Whatever the reason for his fascination with her, he’d be glad when she left. It would be liberating not to feel this drugging sense of desire in every waking moment, and once she left the island she’d take with her temptation. He wouldn’t think of her again—not often, anyway.
But for now, she was here, and he wasn’t foolish enough to look a gift horse in the mouth. ‘I have to go to the office this morning, but I thought I could come back earlier. Around lunchtime.’
She slowly turned to face him. ‘Oh.’
It wasn’t exactly the reaction he’d expected. That dredged a grim smile to his face—since when had Amelia reacted as he’d expected?
‘I’m not invited to collect shells?’
‘Of course.’ She shook her head. ‘I could use a full day to work.’
He narrowed his eyes. ‘I meant to come with you.’
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’ She tucked her shirt into her trousers, her narrow waist drawing his attention before he transferred it back to her eyes.
‘Why not?’
‘Because we agreed Cameron—no one—would find out about us.’
‘And you think collecting shells will be some sort of public declaration of intimacy?’
A blush coloured her cheeks. He loved how easily she did that.
‘No, of course not.’ And then a second later, ‘But there’s an inherent risk to it. When you and I are together, and no one else is around, there is a zero per cent chance of someone learning about this. Those odds increase exponentially if we throw in an afternoon with Talia and Cameron.’
‘Fine, then,’ he said, wondering why her response was so frustrating to him. ‘Then come to Athens with me today.’ Her eyes were huge in her face, and she shook her head numbly.
‘If I wouldn’t agree to an afternoon here on your private island, why in the world would I agree to go to Athens?’
Exasperation made him expel a harsh sigh. ‘Because it’s beautiful and you’d love it?’
‘I’ve been to Athens.’
Something like impatience burst through him. ‘Not with me.’
‘Besides.’ She changed tack. ‘Cameron is looking forward to looking for shells, and it would mean the world to him if you’d go with him. He’s really warming to you.’ She hesitated. ‘You’re making such progress.’
And he was. He’d followed her advice of a few weeks earlier, waiting for Cameron to calm down before approaching him again, keeping a safe distance, simply watching, letting him know he was there. He’d discovered a love for block building and, over time, he and Cameron had begun to work on a project together. As they worked, they talked, so that they were really getting to know one another. She didn’t need to push him to spend time with Cameron any more; he did so because he enjoyed it.
‘Let’s make a deal.’
‘I’m listening.’
‘I’ll spend the afternoon with Cameron.’
Her smile was like a burst of lightning, bright and fascinating, her nod one of obvious approval.
‘And you’ll have dinner with me.’
Her smile dropped and he tried not to think about how unusual that response was to a dinner invitation. ‘Why?’
‘Why not?’
‘Because that’s not... We agreed...’
‘We agreed we wouldn’t fall in love.’ He laughed. ‘Do you think you’re so irresistible I can’t sit across a table from you without formulating marriage plans?’
He intentionally turned her own words back on her, reminding her of how she’d sneered at his arrogance early on in their relationship—or whatever this was.