Page 27 of After-Party Consequences

‘But you’re damn straight we’re stuck together now for the rest of the summer—because acquiring Helberg is important to me and my business. And I’ll be damned if I’ll apologise for paying off whoever I had to, to get you here. Do you think I want to be in Italy, hiring out a whole hotel, just so I can talk with you in private because you were too immature to answer a single one of my texts or calls before blocking me?Newsflash, I don’t. Any more than I wanted to be asked intrusive questions about my sex life by every celebrity hack from here to California... Questions you encouraged by making out like we were a couple in all the interviews and free publicity you got off the back of those photos.’

‘I never said we were dating!’ she managed in her defence, but the trickle of guilt at his outrage was starting to play footsie with the nausea in her stomach.

‘You didn’t deny it, though, did you?’ he snarled. ‘So here we damn well are.’

His angry words were still echoing across the lake—her own fury starting to choke her—when a young waiter cleared his throat loudly, making them both aware of his presence.

‘Signor,signorina, would you like your antipasti now?’ the poor boy asked, the two loaded plates in his hands trembling.

The nausea bounced into Charley’s throat at the scent of roasted garlic. ‘No,’ she said.

At the exact same time, Cade commanded, ‘Serve us, then leave.’

The waiter did Cade’s bidding and shot off.

‘Sit down,’ Cade said, the low-grade fury suggesting he was holding on to his temper by a thread.

‘I’m not eating with you,’ she replied.

‘Sit. Down. Now,’ he demanded through gritted teeth before grabbing one of the chairs and smacking it down on the terrace.‘Or so help me, I will pick you up and put your butt in that chair myself.’

She glared at him. ‘Go on then, manhandle me. All that makes you is a bully who is bigger than I am. As well as a sneak.’

She was not scared of his temper. The last thing she needed was to have a tussle with him, because she would probably lose, but she also knew he wouldn’t hurt her. So she was more than ready to take her chances. And fight dirty if she had to.

He glared right back at her, the muscles she remembered admiring straining under the white shirt he wore with suit trousers. He thrust his fingers through his hair, dragging the thick waves back from his face, his movements stiff with anger. The charged silence seemed to snap between them, their standoff creating a force field of righteous fury and bruised egos.

But then he swung away and shouted a profanity into the night air. When he turned back, his features had relaxed a fraction. Enough for her to see the frustration in his face.

‘Sit down, Charlotte,’ he said again, but this time his tone was more resigned than furious. ‘I won’t touch you.’

It was enough of a climb-down to let her keep her pride.

Grudgingly she perched her bottom on the chair he’d pulled out. But once she was seated, she was grateful for the support, because her knees had begun to shake.

She’d never been afraid of confrontation. Had always been ready to speak her mind. But maybe she’d been a bit too ready.

He lifted an expensive bottle of wine out of the ice bucket next to the table.

‘You want a drink?’ he asked.

She shook her head. This answer, at least, was easy.

He poured himself a generous glass, then took a gulp. She had the sense, though, he wasn’t really tasting it.

‘I don’t bully women,’ he said as he placed the glass on the starched linen tablecloth. ‘And I refuse to feel bad for doingwhat I had to do to get you here. But my temper got out of hand, and for that I apologise.’

‘Fine.’ She nodded. ‘Then I guess I can apologise for posting those photos without asking you first.’

‘Okay. Apology accepted.’ It wasn’t exactly a truce, but it was close enough. Until he added, ‘But now we need to talk about the consequences.’

‘What consequences?’

‘Don’t play dumb, Charlotte,’ he said, the edge back. ‘I’m not about to forfeit Helberg. So you’re gonna have to accompany me to the States tomorrow morning. And date me, in public at least, until Labor Day.’

She stared. Not really believing he could actually be serious. Unfortunately, though, he looked deadly serious.

‘But that’s...’

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