka.’
‘Mother,’ he growled. ‘There are reasons I am going alone.’ Not that he could remember what they were right now, other than he hated charity functions with a passion. Sure, they raised the money needed for the cause, but he preferred to write a cheque any day. No palavering to be had. No smiling to people who’d done their damnedest to outbid everyone else just to prove they could.
‘Alesha.’ His mother had turned her shoulder on him. ‘Tonight there’s a dinner in the Old City to raise funds for the shelter and I’d like you to join us.’
Alesha would say no. So far she didn’t seem to be the type who liked all that hype either. ‘Really? That would be lovely, thank you. What time and where?’
Third impression—Alesha liked to socialise, and there would be her favourite champagne on tap too. He hadn’t done very well at reading her at all.
His mother turned to him. ‘Kristof will pick you up at seven.’
Thank you, Mum.
Short of looking and sounding unreasonable, he was stuck with bowing to her wishes and accompanying this woman to a dinner he did not want to attend. But he owed his mother. Always had, always would.
Bring it on.
CHAPTER FOUR
KRISTOF DIDN’T WANT to take her to the dinner. Alesha sighed her disappointment. There’d been no missing the annoyance that had flared in his face when his mother had told her he’d pick her up at seven. He was so obviously uninterested in her in any way, shape or form that it was going to be a long night having to sit side by side pretending they were comfortable with each other. To think she’d thrown herself at him last night. Thank goodness one of them had been thinking straight.
She really was a slow learner. To do that only weeks after Luke had dumped her, proving once again men weren’t interested in her for anything but having a good time, a short good time at that, showed she’d hit rock bottom. Maybe she hadn’t loved him as in completely and utterly, but her feelings for him had been strong and, she’d believed, growing. Could it be she hadn’t loved him but loved the idea he might be the one? How long was she going to carry on believing there might be a man out there who could love her for all of her? Come on. She didn’t truly, deep down, believe that. No, it was hope for the impossible that got in the way. Hope that had her taking chances that always backfired. Hope that because her parents stopped loving her didn’t mean someone else would.
Alesha stared at her image in the small mirror in the apartment and twisted around to check the back of her fitted red dress. Red was this season’s top colour and suited her well. Even if she said so herself she didn’t scrub up too badly. Eat your heart out, Luke. Her shoulders slumped. Bet he was having a barrel of fun with the one in Paris, and hadn’t thought of her once. Why would he when she was obviously yesterday’s bread?
Stop it. She was going out to a dinner and auction with a gorgeous man in a city she’d never seen before. Take the positives and forget all about what might’ve been. A giggle escaped. She wasn’t going to understand most of what went on so she could make fun filling in the gaps.
The zip had three inches to go and she couldn’t reach it. She’d go knock on another apartment door if she thought any other guests were in, but she already knew they weren’t. The complex had been eerily quiet when sh
e returned from walking along Port Cruz.
Voices outside drew her attention. Karolina and—and Kristof. Bang on seven o’clock. Downing the last of the water in her glass, she picked up her keys and phone, shoved them in her clutch purse before drawing a deep breath and stepping outside. Almost into Kristof’s arms as he reached to knock on the doorframe. ‘Oh, hello,’ she gasped, her gaze filled with an expanse of white-shirt-covered chest.
Kristof stepped back, taking that manly scent with him. ‘You look stunning.’
Lifting her head, she stared up into warm eyes that didn’t seem to be filled with a hidden agenda. ‘Thank you.’
Don’t let that go to your head.
It wasn’t the first time a man had said the same, yet when Kristof spoke in that husky, warm voice that sent shivers down her spine she wanted to believe him more than she’d believed anyone before. Silly girl. Had she already forgotten her determination to be careful, and remain aloof from now on? If only she knew how to do that then she wouldn’t get hurt. She turned to close her door.
‘Stand still while I pull your zip up.’ It was a command, not said with amusement or longing.