Angelo flinched. ‘No.’ Hearing how brusque his voice was, he searched for something to soften the denial. ‘It was a private wedding, with only my mother and sister as witnesses. With a baby supposedly on the way there seemed no reason to wait and Alexa said she preferred a simple ceremony.’ Because she’d wanted to hook him as quickly as possible. ‘Here’s another.’
He passed the phone back and couldn’t help noticing the brush of Ally’s fingers on his.
He made himself focus on the photo. This one was of Alexa alone, modelling the sort of swimsuit designed never to get wet.
‘You’re right.’ He couldn’t tell if Ally sounded deflated or just tired. ‘We’re very similar, though I think we’re a couple of dress sizes different.’
Angelo bit back the urge to say he much preferred her feminine curves to Alexa’s thinner body. But he’d made enough mistakes for one night.
‘And look at this.’ Ally expanded the photo. ‘Here.’ She leaned, in peering over the phone and expanding the photo.
‘What is it?’ He saw nothing but an expanse of lean hip.
‘There’s no scar.’
Angelo frowned. ‘Alexa never had a scar there.’
‘Exactly.’
Ally thrust the phone at him and pulled aside the bedding to reveal her upper thigh and the curve of her hip. Angelo’s mouth dried as he recalled the satiny texture of her skin and the sweet woman and spice scent of her body. Desire thundered through him and his hand tightened around the phone.
As he watched she tilted her body and there, on her hip, was a thin silvery scar he hadn’t noticed earlier.
Because his mind had been on other things.
‘More proof that you’re not her.’ As if any were needed. ‘It doesn’t look new.’
‘No, I’ve had it for as long as I remember. Gran said I fell off a swing...’ Ally’s voice petered out and before his eyes her face paled, the sprinkling of freckles suddenly standing out across her nose.
Ally’s hand went to her throat in an unmistakably defensive gesture.
‘Are you okay?’
‘I...’ She shook her head, frowning. ‘I remember,almostremember, her voice. My gran’s voice.’ She blinked and raised drowned eyes. ‘I should be excited but it all feels wrong somehow.’
She swallowed hard, as if forcing down a lump in her throat. Angelo clenched his hands, knowing better than to reach for her.
‘What can I do, Ally? How can I help?’
For several seconds she didn’t answer. Finally she spoke, her voice strained. ‘Would you mind just holding me? I feel cold inside and I know it’s stupid because nothing’s really changed, but I feel so alone.’
‘Of course.’
Angelo felt as if a piece of his heart had broken away, listening to her hesitant request. After all she’d been through it was no wonder she needed comfort. He leaned over and put his phone on the bedside table.
But instead of leaning into his embrace Ally slid down under the covers. That was when he realised her teeth were chattering. Not from the temperature in the room but from shock.
He grabbed his discarded boxers, because there was no way he’d dare share a bed with her naked. Then he pulled back the bedclothes and slipped in beside her.
Instantly Ally turned onto her side and he gathered her close, her head on his shoulder, her hair tickling his chest and her bare, beautiful body flush against him.
Angelo wrapped his arms around her in a loose embrace. ‘Rest now. Everything will look better in the morning. I promise.’
She nodded and he caught her sweet woman scent. It was pure temptation. But this time Angelo conquered his urge for more. Because Ally’s needs came first.
Ally woke to delicious warmth. She lay on her side with her knees bent and Angelo behind her, his arm heavy across her waist, heat radiating from him.
She breathed deep, luxuriating in the feel of them lying together.