Page 123 of Love Among the Ruins
Or give her a lecture.
“I didn’t mean to upset you—”
“You didn’t.”
Her lie hung heavy in the air and mercifully, he looked away, scratching that beautiful angular jawline of his.
“I assumed you’d be tired. It’s not a long flight, but still, traveling and getting used to a new place can be exhausting, coming after work as you did. I assumed you might want to enjoy the house and have some time to yourself.”
Don’t ask. Don’t ask what time he went there, or say that you could have met him there.
Don’t be that desperate woman throwing herself at him.
She didn’t fall for men like him. Her experience with rich men had completely turned her off this breed.
There was the tragic past she could never forget. The yacht and the party and those drunken revelers who’d taken one life and destroyed many others. The compensation to his family, no matter how big, could never bring him back.
She despised these people, and she needed to remember that.
“You should have stayed there, Dominic. It’s early even for someone of your age to be coming back so soon.” She forced her lips to curve upwards, but inside her heart was heavy.
“I didn’t want to leave you alone.”
She didn’t want him to leave the party on account of her. She didn’t need looking after. She waved her hand dismissively. “I’m enjoying the evening. I like my own company. Go back to your friends.”
He frowned at her. Those little creases appearing on his brow. “I’m here now.”
“You’re dressed the part. You should relax and enjoy yourself now that you’re finally on vacation. You’re always such a workaholic.” Her voice was oddly cheerful. She didn’t know how she was going to get through tomorrow, surrounded by the likes of Galatis and other high socialites.
Her, a waitress, so out of place, out of her element. She had no right to be here.
“Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“I was about to go skinny dipping in the pool, since I forgot my swimwear.”
She heard a sharp intake of breath from him, then he wiped his face with his hands. “Don’t let me stop you.” He stood abruptly.
“You’re going back to the party?”
“I’m going to bed. If you want to enjoy the pool, Eleni, you go ahead. My room is upstairs, and I’ll pull down the blinds. Don’t worry. I give you my word that I won’t look.”
He was always such a gentleman to her, even if he had no idea that he elicited so many other emotions in her. Jealousy, and anger, and sadness. “Shouldn’t we work on our story?” She suddenly remembered that they hadn’t discussed this important topic.
“Our story?”
“Of how we got together. How we met, in case your friends ask.”
“Do we need to?”
“Don’t you think we should get our stories straight?” What if Galatis asked her how she met Dominic?
“Maybe we should. I need to get out of these clothes. Give me ten minutes.”
She pushed her plate of half-eaten food away. Dominic getting out of those clothes, oranyclothes, for that matter, was something she shouldn’t think about.
She banged the table lightly, unable to tolerate the torture of such sultry thoughts.
