A deep channel of emotion carved through him at her words.
Aurelio wanted to accuse her of lying, of making light of what had been a stupendous experience. Not just for him but for her. He’d seen the stars in her eyes, read her little possessive gestures, and known he’d made a mistake, staying with her so long.
But she’d been impossible to resist. He’d let himself, just for a little, bask in her tenderness, in that heady sense of connection.
He should have known better!
Best to end the affair when they were merely friends with benefits than when one of them had begun to imagine a future together. Aurelio might be close to a recluse now with his utter devotion to work, but he knew when a woman was starting to weave romantic dreams.
It was the one thing in the world he avoided at all costs. For the price of loving was too high when it ended in blood and ashes.
‘Aurelio? What’s wrong?’ Amber’s voice had a husky edge and when he refocused he saw she was leaning forward, her brow crinkled in concern. It was enough to drag him from the miasma of memory.
‘Nothing.’ He stiffened, thrusting aside old hurts. The past was dead and gone.
He rolled his shoulders, spearing a hand through his hair. Was she serious about a lawsuit? That was the last thing they needed.
Business had been steadily growing since he’d taken over the vineyard. Recent awards and the company’s reputation for only the finest quality wines meant income was excellent. But they’d just expanded with the purchase of a large vineyard further down the valley. Cash flow was tight and he resented the notion of spending it on lawyers.
Why couldn’t Amber see sense? Despite her concern, there was no mistaking the martial light in her eyes. The woman was ready for a fight.
Because you rejected her. You were the one to end the relationship and you weren’t subtle about it.
Because she’d begun to care and as soon as you realised, you dropped her so fast her head spun.
Not one of Aurelio’s finer moments. Usually he was more subtle. Definitely more considerate. But for some reason being charming and considerate had always been much easier after a one or two night fling with a woman he essentially didn’t care about.
With Amber something had happened. Something had jarred him into being less than smooth or gracious.
Oh, he’d said the words, but somehow they hadn’t come out right. Instead of being likeable, witty and urbane, he’d sounded stilted, as if he lied when he told her the truth — that it was past time he returned here. That it had been wonderful but it had to end.
Obviously she held that against him.
‘Is that why you took the job? Because you hold a grudge against me? You want to disrupt things here and make me pay?’
The hint of softness in her expression vanished. Her beautiful mouth thinned and her eyes narrowed to gleaming slits of glacial ice.
‘You’ve got some ego, Aurelio De Laurentis, if you think this is all aboutyou!’ She crossed her arms and he had to fight not to let his gaze drop to where the white fabric of her dress hugged her breasts like a lover. Heat shimmered through his belly and he fought to focus.
‘I applied for this contract before I’d met you. I did most of the negotiations with Paolo.’ She shook her head, her expression pinched like a disapproving schoolmistress. ‘I know you’re a wunderkind in the winery, and that you’ve transformed a previously average vineyard into something special. But not everything in this world revolves around you.’
She drew a shaky breath. Was she trying to rein in fury? To his consternation, even angry she was far too appealing. And her huffiness proved how wrong he’d been in his suspicions.
‘I have neither the time nor the inclination to bother sabotaging your business.I’vegot standards and a reputation to maintain. Associating with a failing business isn’t in my five year plan.’ Her gaze, scathing before, grew needle-sharp. ‘I take pride in my work and I expect to succeed.’
Aurelio wanted to dislike her combative attitude. But how could he? She was right. He was treating her unfairly because he was uncomfortable with the idea of working with her.
Uncomfortable! The word did nothing to convey the gut-deep premonition of trouble looming in this woman’s shadow.
He released a breath from tight lungs. He could force her hand. Surely she wouldn’t pursue a legal option. But even if matters didn’t go that far, he didn’t want to taint the winery’s reputation.
Besides, despite his instinctive recoil at the idea of working with her, Aurelio prided himself on being a fair man. She didn’t deserve such treatment.
‘Very well.’ He dragged his hands from his pockets and crossed his arms over his chest, registering the quickened slam of his heart against his ribs. ‘You can stay till the weekend. That will give you enough time to get a feel for the place and learn all you need to. After that you can call Paolo if you have queries.’
She nodded stiffly, no sign of either relief or pleasure on her face. Had he expected she’d smile and thank him for conceding what had already been agreed in her contract?
Aurelio told himself he wasn’t that desperate to revel in this woman’s smiles, to see her eyes soften as she looked at him.