Page 70 of Bedding his Innocent Mistress

He grinned. “A woman after my own heart.”

“Hey,” she called after his retreating back. “I don’t have any clothes.”

He looked over his shoulder. “I’ll bring something for you.”

“Where’s the restaurant?”

“Restaurant?”

“Yeah. I presume the hotel has a restaurant?”

His smile was sensual. “It’s straight downstairs. Can’t miss it.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

Saphire intended to shower quickly, but the water was so divine against her flushed skin that she leant against the tiles and enjoyed the sensation of being needled by the jets.

When she emerged, there was a crisp whi

te tee shirt and a pair of grey shorts on the bed. Both were far too big for her but they were modest and clean; beyond that, she didn’t really care.

She pinched her cheeks to bring some color to them and then slipped her feet into the only shoes she had – slightly painful Louboutin pumps. Saphire Arana had no idea what she was getting into but she felt strangely excited given the mess she’d left at home.

*

“Thad, you shouldn’t be alone at a time like this.” Rocco’s tone was heavy with concern, just as it had been at the funeral the day before.

“I’m fine,” Thaddeus reclined against the railing of the balcony.

“Your grandfather – a man who raised you as his own child – just died unexpectedly. You buried him only yesterday. I was there, remember? You are not fine.”

Thad pressed his lips together. “He was ninety. It was hardly a surprise.”

“Are you kidding? Aristotle Konstanides was so stubborn everyone thought he’d live forever. You included.”

Thad stared out at the glistening ocean, his handsome face grim. “Yes. And yet that’s life, isn’t it?”

Far away, Rocco nodded. “Si, forse. You can’t live forever.”

“But you can make every day count.” He thought of Saphire and his chest compressed in response. They’d only just met, and yet already he knew that she made him feel … alive. She made him feel completely alive when death was all around him.

“So how long are you on the island for?”

Thad frowned. “A week? Maybe two.” How long would she stay? How long could he have the pleasure of her company and her body? She was the perfect answer to him at this time in his life. An angel sent from heaven; or a very sexy distraction sent by his grandfather, who had the sickest sense of humor he’d ever come across. It brought a smile to his lips.

“I’m in Rome. I can come to you any time.”

“No.” Thad’s answer was swift and definitive. “No,” he softened the tone of his voice. “You’re busy. So am I. I … I will tell you, Rocco, if I need you.” He paused. Gratitude, though he felt it deeply, did not translate to words easily. “I appreciate your concern.”

Far in the distance he could see a fishing trawler pulling its nets in. It was late in the day; too late to be catching. Perhaps they’d hit an unexpected clutch of scampi.

“What’s it like?”

“What?” Thad didn’t immediately understand his friend.

“Being on the island without him.”

His breath was a long, slow contemplation. “Strange,” he admitted for the first time. “Aristotle is everywhere I look.” He shifted, so that his back was to the beach and his eyes could roam the mansion. “He is in the trees I used to climb; the ocean I used to swim in; the steps I used to run. I lived with him here for sixteen years. How can I be back and accept …” He shook his head decisively. “But he is gone.”

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