Page 45 of Singing For His Kiss

“Wine?”

James smiled as he handed her a glass of red, his dimple teasing his face and her heart. Her skin tingled when he brushed her fingers handing her the glass. She took a quick sip. How was she supposed to rein in any sense of control when she reacted so swiftly to a simple touch?

She caught an unguarded look from him as he settled the bottle on the table. A shudder worked from her belly to her spine as she recognised the light in his eyes. It was a purely male predatory look. She’d seen that same look on David’s face many times, but it had never set her insides to liquid as James’ just had. She considered. No, it wasn’t exactly the same look. James’ look didn’t have any of the cunning and slyness behind it. When David looked at her, her belly would fill with dread. The way James looked at her was enough to set her blood on fire.

A part of her panicked. She was in deep. Too deep. She wasn’t going to come out of this unscathed, but now wanting the dream, even if it was only going to be for a few more days, was more irresistible than the reality of the loneliness ahead. She’d deal with it then. For now, she was going to pretend there was no David Logan and she wasn’t a criminal on the run. She was just a woman who had the good fortune to attract a man who was totally out of her league. For the next few days, she could pretend she had a daughter, was a mother, and had a gorgeous man she'd fallen for who treated her like a princess. Just for now, she wanted the dream.

Even if it was only an illusion.

“Maria, any news about the roads?” James asked.

“Si. The roadblock has started to be cleared away,” Mrs. D’llessio said.

Elizabeth jerked her head up. “It has?” But that would mean she’d only have days left. It wasn’t enough.

It would never be enough.

Mrs. D’llessio laughed. “We have been cut off for days! Now they work hard. Make more walls. Widen the road. Stop the rocks from falling for many years. They say maybe tomorrow if the weather holds out, definitely for Saturday, the cars came come through.”

“Tomorrow?” Elizabeth’s stomach lurched. She mentally calculated the days. Monday. There’d be a bus coming through then. She’d have to leave on Monday. Only three more days.

“Are you all right, Liz’beth?”

Elizabeth blinked back tears that threatened to fall.

“Sure, honey. I’m great. Just got some onion juice in my eyes.” Elizabeth made a point of dabbing her eyes with the edge of the tea towel. At least cutting onions gave her the perfect excuse.

“Maria, that means we can have everyone over for Saturday?”

“Si. I’ll be ready,” Mrs. D’llessio said.

James turned to Elizabeth. “I’ve had to set up a meeting with my client for Saturday night. We need to go over some plans on the project we’re working on.”

He looked so apologetic, it made her smile, despite her heart tearing in half. “I’ll be here to look after Madeline.”

“Is everybody coming?” Mrs. D’llessio asked.

There was something in her tone of voice that had Elizabeth looking at the housekeeper.

“You know who will be there,” James said.

Maria clicked her tongue, muttering in Italian. Even with a few words, she knew what Maria said wasn’t complimentary.

“Maria,” James grumbled.

“It is just she make it so hard for you,” Mrs. D’llessio said.

“But she is our client, and we have to work together to please her. You know what this project means,” James said.

“I know, but she test the patience of a saint,” Mrs. D’llessio said, crossing herself and rolling her eyes skywards.

“I’ll pray to St. Peter to help us,” James said, chuckling.

The sound slid through Elizabeth like warm whiskey, leaving her in as much of the same state. Heated, and a little bit intoxicated.

“You will need to, Mr. James,” Mrs. D’llessio said.

James spoke to her. “I should explain. My guests will be Anastasia Highland, my client of the moment, and a few of my colleagues. This is more of a social night than a formal business meeting. I’d like you to be there and meet the team. I’m interested in what you think about the hotels we’re going to build.”

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