Which was how Alice found herself beside Adoni in the vast lounge room that hung out over the sea. Their chairs, so comfortable it was like being cradled, were drawn up together as if they were friends enjoying the spectacular view together.
But Alice couldn’t relax, nor let herself be lulled by the scenery or the quiet luxury. She watched Adoni take a sip of coffee from a tiny cup then place it on a side table. It struck her that he didn’t look as sure of himself as usual.
Alice ignored the porcelain teapot beside her and the tantalising aroma of the brew within it. Instead she watched Adoni. The thick glass windows protected from the midday heat but didn’t dim the sunlight. Her heart sank as her gaze traced his profile. He was impossibly, arrogantly gorgeous, enough to make her heart trip.
‘You’re wrong, Alice. I don’t think you’re a gold-digger.’
‘You implied it.’ She sat straighter. ‘No, yousaidit, even if not in those words.’
‘I’d never intentionally take such a woman into my bed. So how do you explain last night?’
His gaze bored into hers and she shrugged, the movement jerky. ‘Maybe you weren’t thinking with your head.’
That surprised a laugh out of him and, to her horror, the warmth of it coursed through her like hot syrup, making her shift in her seat.
‘You could be right.’ Suddenly his expression sobered. ‘But, for the record, I’d never have slept with you if I thought that. Or brought you into my home.’
Alice stared into those beautiful eyes and wished she could tell if it were true. ‘Then why accuse me in the first place? I know you were shocked about the pregnancy, but I was too. That was no excuse. You were so ready to believe the worst gossip about me and David.’
Adoni sat forward. ‘You have to expect some response when a guy finds you rifling his wallet.’
Instantly her face flamed. She’d forgotten that. ‘How did you know?’ She’d left the room before he’d returned from the bathroom.
One black brow rose in a slashing line. ‘You didn’t put the cards back properly.’
Alice nodded. She’d been in a hurry and when she’d heard him coming she’d dropped the wallet and run for the door.
‘If you’d needed money for a taxi—’
‘It wasn’t that. I just...’ She turned and stared at the sea, noticing how the clear shallows gave way to aquamarine then the distinctive green-blue of Adoni’s eyes, before deepening to a rich navy.
She turned back, thrusting aside embarrassment. ‘I couldn’t remember your last name.’ The words tumbled out. ‘You told me but all I could remember was Adoni. It seemed important that I knew your name because...’ She clamped her lips shut rather than say that he’d been her first lover. She’d told him that and he hadn’t believed her. ‘I didn’t like the idea of having sex with someone and not knowing their name.’ She stared at him, defying him to laugh.
Adoni’s expression was arrested. ‘But why leave? Why run?’
Because she’d looked around the stunning, incredibly expensive suite and realised she didn’t belong. It was only Adoni’s warmth and charm, and the invitation in his eyes, that had made her forget that.
She settled for sharing part of the truth. ‘I’d never had a one-night stand and I was out of my depth. I didn’t know if I was expected to leave while you were in the bathroom. I didn’t know the protocol.’ She’d had a horror of outstaying her welcome. She’d already behaved foolishly, even if the sex had been the most wonderful thing she’d ever experienced.
Adoni shook his head. ‘I was looking forward to spending the rest of the night with you.’
‘Really?’ Alice bit her cheek as she heard what sounded like delight in her voice. Was she so easily pleased?
But Adoni didn’t seem to notice. He leaned forward, forearms braced on his thighs, hands clasped. ‘I must apologise. The day you made the appointment to see me, my temporary PA mentioned you in front of Miles Dawlish.’
Alice’s nape prickled. ‘Let me guess. He told you about me?’
Slowly Adoni nodded. ‘I realise now he had an axe to grind.’
‘You can say that again.’ Alice hunched her shoulders and rubbed her hands along her arms, remembering years of verbal abuse from the man, every time he’d wanted a loan from David’s estate and been turned down.
‘Why don’t you tell me about it? Aboutyou. There’s nothing to be gained by keeping it to yourself, is there?’
Adoni was right. By letting him believe the worst she’d only made things more difficult. Though had shelethim? When she’d tried to explain he’d brushed her words aside. Yet once he’d made his opinion clear, her pride had dug in and she’d refused to make the effort.
This man was her baby’s father. He’d be in her life from now on. Her belly clenched at the realisation.
‘After all, you know about my past. There are only two other people who know the truth about my parents.’