‘Just dozing.’
‘I’ll bring the car round.’ Kim took the keys out of her bag and headed back out to where she’d parked.
‘They can sleep anywhere, can’t they?’ Colette commented, as she settled back into her seat.
‘Especially this one,’ Annie answered, smiling fondly.As Colette’s gaze lingered longingly on her sleeping child, she remembered she had an apology to make.
‘Hey, I’m sorry for snapping at you earlier. I didn’t mean to upset or hurt you in any way. I was just shooting my mouth off; you know me, I say whatever’s on my mind and don’t always think about how it’ll affect others. And I was a bit tired and cranky in the heat, too. I would never hurt you on purpose. You know that, don’t you?’
‘Of course,’ Colette replied, looking relieved. ‘I’d never hurt you either. And I’m sorry for being a bit pass-remarkable. I should just mind my own bloody business.’
‘It’s grand, honestly. All forgotten about so?’
‘Definitely,’ she replied with a smile, and Annie resolved to hold herself in check over the coming days where Colette was concerned.
Her friend was the only blameless one in this mess, after all.
Chapter 53
Now
Kim’s heart was in her mouth as she drove the others back to the hotel. She was so distracted by Gabriel’s message – and the fact that she couldn’t reach him on his phone in the meantime – that she was lucky they made it back in one piece.
We need to talk. I think I’ve figured it out.
What could he mean? And what exactly had he figured out?
Bidding a quick goodnight to her friends, Kim quietly let herself into their suite, aware that Lily would likely be asleep, and since she and Gabriel were about to have some kind of … conversation, she definitely didn’t want to wake her up.
He was outside on the terrace, a glass of whiskey in his hand.
‘Hey,’ she greeted nervously. ‘What’s up?’
‘You tell me.’ His tone was ominous, a sharp contrast to its usual warmth.
‘I’m not sure …’
‘Kim, I’ve always been straight with you, haven’t I? No matter what. Right from the start there’s never been any secrets between us – on my part, at least.’
‘Gabe, what’s this all about?’
‘I understood how important this project here in Italy was – this so-called tribute to the roots of your business. And I was happy to go along with that and do whatever it took to support you. But I won’t be made a fool of. Neither will Lily.’
‘I really don’t know what …’ Kim’s mind was reeling.
Had Hank since got a better picture about the lawsuit and told Gabriel everything, including the truth that she was in fact a complete fraud? That she’d used a journal and words that were never hers in the first place and passed them off as her own?
No matter about public perception or bad publicity, the last person in the world she ever wanted to disappoint was Gabriel. He was the only constant in her life – the best thing that had ever happened to her.
She sighed. ‘I never meant for any of that to happen, honestly. It just seemed to take on a life of its own. And then things had gone way too far for me to stop them. If it weren’t for Antonio—’
‘Seriously?’ His eyes flashed as he glared at her. ‘You mean there’s actual merit to this? I thought it was impossible, that there was no way … Man, I feel so stupid.’
She couldn’t get over the look on his face, one of complete and utter disappointment in her. It was devastating.
‘I swear, for me, it just started out as some fun, a distraction, even. Gabe, I had no idea it would go so far. If I had, believe me, I would never have got so involved.’
‘He’s twenty-five years older than you, for chrissakes. And we have a child! What the hell are you playing at?’
