She pushed the sheets off and stood, pacing across to the window and standing on tipt
oe to see out. The geraniums were in disarray, their blooms drooping indignantly, covered in water. She reached out and flicked at one reassuringly, sending droplets of water scurrying.
The beach looked entirely different. The sand was grey, not white, and the waves were leaden, topped with angry white curls of temper as they hammered against the beach. The sky was steel-like, brightened only by the brief flash of lightning, and then a roll of thunder rattled past her.
Even in her sleep she’d been dreading facing the music with Rio. The weather was heightening the drama of that confrontation. She checked herself in the mirror, pinching her cheeks for colour and brushing her hair so that it was slightly less wild, then skimmed her eyes over her phone to check the time.
It was still early.
Perhaps he wouldn’t yet be awake?
The thought of a strong black coffee before she had to see him was cause for optimism.
What would she say?
Memories of how she’d behaved almost made her groan aloud. She’d been rude, provocative, flirtatious, demanding...drunk.
Embarrassment made her skin crawl. Sucking in a deep breath of storm-soaked air, she made her way quietly to the kitchen.
‘Buongiorno,’ he said quietly, his eyes appraising her from where he stood, looking impossibly virile and unforgivably not hungover.
He had a coffee cup in one hand, and was wearing only a pair of shorts. A swirl of desire almost drove the mortification from her mind.
‘Hi.’ She cleared her throat, eyeing the coffee machine and realising she’d have to perform penance first. ‘I’m...sorry. About yesterday.’
He arched a brow, and she couldn’t tell from his expression if he was still angry. Out of nowhere she saw his face as it had been when she’d fallen in the water. He’d been furious with her.
Tilly dropped her eyes, staring at her brightly painted toenails with earnest concentration.
‘I think it was because I hadn’t eaten breakfast,’ she said quietly. ‘And it was hot...and I was thirsty. I just drank too fast,’ she finished weakly.
He made a noise of agreement. ‘Do you do that often?’
Her eyes were wide. Torn between playing Cressida and defending Tilly, she couldn’t say what she wanted. Cressida was practically a professional drinker—and goodness knew what else she indulged in when the party spirit took her.
Tilly shook her head. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said again, shrugging her shoulders, deciding to stick as close to the truth as possible. ‘I’m so embarrassed.’
He strode across the kitchen, putting a hand briefly under her chin so that her face was lifted towards his. ‘I do not care that you enjoyed too much wine. I care that you made yourself vulnerable. I care that you exposed yourself to danger. I care that you probably do that often and that any number of men would have revelled in what you offered. You begged me to sleep with you, Cressida. How many times have you done that? How many men have taken advantage of you in that state?’
He swore angrily and moved away again, towards the coffee machine. He slid a pod into it and pressed the button, watching as it burst into life.
Tilly couldn’t look at him. She stared straight ahead. ‘I can take care of myself,’ she said quietly.
‘I don’t believe that.’
He pulled the cup out and handed it to her. She caught its aroma with a stomach-flip of relief. Coffee. Essential. She sipped it quickly, enjoying the pain when it scalded her throat.
‘Thank you for last night,’ she said softly, changing the subject. ‘For not...not...’
His eyes were mocking as they trailed over her body, but he said nothing.
The silence stretched between them, punctuated by the sharp crack of lightning and the rattling of the windows. She curled her fingers more tightly around her coffee cup.
‘As tempting as I found you,’ he said, and the words were a thick admission, ‘I would not have forgiven myself.’
She sipped her coffee, tasting the sweet balm with relief. She should have been grateful for his chivalry, but she felt empty inside. Her longing was enormous and it had been ignored.
‘We will be stuck in the house today,’ he said. ‘The storm is setting in.’