For a moment he was tempted to walk away, leave her to make her play for Branston and be done with it. But he refused to make it so easy for her.
Instead he moved close, wrapped her arm through his and led her away. Branston came all the way to the front gate, obviously concerned. She’d certainly made an impact in an incredibly short time.
The realisation fuelled Angelo’s fury. But he wasn’t into public scenes. In silence he led her into his villa. Even then she didn’t stop her act. How far would she take this pretence?
He led her upstairs, noting her earlier faltering steps had become firm and she leaned on him less.
Finally, at her suite, she opened the door and went inside, turning to face him.
Before she could speak he followed her, making her step back. ‘That was quite a performance. It’s almost a shame your scheme won’t work.’
‘Performance? I don’t understand.’
Angelo crossed his arms, staring down into her bewildered face.
He hated that, even now, he was attracted to this lying woman. Supporting her back to the villa, he’d been bombarded with her scent, sweet and enticing, and he still felt the effect of her body against his.
He was aroused with an unholy combination of physical desire and fury.
Fury, not even because she wanted to use Branston to boost her career. But because she’d pressed herself against him, when it should have beenAngeloshe seduced.
Because, despite everything, Angelo still wanted her.
‘Then whatdoyou understand, Ally? This?’
With one long step he closed the space between them and wrapped his fingers around her wrist.
CHAPTER NINE
ALLYSTAREDUPinto eyes so dark they looked like the midnight sky on a moonless night. No light, no softness.
Yet it wasn’t softness she craved.
Her body fizzed with adrenaline from being so close to Angelo. Even this harsh Angelo who looked more like the dark angel who’d sat in judgement on her in the early days, instead of the kind, nurturing man she’d come to know.
She was torn between shock and delight. Because finally her secret craving for closeness had come true. So instead of pulling free she simply tipped her chin higher and held her ground.
‘There is no scheme, Angelo. Oliver and I were talking and suddenly I felt woozy.’
It had hit out of nowhere, that sudden weakness as her legs wobbled and her brain clouded. She’d brushed against a low shrub, releasing a heady wave of scent. The next thing she knew she was faint, her pulse racing and her head turning woolly as fragments, not of memory but of emotions, bombarded her. She’d felt so much and so abruptly, it had cut her off at the knees.
‘Talking? It didn’t look like you were talking from where I stood.’
‘You were spying on us?’
Ally frowned, trying to make sense of hisvolte face. The man who’d been so solicitous, worrying that the party might be too taxing, was nowhere to be seen. Angelo’s severe expression looked as if it was cast from unforgiving metal.
‘I was concerned for you. But I needn’t have bothered. Stupid of me not to have realised earlier that you only came here to get close tohim. You want him to make you a star, don’t you?’ Angelo’s face dipped towards hers, his mouth curling in contempt. ‘Were you going to sleep with him to get a role? Or was the plan to leave him dangling?’
Ally moved to smack his face, but he held her easily.
She sucked in a frantic breath, needing an outlet for her anger.
‘It wasnothinglike that. In case you missed it, I’m too busy trying to remember who I am to worry about planning future career moves!’
Her chest rose and fell as outrage filled her. She tugged her hand and he released her.
Strange. She’d hated the sense that Angelo held her where he wanted her. Yet now she didn’t know what to do with her hands. Almost as if she missed his touch!