‘Idon’twant a repeat performance, but even if I did,’ Izzy admitted with grudging honesty, ‘there’s no way you should think that I would do anything about it. I...guess I overreacted because...’ Her breath hitched in her throat and her voice tapered off into silence.
‘You don’t have to say anything more on the subject. You can keep the back story to yourself.’ But when their eyes met she felt she could see curiosity in his. Or was that her imagination? The moment felt strangely intimate and for a few seconds she had the giddy sensation of standing on the threshold of something, although she had no idea where that sensation was coming from.
‘I... When I came here, I was recovering from... Well, I was going out with a guy, Jefferson, who wasn’t the person I thought he was.’ She looked at him and smiled sheepishly. ‘Sorry. You’re not interested in a back story, and I don’t know why I’m telling you any of this anyway. It’s not your business. I just came after you because I don’t want to leave either you or Rosa in the lurch, and I won’t let what happened drive my behaviour. You took me by surprise, but I took myself by surprise even more, because I thought I was too hurt to respond the way I did...back there...to you...’
She began to turn away but paused when he said in a roughened undertone, ‘I don’t know about you, but I could do with a cup of coffee.’
No way... You’ve said what you wanted to say, now you can coolly and calmly go to bed, knowing you’ve set the record straight. There was no need for you to start babbling on about your private life because he isn’t interested. He just feels a little sorry for you, and probably wants to make sure oil has been poured over every bit of troubled water. After all, he still wants you to look after his daughter...
‘Okay.’
This time, he settled her into an oak-panelled sitting room that overlooked the pool at the back. Outside lights just about illuminated the still, dark water. The waving trees were dark shadows and the expanse of the vineyard was silent and orderly.
He reappeared with two cups of coffee, handed one to her and then pulled a chair over so that he was sitting right in front of her.
‘You were saying?’
‘I was babbling.’
‘What happened?’
‘It’s all very boring,’ Izzy mumbled. Why suddenly become coy? She’d invited this conversation by divulging details about herself he hadn’t asked for. ‘I came over to the States to take up a job setting up a hotel in Hawaii, and while I was there I stupidly got involved with a guy.’
‘Why stupidly?’
‘Please don’t think that you have to be polite and listen to this,’ she said, but she couldn’t work out why she was willing to continue. Was it because something in those dark, dark eyes invited confidences? The same something that had made her talk far too much since she’d been here? Or was it because a part of her wanted to find out what a man made of the situation? It was okay to confide in your girlfriends, and Mia had been so sympathetic, but girlfriends took your side, and maybe she was curious to see what a man’s response would be. Men, in her opinion, were always so...practical and prosaic, and this particular specimen took practical to the extreme.
She was so wet behind the ears. Had she dived into something with Jefferson without judging the depth of the water first? Expected more than could be delivered? Of course she had.
But...and here was the thing...she wondered if maybe she had made some fundamental error of judgement that only a man would be able to spot.
She was uneasily aware that there might be another reason why she was sitting here.
She liked being in his company. He excited her and excitement could be addictive. Her lips were still burning from that kiss, and all of that gave an edge to being here with him that made her blood run hot.
‘I never do anything out of politeness,’ he said matter-of-factly. ‘Tell me what happened. I’m interested.’
‘I didn’t know anyone when I came over here,’ Izzy offered in a halting voice. ‘I was fresh out of university and this was my first job.’ Why tell him that it had been an arranged one? She already knew what he thought about her and her moneyed background. No need to remind him of it. ‘I didn’t know anyone. I made friends with this lovely girl, Mia, who took me under her wing and introduced me to all sorts of people. She’s into surfing in a big way and that’s where I met Jefferson.’
‘Jefferson... Let me guess...a fellow surfer? Content to trawl the beaches and avoid the responsibility of actually holding down a job? I could probably describe him as well. Tall and blond. Long hair, I’ll bet, and an easygoing manner.’
‘More or less,’ Izzy admitted.
‘I’m guessing he saw you coming a mile off.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘That type isn’t confined to somewhere like Hawaii. Stick a pin on any map where’s there’s a beach crowd in a well-to-do area, and you’ll find a Jefferson waiting to meet someone who can fund his lazy life choices. They’re the ones who hold down casual jobs that just about cover the bills, but most of their time is spent eyeing up prospective donors willing to contribute to the cause of promoting their lifestyle.’
‘He was fun,’ Izzy said half-heartedly, cringing at the ease with which Gabriel had read the situation.
‘I’m sure.’
‘He made me feel free.’
‘And explain how you were trapped before, Izzy.’
‘I know you think that I’m a spoiled, privileged brat who’s accustomed to getting her own way, but my life hasn’t been as straightforward as you think.’
