‘No problem. I’m glad to help.’ She rose and dusted off her hands and knees, watching the youth move away, presumably to report to his supervisor who was overseeing the final jobs on site.
Alice watched him go then turned to Adoni, her expression shuttered. ‘What’s wrong? You look angry.’
Adoni leaned over and offered his hand. Hewasangry, and it unsettled him.
The hot rush of blood to the head when he’d seen Alice with another man had taken him by surprise. They might not be committed to each other, but she’d been in his bed mere hours ago. That had to explain the raw possessiveness priming his body to high alert. Adrenaline buzzed in his blood as if in preparation to fight a rival.
Finally her smaller hand touched his and he firmed his fingers around it, hauling her up till they stood toe to toe.
‘Adoni?’ She tilted her head to one side, reading his face, then abruptly she stepped away, ripping her hand free. Her nostrils flared in anger even as something that looked like hurt tightened her face. ‘You thought I was coming on to him, didn’t you?’ Her eyes grew huge in her pale face. ‘That’s the sort of woman you think I am.’
‘No, it wasn’t like that.’ He hadn’t thought she’d instigated anything. He’d wanted toprotecther. Did she have any idea how alluring she looked with her bare limbs and sweet curves?
‘Yeah, right.’ She marched over to pick up a book he hadn’t noticed beside one of the sun loungers.
Adoni followed, determined to convince her, when a picture on an open page caught his eye. It was a sketchbook and even from a couple of metres the delicate work in it looked exquisite.
‘What’s that?’
Alice looked down. ‘A drawing.’
‘Youdid that?’ He thought back to her threadbare bedsit with those wonderful botanical studies, so perfect and so out of place in such drab surroundings. Were they Alice’s? He’d thought them done by a professional.
‘Yes, I did.’ She dropped the book onto the lounger and turned, hands on hips. Her breasts rose as she sucked in a deep breath. ‘What’s wrong? You thinkgold-diggerscan’t draw?’ Fire flashed in her eyes, lightening them from dark slate to something more vibrant. ‘You think we’re so busy seducing every man we meet we don’t have time for—’
‘Stop it!’ He closed his hands around her upper arms, yanking her against him. How had they got to this when hours ago they’d been locked together in bliss? His gut twisted at her jarring words and the whisper of guilt they evoked. For he had accused her, hadn’t he? He couldn’t remember if he’d called her a gold-digger but he’d said something similar.
‘I won’t stop it.’ Her chin angled defiantly. ‘It’s what you’re thinking, isn’t it?’
‘No, it’s not.’
He felt a mighty shudder run through her, saw her teeth sink into her bottom lip as if to stop it trembling and watched pain shadow those accusing eyes.
Adoni wanted to slam his mouth down on hers. He wanted to expunge the hurt he saw in her face and rewind the clock to this morning, when they’d been in bed. The day had gone downhill since he’d left her there. He should have stayed. Of course if he had they’d probably still be having sex. They might have stayed there all day. Yet now Alice hissed at him like a wounded animal, her eyes huge and accusing.
He could kiss her into silence, maybe even into his bed. But that would solve nothing.
Except to relieve that burn in his groin.
You want her again, don’t you? Even when she’s fighting and spitting at you.
‘I said, let me go.’ She pulled, trying to free her arms. Adoni had to force himself not to tighten his hold. Brute strength wasn’t the way.
He let her go, holding his hands up in a placating gesture. ‘It’s not what you think, Alice.’
‘Sure.’ He hated the cynicism in her tone almost as much as the pain in her eyes and crumpled mouth.
‘We need to talk.’
‘About the baby, I know.’ She gathered the sketchbook and a leather pouch he assumed held pencils and clutched them to her chest as if for protection.
Guilt was a corkscrew drilling through him. It was true that in the beginning he’d thought the worst, primed by Dawlish’s information. But it was a long time since he’d felt that way. He knew Alice better now. She wasn’t a cardboard cut-out villainess. He wouldn’t have taken her into his bed last night if she were.
But he’d never told her that, had he?
‘Not the baby. That can wait.’ Her stunned gaze locked on his. He surprised himself too, for he needed to secure his child’s future. But this was overdue. ‘We need to clear the air first.’
* * *