Page 32 of Seasons of Sin

She swallowed, searching for words. But everything was a mad jumble. “I thought we could sleep together and then I would leave. I didn’t imagine it would be like this. You weren’t supposed to bring me to your private island. You weren’t supposed to make me feel … to make me feel … anything!”

He stared down at her, his face a mask of fury and pain. “I want you to stay.”

“Why?” She whispered, pressing her hands into her eyes so that she didn’t have to see his accusation and hurt.

“Because I am not ready to let you go yet.” His eyes were filled with cold cynicism. “Because you owe it to me to stay. And because you want to.”

* * *

“You’re working?”She murmured, lifting her glance to the clock in the hallway. It was after midnight.

He made a noise of agreement. “I have been neglecting matters for too long.” He didn’t lift his eyes from his computer. “It’s time to get back to reality.”

Saphire stood on the threshold to his study, feeling decidedly unwelcome. She’d agreed to stay, and then she hadn’t seen him for the rest of the day. She felt like a chastised schoolgirl, not sure how to behave, nor what she should do.

“He’s gone?”

Thad didn’t pretend to misunderstand. “Rocco will be back in Rome by now.”

Good, she thought bitterly, still outraged that anyone would think it was acceptable to undertake something as devious as a background check on a woman they didn’t know.

“Do you want a coffee? A tea? A scotch?”Me?

“Nothing,” he grunted again, frowning as he scrolled down the spreadsheet.

Saphire bit on her lip and nodded. Something had shifted between them; something enormous. It wasn’t a surprise. Only an idiot would have hoped their relationship wouldn’t have been affected by the revelation of her marriage.

But she hadn’t been prepared for this. How could she brace for the effect his coldness would have on her? It was like going from a perfect spot in front of a raging fire and out into a blizzard.

“Okay,” she said softly, staring at his face and committing it to memory. When the week was over, she would leave, and they would never speak again. It was essential that she prepare for that.

She moved quietly from the room and down the hallway, towards the enormous kitchen. She knew by now that in addition to the housekeeper there were two chefs, a gardener, and a general helper, who ran the mansion.

No one was in the kitchen at that hour though, so she was free to flick the kettle on and stare broodingly at it while it boiled.

What did her husband think? Was he worried about her? Did he believe she might never come home? Did she care?

The kettle began to hum; she flicked it off impatiently and sloshed some boiling water over a peppermint tea bag.

She moved to her handbag on autopilot and lifted her phone from the inside pocket. It was off, as it had been since she’d last spoken to Jordan. She carried it with her through to the balcony and curled up on a large chair. The moon was full, bathing the black ocean in a milky light. It sent little beads of fairy cotton dancing up towards the heavens and despite the darkness of her mood, pleasure punctuated her mind. She placed her tea carefully on the armrest of the chair, then stared at her phone as though it were a snake, poised to bite her.

She couldn’t ignore reality forever. Thad had certainly decided to wade out of the fog of their romance, and perhaps it was time she did too.

With one deft movement she flicked her phone to life and stared at the screen.

It beeped frantically in response.

Text message after text message crammed in, and then a little phone icon flashed to indicate voice mails.

It was too much. She lifted her tea and sipped it, almost relishing the feeling of pain as it burned her throat going down.

Then, fortified, she clicked into the first text.

Why won’t you answer your damned phone!!!! You can’t ignore me, Saffy. Not forever.

Ten minutes later, the following had arrived:What do you want me to say? How many times do I have to apologize?

And at almost the same moment:Saphire, you’ve been my best friend for as long as I can remember. I am going through hell, and you’re the only person I can speak to, yet Ican’tspeak to you. Please, please, please call me. Love A.x