‘Why were you avoiding me?’
‘I wasn’t,’ she snapped, but her gaze slid away and he knew she’d been doing exactly that. ‘I had little time and a long list of people to talk to. I couldn’t afford to waste a second.’
‘Is that the only reason?’
‘What other reason would there be?’
‘Perhaps I distract you.’
‘Don’t flatter yourself.’ She swivelled round and stuffed the rest of her things into her bag.
‘Where are you going?’
‘To catch the boat.’
‘Don’t.’
‘What?’
‘Stay here,’ he said. ‘With me.’
Phoebe froze. ‘Why would I want to do an insane thing like that?’
Alex took a deep breath and started towards her. ‘Because I think you want me as much as I want you. If I’m right then it’s tearing you up as much as it’s tearing me up. I don’t know about you, but I can’t take it much longer.’
For several long seconds absolute silence hit the room and then the air began to vibrate with electricity. Phoebe stared at him, her eyes darkening and her breathing quickening. For a moment Alex thought she was going to hurl herself into his arms and adrenalin and lust surged through him.
But her face suddenly went blank and the shock of it nearly winded him. ‘If you’re after a bit of attention I suggest you cuddle up to the blonde,’ she said acidly.
Bewilderment sliced through the heavy beat of desire. ‘What blonde?’
‘The one surgically attached to your arm.’
The penny dropped and Alex felt like punching the air with relief. Phoebe was jealous, which meant he’d been right. She did want him. ‘You mean Maggie?’
Phoebe frowned. ‘That was Maggie? Your housekeeper, Maggie?’
‘She’s more than just a housekeeper. She organised this evening. She used to plan events in London.’
‘Good for her,’ she said tartly.
‘We go back a long way. I was in a solo race once and hit a storm. My mast broke and I capsized just off the coast. She picked up my distress signal and towed me in.’
‘Kind of her.’
‘I thought so, especially since I’d broken a leg, an arm and a couple of ribs.’ If he’d blinked he’d have missed the wince that flashed across her features. ‘We’ve been friends ever since.’
Phoebe stuck her chin up. ‘I really don’t know why you’re telling me all this.’
‘Would it interest you to know that she and Jim, her husband, run a chandler’s over in the capital?’
Something flickered in the depths of her eyes. ‘Not in the slightest.’
‘Liar,’ he said softly and pulled her into his arms.
CHAPTER NINE
THE MINUTE HE reached for her, Phoebe was lost. What was left of her resistance fled. Crushing disappointment and excoriating anger switched to thumping relief and scorching desire. As Alex wrapped her tightly in his embrace Phoebe flung her arms around his neck. His mouth met hers. Teeth clashed and tongues duelled and as they kissed the heat that spun through her made her melt against him.