He showed her some of the developments he’d overseen up and down the Gold Coast. The new apartment block in Broad Beach that he intended renovating and living in someday. He took her home to his place where she and Lissa got along as if they were best friends rather than recent acquaintances.
But he didn’t stay the nights with her. In the early hours he left her warm comfort and went home. He knew his sister wasn’t fooled, but it wasn’t so much about Melissa as about himself. This way it was easier to remember that this…whatever it was that he had with Sophie wasn’t serious. It was temporary. A fling with a rapidly approaching use-by date.
Just a fling, Sophie reminded herself as she woke up alone at seven a.m. She hadn’t asked him to stay the night when he’d rolled out of bed and gone home around two a.m. for the last three mornings. Because it was just a fling. She touched a fingertip to the dent in the pillow where he’d lain. No point in getting used to waking up beside him. Cocooned in their shared musky warmth. Seeing his eyes darken with desire when he turned his head on the pillow and saw her watching.
Shaking it away, she dragged herself out of bed and pointed herself in the direction of the bathroom. She focused her thoughts on this morning. No doubt he was already at work and she was meeting Melissa and Enzo at Enzo’s restaurant to plan Melissa’s birthday.
Enzo was waiting when she arrived. At this hour, the restaurant was closed to the public, but they sat at a table where a couple of floor-to-ceiling windows were thrown open to the salty sting of beach air. Early sunshine spilled onto the table and the aroma of croissants and coffee stirred her appetite.
While they waited for Melissa, Enzo poured coffee. ‘So you’re planning Melissa’s party?’
‘Yes.’ She took a sip of the strong black brew. ‘I know Jared would’ve preferred some fancy-schmancy event planner but Pam’s back this week so Jared asked me if I’d like the job. Very kind of him since he knows I could do with the extra money. I’m going overseas.’ She mentally frowned at the distinct lack of enthusiasm she heard in her last words. Of course she wanted to go overseas. She did.
Enzo nodded. ‘Jared is a very kind man.’
‘You’ve known him a long time?’
‘He worked for Rico and Luigi a long time ago in the fish shop. I was fourteen at the time. Jared wanted to show he could support his sisters, bring in some money and study all at once.’
‘That sounds like Jared. Who’s Luigi? Another brother?’
Enzo shook his head. ‘Rico loved him like a brother but he was, in fact, Rico’s business partner. But Luigi was an evil man. My brother trusted Luigi but he fiddled the books, then absconded with all their money. Bankrupted Rico, put my restaurant into financial difficulties while I was trying to bail my brother out.’
She shook her head. ‘That’s horrible.’
‘Jared came to our rescue. He was a rich man by then. Set Rico up in new premises. Gave us both financial backing. We owe him a great debt.’
‘He’s a pretty special guy.’
‘He likes you. I can tell. Did you say you were going overseas?’
‘Very soon.’
‘Maybe you should reconsider. You don’t want to let a good man like that get away.’
She felt a twitch of irritation between her shoulder blades but Enzo was a typical family-oriented Italian and she needed to remember that for Jared, too, family was everything. She pasted on a smile. ‘I’m not trying to catch a guy, Enzo.’
His brows shot up. ‘No? What about babies? A little Jared? Or a little Soph—’
‘No.’ She cut him off. The images he was conjuring jabbed at her heart. ‘I’m—ah, Melissa’s arrived.’
Enzo turned. ‘Good morning, Melissa.’
‘Good morning.’ Melissa exchanged a quick sisterly kiss with Enzo then sat, smoothing her flyaway red hair behind her ears. ‘I’m late. Sorry.’ She beamed at Sophie. ‘This is so exciting getting you to help me organise things. Perhaps we should let Enzo carry on with his own work while we come up with a few ideas first?’
‘Good idea.’
‘I’ll let you two get on with it.’ He poured Melissa a coffee. ‘Give me a call when you’re ready.’
‘Mmm, smells heavenly. Thanks, Enzo. I have a few suggestions…’ Melissa pulled out a notebook.
Sophie switched on her laptop. ‘That’s a good start.’ She could see a variety of quick and clever sketches as Melissa flipped through for the page she was looking for.
‘Got it,’ Melissa said finally, and reached into her bag for a pen. ‘Ready.’