‘Your logic escapes me,’ Raffaele murmured, his deep blue eyes roving over her flushed face. ‘Just because someone has a boat and knows how to handle it, it doesn’t make him interesting.’
‘No,’ Erin mused thoughtfully, ‘I guess you’re right. To be interesting, he really has to know how to chase a bat out of a room and claim to know how to deal with venomous snakes even though he might never have encountered one outside of a zoo.’
Raffaele threw his head back and burst out laughing.
‘I always knew you were sharp, Erin,’ he murmured when his full-bodied laughter had subsided, ‘but your sense of humour still continues to surprise, especially now that you’ve released it from captivity.’
Erin’s heart skipped a beat. She hurriedly broke eye contact and climbed into the rear of the jeep. The windows were all down and Raffaele leaned half into the car, looking at her.
‘Sure you’ll be okay?’
‘Of course I will, Raffaele. I’ll return to the hotel and have a lovely walk around and then, of course, I’ll also do whatever work you want done. I’ll check incoming emails and make sure nothing urgent needs sorting. I’ve already played truant going into town and missing our first meeting of the day.’
‘Or you could just laze by the pool and forget about work.’
‘That’s not what I’m being paid to do.’
‘I’m your boss, don’t forget. If I say you can relax, then you can relax. Relax.’
‘I’ll certainly think about it. Oh, and before I forget, thank you for the Amex card and for…funding my change of clothes. There really was no need.’
‘Erin, do you honestly think I would let you spend your hard-earned cash buying clothes for a week because yours weren’t that suitable?’
‘Maybe,’ she said quietly, ‘you might have if you didn’t know about my parents, about the fact that I currently…lend a helping hand with their finances. Honestly, it’s just until they can sort themselves out completely…’ Their eyes met and she refused to look away. ‘I don’t want the little you know about my background to influence your behaviour towards me.’
‘You underestimate me. But still, I can’t put what you’ve told me about yourself to the side and pretend that it doesn’t exist. It exists.’
Erin glanced away in receipt of this blunt truth. She had confided. She had told him things that would alter their relationship and now she could only hope it wasn’t for the worse.
There was no going back. But she couldn’t help but notice that whilst she had been encouraged to open up, he’d seen no such compulsion to return the favour.
Maybe on one occasion she’d sensed something about his background in the intonation of a throwaway remark… But her memory of that whole conversation before their flight was a muddle by now. She could have been mistaken.
She shrugged. ‘What are the plans for the evening? Is anything arranged?’
‘Funny you should ask. We’re going to be meeting a few of the staff and their respective partners. It’ll be an informal get-together so that we can try the food and I believe there might be some live music.’
She unconsciously made a face and he slanted her a slow, curling smile.
‘Time for that box to be broken as well,’ he purred silkily.
‘What box?’
‘The one you shut yourself in every time something like an informal get-together with good food and live music presents itself.’
‘I don’t do that!’ Erin reddened. ‘Can you name one instance when I’ve done that? I can’t remember the last time I was at a party with live music!’
‘My point exactly. That’s just the sort of thing you should be throwing yourself into, instead of dreaming about picket fences and apple trees in the back garden with some guy you have yet to meet. Unless…’ He lowered his voice and the smile was still there, this time a little broader. ‘Unless you’ve already got him stashed away in a cupboard somewhere and you’re going to tell me all about him at a later date? Produce him from thin air like a rabbit from a hat? You seem to be full of surprises of late.’
Erin ignored him. ‘What time is this event happening, Raffaele, and where exactly? I’ll meet you there.’
‘Of course.’ He grinned, drew back and gave her a half salute, although his deep blue eyes remained firmly fixed on her face. ‘Six sharp in the meeting room in the main hotel. Someone from reception will take you through. I’d say I’d walk you over but I’m not entirely sure how long it will take me to get back after lunch with the bore. You might have to hold the fort for a bit, but you’ve done that before.’
‘No problem.’
‘Right then.’ He slapped his hand on the side of the jeep, drew back and nodded to the driver. ‘Off you go and Erin…don’t work today. Have the day off. Gather your strength for the gruelling ordeal of the food and live music nightmare scenario.’
‘I’m actually looking forward to it,’ Erin purred, steely eyed. ‘I really fancy immersing myself in the culture and getting to meet some new faces.’
