They had a secluded spot on the restaurant terrace and inevitably his attention was riveted to this fascinating woman rather than the glorious view.
‘My mother would like you,’ he said, surprising himself.
Ally stopped with a piece of fish poised on her fork. ‘She would? How so?’
‘She’s a fine cook, she’d like the way you appreciate what you eat.’
Angelo watched Ally pop the morsel into her mouth and chew. He tried not to stare at those full pink lips and reached for his wine, gulping down a mouthful and ignoring the tightening of his jeans. In that pretty sundress and wearing a wide-brimmed sunhat purchased at a shop by the port, Ally looked fresh and alluring.
It had been two days since they’d made love and there hadn’t been an hour of that time when he hadn’t imagined or dreamed about doing it again.
Angelo reached again for his glass then put it down. He needed to keep a clear head around her.
He guessed Ally didn’t realise how seductive she looked or how enticing her smiles. Unlike Alexa, her warmth was real and natural. She’d dazzled the young boatman who took them into the Blue Grotto so much that Angelo had wondered if the guy would follow them ashore and become a nuisance.
‘I’d never dream of wasting food, especially when it tastes like this. I know how much effort goes into cooking a great meal. Even something simple, like a good, old-fashioned apple pie, takes time and know-how to get the pastry just right.’
Angelo caught the significance of Ally’s words though it appeared she didn’t. She was a cook as well as a gardener?
‘Besides, it would be criminal not to make the most of this place.’ Her gesture encompassed the terrace, perched high with a view over the town below and the sea that changed colour as the sun moved. ‘Thank you for bringing me here, Angelo. It’s brilliant!’
No, it was her smile that was brilliant. And her enthusiasm. She’d been enthralled by everything, her questions about the sights they visited revealing a questioning mind and a readiness to be pleased.
‘It’s absolutely my pleasure, Ally. I’m enjoying myself too.’
How long since he’d made the effort to play tourist with someone? Or enjoyed it so much?
He truly had become a workaholic as his sister claimed. He attended black tie events for charity or business but couldn’t recall his last meal out simply for pleasure. Maybe too he’d grown selfish since Alexa, rarely exerting himself for anyone except his family.
‘There’s something I need to tell you, Ally.’ She looked up questioningly. ‘I apologised for my behaviour when I thought you were Alexa but you deserve an explanation.’
Sharing intimate details of his life didn’t come naturally but he couldn’t ignore the urge to explain to Ally. Not to excuse his actions but because she deserved to understand.
‘Go on.’
Looking into her bright gaze, this didn’t feel nearly the chore it had seemed before. There was no judgement there, only encouragement. She was a remarkable woman.
‘I never explained why Alexa’s betrayal cut so deep.’
‘You’re a powerful, successful man, used to making major corporate decisions. Finding you’d been tricked would undermine your confidence in your judgement.’
Angelo’s eyes widened. ‘I’m so transparent?’
She shrugged. Was that a flicker of amusement? ‘Hardly. At first I found you almost impossible to read.’
‘And now?’
His heart thundered as he met that stunning lilac gaze. For the first time he found himself drawn by the idea of someone,this woman, having his measure, understanding him. In the past he’d cultivated an air of impenetrability, a valuable tool as he grappled with corporate challenges.
But life wasn’t all about work. Increasingly he’d begun to think about finding more satisfaction in his private life. To actuallyhavea private life, rather than casual flings and too-brief breaks from work.
Colour caressed Ally’s cheekbones. ‘Now I see the caring, decent man behind the powerbroker.’
Did she? It felt as if he’d done too little for her.
‘Alexadidhurt my pride and made me question my judgement. But her real sin was hurting my family.’ He twisted the stem of his wineglass. ‘Our family was close and when my father died we were devastated. My mother in particular. She fell apart.’ He paused, remembering how her breakdown had made him vow never to be so vulnerable, even as he’d understood her pain. ‘I tried to fill the gap, taking care of her and my younger sister. I’d have done it anyway, but it was the last thing I promised my father.’
‘That’s a big responsibility.’