CHAPTER ELEVEN
ADONIENDEDHISlong-distance phone call and scowled.
Originally he’d planned to spend the morning inspecting the newly completed house instead of dealing with a work crisis.
Some things here still needed finalising. It would have been easier to bring in a top building team, especially given the architect’s challenging design. Adoni’s choice to use locals, specifically young workers still developing their skills, under strict supervision, had puzzled many.
But Adoni knew what it was like to be young and without resources, fighting for a toehold in a career.
Shoving his chair back from the desk, he prowled to the picture window looking over the sea.
His restlessness wasn’t because he’d been side-tracked by work. It was because Alice had derailed him.
Waking beside her this morning, he’d quickly re-evaluated his plans and decided a few more hours in bed would suit him fine. Even thinking about it now tightened his jeans across his crotch. She had that effect on him.
But she’d been exhausted, reminding him of how delicate she’d looked in England, and how recently she’d been ill. He’d torn himself away, deciding a shower would give Alice time to recuperate before they took their pleasure again.
But on his return she’d disappeared. She hadn’t even knocked on the door to say she was going, and when he’d gone to her room the door was locked!
Adoni rolled his head to one side, easing stiff neck muscles.
He couldn’t figure her out. Alice had been willing. More than willing. The way she’d come apart at his touch! The way she’d opened herself to him, giving him all he’d demanded and more than he’d expected...
He froze, his mind jammed by the memory of her gasping out her pleasure then wrapping herself around him, hauling him close with arms and legs locked at his hips. She’d held him so tight his control disintegrated. He’d lost track of where he ended and she began.
It had felt profound in a way sex never had.
Theyhad felt different.
Because she was pregnant with his child?
That had to be why.
He glanced at his watch. Almost midday. He’d been caught up in work for hours. It was time he found Alice and talked about the future.
Then he could get to the bottom of why she’d run.
He found her, eventually, by the infinity pool at the end of the cantilevered deck. But she wasn’t swimming or sunning herself. She was with one of the young workmen Adoni remembered from a previous site visit. They were huddled, heads together, beyond and below the stone-flagged terrace, where the land dropped away suddenly.
‘What are you doing?’ Adoni scowled as anger shafted through him. What was the guy doing so close to Alice?
Two heads yanked up as if pulled by strings. The youth looked nervous but Alice just tilted her head in query, eyebrows arched. She wore faded denim shorts that rode high on her slim legs as she crouched, and a sleeveless blue shirt tied at the waist. Sunlight turned her hair from dark to verging on auburn. When she moved russet highlights glinted seductively.
Something inside Adoni rolled over. She looked fresh as dew, except for a hint of tiredness around her eyes and a smudge of dirt on her chin. It was all he could do not to vault off the terrace and gather her up.
Had he ever felt this way about a woman? He tried to remember such a visceral response to Chryssa, his ex-fiancée, and failed. He’d felt desire and pride but his heart hadn’t thumped out of control at the sight of her. Nor had he ever seen her dressed so simply. Chryssa had always worn expensive clothes and immaculate make-up. After they made love she’d hurry to the bathroom to primp and tidy her hair. No lying about in an abandoned tangle of bodies like Alice and he had done last night.
‘Fixing the pool pump.’ Her tone was cool.
‘Sorry?’ Adoni blinked and tried to focus. The guy with Alice got to his feet, putting a few steps between them, but she remained hunkered where she’d been. She was facing the motor and other workings for the pool, hidden beneath the edge of the flagged terrace where he stood.
‘Fixing the pool pump. It wasn’t installed properly but it’s like the one on the estate in Devon.’
Adoni stared. He’d never pictured Alice doing pool maintenance. Had running the estate in Devon been that hands-on? He knew so little about her.
Alice turned to the youth. ‘Here, Costa. Like this.’ She beckoned him closer and with one darting look at Adoni the kid approached. She fiddled with something then sat back. ‘Try it now.’ The boy leaned forward, made an adjustment and the motor hummed into life. The kid beamed at Alice, then seeing Adoni’s expression, wiped the smile off his face and quickly moved away.
‘Thank you, miss.’