Though he knew he’d spend a sleepless night trying to explain why kissing her now had felt new and different and compelling. As if there was something more than convenient sex between them.
‘You want to know about the divorce?’ His voice sounded strained and he realised he spoke through a clenched jaw.
‘It would help.’
Angelo doubted it, but if it meant she kept her distance...
‘Why don’t you take a seat?’
After all, she was still recuperating.
‘I’m fine. I’d rather you just told me.’
‘We met in Rome, at a party.’
She nodded, eyes bright, hands clasped together as if eager for more.
Because she had no memories of the past? Or because she hoped to open up communication between them and wheedle her way back into his world? He wished he knew. Every time he thought he did, she made him doubt.
‘We went back to my place that night.’
Her eyes rounded and she blinked. If Angelo didn’t know better he’d even believe she blushed, but it had to be a trick of the light. His ex wasn’t shy about sex. Far from it.
‘And then?’
He shrugged. ‘You stayed. I had business in Rome. A few days later, when I came here for a summer holiday, you came too.’
It had seemed simple. He’d been working even harder than usual and had looked forward to a short break. Alexa had been fun at first and easy company.
‘And I stayed? As simple as that?’ Her brow furrowed as if wondering about commitments and work obligations. Five years ago none of that had mattered to her.
‘Yes, you loved it here. The sea and relaxed lifestyle.’
She’d seemed genuinely happy. In retrospect Angelo was sure it hadn’t been merely the chance to latch onto him as a meal ticket.
Alexa, no—she wanted to be Ally—frowned and looked towards the sea. ‘I assume it’s beautiful in good weather.’
‘There’s nowhere like it. Tourists come from the other side of the world to visit the Amalfi Coast and Capri.’
Fortunately fewer made it out to this smaller island, but the climate, architecture, scenery and food were the best in the world as far as Angelo was concerned.
His father’s family had come from here generations ago and some of his most precious memories, of when his father was still alive, centred around summers holidaying in the region. Those halcyon days were the reason he’d bought this estate when he wanted a private escape.
‘Okay, I loved it here.’ Her gaze met his then danced away and he heard an unspoken question. Had she loved him, or he her?
His mouth firmed. The sooner he disabused her of that fantasy, the better.
‘There was no great romance, if that’s what you’re thinking, Ally.’ He paused, tasting her new name on his tongue. Strange how easily it came. ‘We weren’t in love.’
‘Okay.’ She looked doubtful but nodded. ‘So it was a casual fling?’
‘Something like that. I wasn’t looking for a life partner.’
At twenty-nine he’d had more than enough to cope with at the helm of the family bank. His father had left a gaping hole and it had taken everything Angelo had to take his place and face down the doubters who thought the Ricci kid couldn’t handle the job. That, and the need to prop up his grieving family, meant Angelo had had precious little time for a personal life.
Now those doubters were eating their words, and happily raking in profits as the bank outperformed most financial institutions, despite recent seismic shifts in the sector.
Ally wrinkled her nose in a way he’d noticed once or twice. The effect was...cute. Not in keeping with the sophisticated image she used to project.