His words smote her heart because, yes, that was the sucker punch and he knew it. She had felt for Amalia. She’d felt the loneliness and grief and uncertainty. And while there’d been little she’d been able to say to make anything better, they had been able to spend time in the moment with their music. But still, self-preservation sank in. And practicalities.
‘It’s a ridiculous notion,’ she growled. ‘All the seating arrangements will be done already. You can’t do that to your staff.’
He really had no idea of the impact of his capricious whims.
‘They’re supremely capable and finding space for lucky little you will be a breeze. They won’t bat an eyelid.’
‘When I walk in dressed like this?’ She gestured at her baggy jeans and cropped cotton jersey.
‘Your luggage will arrive shortly.’
‘As if I have an evening gown stuffed in there?’ Didn’t he realise how ridiculous his insistence she attend was? How unnecessary? ‘We are not from the same planet, Felipe.’
His lips twitched. ‘It’ll be no problem to find you a suitable dress.’
‘Suitable?’
‘Amalia will sort you out.’
Elsie gaped. The man had no idea. ‘Amalia’s thirteen. While I’m only a few inches taller than her, there are other parts that—’
‘She’ll find you a dressmaker.’ He interrupted. ‘I didn’t mean for you to wear one of her dresses.’ He compressed his lips.
He thought this was funny?
‘It would be a good distraction for her,’ he added.
‘So I’m a distraction?’
He drew a sharp breath. ‘She would love to see you. She’s been miserable.’ He glanced down to the floor and then back up. ‘I’m asking for your help.’
‘You call this asking? I call it abduction.’
He released a growl of a laugh as he stepped closer. ‘How nicely do you need me to ask, Elsie?’
How nicely? He was so close she could feel his heat. It was like—
No. Don’t think about it. But nothing had changed. Together they bounced between antagonism and amusement and attraction. Such attraction. And that was the problem.
Her heart was attempting to bash through her ribs and a wall of heat enveloped her—as her stupid, foolish body quivered at its own interpretation of what he really meant.
He leaned so close it was almost a kiss. ‘Say yes.’