‘Well, yes, obviously—’ he gave a brief frown ‘—but not just that. I missed having you around. I like what you have to say—’
‘You disagree with me—’
‘Invariably—’ his eyes gleamed with sardonic humour ‘—but always I find you interesting.’
‘You do? You find me interesting?’ Her heart was thudding hard against her chest and he gave a groan and lowered his mouth to hers.
‘Yes. You’re the only woman who has ever been truly honest with me and the sex is amazing. I’ve missed doing this.’ He kissed her slowly and surely and Lindsay sagged against him, her head spinning and her heart so full she felt as though it might burst through her chest.
‘You’ve missed the sex.’ She muttered the words against his mouth and he lifted his head and gave a slow, dangerous smile.
‘Of course.’ And then the smile faded and he stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. ‘But most of all I missed you. I missed the way you talk and the way you listen. I missed your honesty and your sweetness.’
‘Alessio—’
‘I want you with me permanently.’
Everything inside her softened and emotion rushed through her. ‘You’re blaming yourself—’
‘Sì, I am. This whole situation is my fault. But I’ll make it up to you.’
She reminded herself that it was just his guilty conscience talking. ‘Alessio, I don’t want to build my business again. What do I know about relationships? Nothing. I was so convinced that if I could just help people talk to each other, they could sort things out. But all I was really doing was trying to compensate for not being able to sort my parents’ marriage out.’ Having admitted that, she pulled away from him, finding the whole thing really difficult. ‘The truth is that relationships come in all shapes and sizes, and what works for some won’t work for others. And sometimes passion on its own can be enough. Marriage isn’t everything.’
‘You don’t believe that.’ Alessio picked up the clothes and stuffed them into her hands. ‘If you’re not dressed in the next two minutes then I’ll dress you myself.’
Wondering what had got into him, Lindsay pulled on her trousers, fastened her shirt and pinned her hair into a neat coil. ‘There. Satisfied?’
‘I won’t be satisfied until you’re wearing my ring every day and lying in my bed every night,’ Alessio breathed and her heart skipped a beat as she looked into his eyes.
‘That’s a pretty big gesture,’ she said shakily, ‘even for a guy with a guilty conscience.’
‘It isn’t a gesture.’
‘Oh, Alessio, this isn’t fair.’ She covered her face with her hands. ‘Please, for once, see it from my point of view. This gorgeous, sexy guy who I—This gorgeous sexy guy offers me marriage, but I know it’s never going to work so I have to turn him down.’
‘Why would you turn me down?’
Her hands dropped to her sides and she looked at him with frustration, breaking up inside because he’d offered her what she wanted, knowing that she’d never take it. ‘Because guilt isn’t a good basis for a long-term relationship. And it’s cruel of you, Alessio—’ Her voice broke. ‘It’s cruel of you to stand there saying these things when you know I have to refuse.’
His eyes glittered hard. ‘I’m not letting you refuse. Why would I let you refuse when I know you’re desperate to be with me?’
She caught her breath. ‘Well, it’s nice to know your ego hasn’t suffered a blow.’
He swore under his breath. ‘We’ve always been honest with each other, but you’re not being honest with me now.’
‘Of course I am.’
Alessio raised an eyebrow. ‘So finish your sentence, tesoro. What was it you said? This gorgeous, sexy guy who I—who you what?’
Lindsay swallowed and looked away. ‘Just go away, Alessio,’ she muttered. ‘On balance it’s easier to deal with the paparazzi than you.’
‘You were going to say, this gorgeous, sexy guy who I love.’ His tone soft, he pulled her back into his arms. ‘I know you love me, Lindsay. You told me.’
‘And you ran away so fast you almost tripped.’
‘Running away was a reflex action. A lot of women have used those words and you have to understand that it’s instinctive for me to back off.’ He gave a driven sigh. ‘And it’s true that it took me a while to get used to the idea that you love me. But I have done that, and it’s fine.’
Lindsay gaped at him in disbelief. ‘What?’ She gave a tiny laugh. ‘You’re saying that it’s OK for me to love you? That you’re going to let me? You’re so arrogant, Alessio!’