Page 34 of Under A Sicilian Sky
He took a swig of wine and eyed her with apparent scepticism. ‘I know you think I’m poking my nose in where it’s not welcome—’
‘Or needed.’
He sighed. ‘Or needed. But I’m just a wee bit bothered by this guy who’s acting like he doesn’t know who you are and is claiming to have owned the property for so long.’
Anger rose up like a fire from her stomach. ‘What do you meanclaiming?’
Mitch placed his glass down and paused before speaking. ‘This home has been in my family for ages, as you already know, and I think I would know if someone was in the same position next door.’
She shook her head and scowled at him. ‘It’s not like you live in a semi-detached on an estate in England… or Scotland. And you said yourself that you didn’t come over often after your sister passed away, so who’s to say they didn’t purchase the house then? Look, I appreciate you hosting me, I really do, but this big brother act isn’t necessary. Anyone would think you were jealous or something.’
He laughed out rather too loudly and harshly. ‘Jealous? Of what? Your money? I have plenty, thank you very much. Your “star status”?’There are those bloody air quotes again. ‘I wouldn’t thank you for it. And your apparent friendship with someone who could be a total psychopath, who you don’t know from Adam? Cheers, but I think I’ll stick to my status quo.’
She rolled her eyes so dramatically she almost fell from her chair. ‘I think someone has been watching too many episodes ofCriminal Minds. May I remind you that I don’t knowyoufrom Adam either. And, in any case, I’m quite capable of reading people. Clark is a kind-hearted, friendly man who loves music and just doesn’t go to the cinema.’ Her voice rose in both pitch and volume. ‘And you shouldn’t judge him when you know nothing about him.’
‘Aye, well, neither do you!’ Mitch shouted his reply, his face reddening.
As Ruby stood from the table, her nostrils flared and her skin burned with rage. Mitch stood too and stepped closer to her. There was something in his eyes that told her he was about to devour her. He clenched his jaw and swallowed hard as he stared down at her. Her insides flipped and the urge to throw herself at him was scarily overwhelming. She’d never met such a passionate, fiery man before and it worried her a little that she was attracted to it.
Needing to put some space between his heaving chest and her internal quivering sensations, she stepped back. ‘Thank you for dinner. It was delicious,’ she bellowed. ‘But I think I will go to my room and read. That way I’m not subjected to the bloody Spanish Inquisition!’
She turned on her heel and marched from the kitchen and up the stairs, slamming her bedroom door behind her.
* * *
Ruby lay awake most of the night, tossing and turning, and playing the events of the last month over and over in her mind. She questioned everything now, and that made her feel uneasy and doubt her own judgement. What if Mitch was right? What if there was something amiss with Clark? But what if Mitch was the dodgy one and he was pointing out issues with Clark to cover his own deceptiveness? She longed, more than anything, to go home and see her parents. She hadn’t returned their most recent call yet simply because hearing their voices and knowing how worried they would sound was already breaking her heart. Her life wasn’t supposed to be this fraught. She was supposed to be happy; shedeservedto be happy, didn’t she?
The following morning, she felt bleary-eyed and down. She went downstairs to the kitchen to make a cup of tea, fearing coffee would only add to her building anxieties. Much to her chagrin, Mitch was there.
He turned when he heard her enter the room. ‘Oh, hey. Are you okay? You look…’ She was grateful he chose not to finish his sentence.
‘I didn’t sleep too well.’ She hoped he would leave it at that; she didn’t have the energy to argue.
He cleared his throat. ‘Look, can we talk?’ His brow was furrowed, and he hung his head a little, not quite making eye contact.
‘If you’re going to lecture me about my friends please don’t. I honestly can’t—’
He held up his hands. ‘No, no, I promise that’s not what I had in mind. Please, sit?’ He gestured at the table.
Feeling sapped of anything resembling fight, she sat. He placed a mug of coffee in front of her and she hadn’t the heart to tell him she didn’t want it.
‘Thanks. So, what do you want to talk about?’
He pursed his lips, stared at the table and then lifted his chin to address her directly. ‘I owe you an apology. It seems all my conversations with you start that way.’ He gave a small laugh, which she didn’t reciprocate. His smile disappeared and he cleared his throat. ‘I shouldn’t try to stick my nose in your business. You’re an adult. And you’re no relation of mine. I think… I think I have this urge to protect you because of how badly you’ve been treated recently. I have to say, I don’t follow your career avidly, but from what Ihaveseen, you don’t seem the type of person who would insult people on social media, so I one hundred per cent believe you weren’t involved in what was put out there. My comments about Clark were unjustified. You were right. I don’t know him. And I don’t know every single person who lives around here. So, I erm… I know it’s a wee bit twee, but I bought you some flowers for your room by way of apology.’ He stood and walked to the other side of the kitchen, returning seconds later with a glass vase filled with fresh, brightly coloured blooms. His cheeks coloured as he held them out. ‘I have no clue about flowers, so I hope you like them. I just gave the florist a figure and told her to do what she thought best.’ He placed the vase on the table before an open-mouthed Ruby.
She recognised gentians, alstroemeria and purple calla lilies. The heady, sweet fragrance whisked her back to the days when she used to help her mum in the flower shop on a Saturday and she smiled as her eyes filled with tears. ‘I don’t know what to say. They’re beautiful, thank you, Mitch.’
‘You’re welcome. I’m relieved that you like them. I literally have no clue what any of them are called, but they look pretty.’
She laughed and dabbed at her eyes. ‘They do. They’re lovely, thank you. You did well and this means such a lot. And apology accepted.’ She sniffed and stood to hug him.
He squeezed her tight and she closed her eyes, inhaling his masculine, clean scent before pulling away awkwardly.
He exhaled and grinned as he sat down again. ‘Phew. That’s a relief. I was going to bake cookies, but I figured you might think I was trying to get rid of you.’ He laughed again and his eyes lit up. He was an incredibly handsome man, if a little irritating at times.
‘I adore flowers, so these are perfect. My mum is a florist and I miss fresh blooms.’
‘Wow really? I thought you’d be overrun with the things being as famous as you are.’
