Angelo heard the hard, cold truth in her voice. The distress. He shouldn’t be surprised that she wanted to escape from here, from him, as soon as she could.
It was a mistake, letting her go. He felt it in every atom of his body. But he remembered his sister telling him he was overprotective, remembered Ally concurring, saying he’d gone too far in shouldering responsibility for Alexa’s actions. Protective instinct and selfish need battled against the desperation he read in Ally’s face. Her need for freedom, away from him.
‘If that’s what you want...’ It nearly killed him to say it.
‘It’s time I got on with my real life.’
A life that didn’t include him. It was a hammer blow.
Once he’d wished this woman elsewhere. Now he didn’t want her to go. Not only because he felt protective but because he wanted...more.
That was a first. He was an expert at ending relationships with women but had no experience maintaining them. He hadn’t had the guts to seek a meaningful long-term relationship because he’d feared that caring led to too much pain.
Yet suddenly that was exactly what he wanted, to be with Ally long-term.
Everything about her called to him. Not just her looks, but her stubborn strength, her determination to make the best of her difficult situation. Her stoicism as she’d weathered one blow after another. Her charm, humour and the friendly way she had with everyone, from the movie mogul next door to the gardener and various strangers.
She was thoughtful yet engaging. She was sexy in a way that made every atom in his body sit up and beg for another taste of her body.
She was exactly what he’d never realised he wanted.
He, who’d never permitted himself to imagine feeling so much for any woman.
The knowledge didn’t strike like a blow. Instead it infused his blood, spreading through every vein, artery and capillary until it was a glow warming his body from the inside. Angelo had never experienced anything like it.
But it wasnotwhat Ally needed to hear tonight. She had enough to deal with.
After what had passed between them hehadto give her freedom to make this choice without interference. He owed her that much.
Reluctantly he spoke. ‘I’ll make some calls—’
‘Thank you. I’ll leave tomorrow.’ Angelo’s pulse skipped. So soon? ‘I need transport to Naples. I stayed at apensionethere and left my luggage in storage while I came down to the coast for the day.’
Ally waited for him to nod and agree but the words wouldn’t come.
A primitive part of him wanted to do whatever it took to keep her here.
Angelo exhaled slowly. He could never do that. Ally’s independence was crucial, especially after she’d been cooped up here so long, hemmed in by memory loss.
‘I’ll call the doctor. He’d better check you over first. When he gives the all-clear, I’ll organise transport.’
Angelo paused, mind racing, searching for an excuse to delay because, no matter how much she wanted to leave, it didn’tfeelright. Yet how could he impose his will on her? The way she’d flinched from him, stridently rejecting his suggestion she stay, was too revealing.
‘Give me your contact details, in case you run into trouble.’ A new thought struck. ‘Or if there are consequences from the other night. Condoms can fail.’
The idea of a child evoked powerful emotion but it wasn’t the trapped feeling he’d experienced when Alexa had told him she was pregnant.
Ally’s face jerked up, such dismay on her features that his nebulous imaginings disintegrated along with his pride.
That look said everything. Ally might resemble her cousin physically but the thought of being tied to him, even with his fortune and social standing, clearly held no allure.
His conscience told him he’d got his just deserts. She’d made her preference clear. Her first thought was to get away from him as soon as possible.
He wanted to rage and protest. To stop her leaving.
But Angelo Ricci was a civilised man who respected a woman’s wishes. He swallowed his wine in one gulp, put down his glass and wished Ally goodnight, amazed he could still speak given the almighty ache opening up inside him.
Then he strode from the room before he did something utterly selfish, like ask her to stay, forhissake.