Why not?
Alessandro was on a different path now and the milk of human kindness had probably had time to curdle.
Just thinking about her cleaning his house would be a sorry reminder of a past he wanted to make sure he never bumped into again.
She steeled herself before opening the front door. She pulled it open, braced for bad news and there he was…
Shock tightened every muscle in her body. Her mouth fell open and she stared at him until she could feel the searing heat inside her pour into her cheeks.
She would have slammed the door.
She very nearly did until she remembered that this was actually his house.
And then it hit her. He was a decent guy. Wasn’t that part of the reason she’d fallen in love with him? Because beneath the arrogance and the polished exterior and the cool self-assurance, he wasa really good guy?
He’d come to personally break the news to her because they’d slept together and he’d think that she deserved an explanation.
Oh God. It was going to be a pity fest from him and she couldn’t bear the thought of it.
‘Georgie.’
‘Hi, Alessandro.’ Georgie cleared her throat. ‘I was just on my way out, actually. I just have the kitchen to get through. Why are you here? I mean, why did you ring the doorbell? Have you forgotten your key?’
‘Can I enter my own house?’
Georgie stepped aside but as soon as he was inside, she swung round to look at him and pressed herself against the closed door.
God, he looked stupendous.
Charcoal-grey cashmere coat…black jeans…black jumper…
‘I know why you’ve come,’ she said in a burst ofmight-as-well-get-it-out-of-the-wayopener.
‘Let’s sit down.’
His eyes met hers, dark and steady and destabilising.
‘Georgie, I came here to talk to you and it’s a conversation that can’t be had by the front door.’
He reached out his hand and she looked at it incredulously. Did she look so feeble that he thought he needed to give her a hand in case she couldn’t unglue herself from the front door?
She drew in a deep breath and handed him the feather duster, which she was still holding.
‘Congratulations,’ she said coolly. ‘That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? I saw the article in the papers.’
‘I thought you might have.’
‘We don’t have to sit down for a heart-to-heart about your reconciliation with your ex-wife, Alessandro. Like we both know, what we had was a passing fling. You don’t owe me any explanations.’
‘Come on.’
He strode off, looked back over his shoulder and Georgie reluctantly followed him towards the kitchen. He pulled a chair out for her and then sat right next to the chair he’d pulled out.
‘Why did you ring the doorbell?’
‘Because I didn’t want to wait in the house for you to show up.’
‘How did you know I’d be here?’
