Which wasnotgoing to happen.
‘So, are you going to show me where I washed up and where you found the paddle?’ Her voice sounded strident with forced cheer. But better than hoarse with arousal.
‘You’re sure you feel like clambering over rocks? There’s nothing to see now.’
Angelo had been solicitous to the point of smothering since that scene at lunch yesterday. He’d insisted she lie down until the doctor came and pronounced she was doing well. Even this morning, when Ally said she was going to the beach, he’d tried to persuade her not to.
He seemed to think she was physically fragile, whereas it was only her mind that wasn’t working. Her body seemed fine.
Too fine, considering how it responded to those delicious pheromones he exuded, and his sheer physical presence.
‘Absolutely. I’d rather be outdoors. I’m not used to being cooped up. It doesn’t feel right, lounging about.’ She saw his sharp look and hurriedly added, ‘Though I’m enjoying the books you’ve lent me.’
He didn’t say anything, just surveyed her as if she were a puzzle to be solved. Then abruptly he nodded. ‘This way.’
He led her to an outcrop of rock at one end of the beach. ‘You were lying here with your head and arm on the rock and most of your body in the water.’
Ally’s body iced at the image he conjured. She could almost see herself, unconscious, head just above water. She’d been lucky not to drown or be more severely injured.
‘It’s okay, Ally.’ His low voice wrapped around her reassuringly, as did his warm fingers, covering hers where she rubbed her hands up her arms. His touch stopped the movement, drawing her eyes to his.
She read sympathy in that dark chocolate gaze. Yet it wasn’t sympathy she wanted. It was desire.
She wanted Angelo to want her again, even if fleetingly. Being constantly on tenterhooks, close to him but keeping her distance, was too much to ask.
Abruptly she stepped clear of his touch and looked out across the water. She could make out buildings on the mainland, clustered around the sea and climbing the steep slopes.
‘You really think I came from there?’ It was too far to swim, but maybe on a paddleboard...
‘It seems so. I sent that photo you let me take of you to the hire company owner. He’s sure you’re the woman who rented the missing board.’
Her heart thudded. A real lead then, not just supposition. Now they just had to work out where she’d come from. ‘Did he say how much he’s out of pocket for the loss?’
She turned to find Angelo staring at her. ‘Don’t worry. It’s covered by insurance.’
Ally expelled a breath. One small thing less to worry about. She had plenty of big things to worry about. ‘Where did you find the paddle?’
He led her further over the rocks to a place where they ran like a ragged spine out into the sea. ‘There, wedged under that outcrop.’
Of course there was nothing to see now. It was days since the storm. Even so, Ally had to clamp down on disappointment.
Had she really hoped that coming here would help her remember?
‘I’m sorry, Ally. The whole island is on alert for any flotsam that might have come ashore in the storm, in case there’s some sort of clue. But so far there’s nothing.’
Her head jerked up. ‘Thank you. That’s very kind.’ It shouldn’t surprise her, after all he’d done for her. Of course he had a vested interest in helping her retrieve her memory so she could leave. ‘I suppose the paddleboard is halfway to Sicily by now.’
Understanding warmed his gaze. ‘Come on. Since there’s nothing more to see, let’s have that swim.’
He reached out a hand and she took it, some of the tension in her upper body easing at the contact.
Ally knew the gesture was just because Angelo didn’t want her tripping on the uneven rocks and further damaging herself. But any human contact was welcome.
She’d felt so alone, isolated in a claustrophobic world where she didn’t belong.
Surely that was why she’d become fixated on Angelo. It was simpler to focus on her hormonal reaction to a supremely sexy man than face the grim reality of her amnesia.
Any diversion was welcome. So as soon as they were on the sand she stripped off the lightweight trousers and top she wore over her bikini and headed for the water.