very careful not to trust too much again.
‘I do not think there would be any harm in us sharing a pot of coffee,’ Alejandro said now, and for a moment she thought he was going to take her arm and guide her to a chair. ‘Do not be alarmed, Abigail. I only wish to speak with you. That is all.’
Was she supposed to be grateful for that? Abigail wondered what he was really thinking behind that cool, disturbing mask. ‘Well—all right,’ she submitted at last, a little breathily. If she wanted him to believe she’d forgotten what had happened two years ago, she would have to do better than this. ‘Where do you want me to sit?’
Alejandro drew back to indicate a chair at right angles to the table. ‘I think you would be most comfortable there, in the shade,’ he replied, and she sucked in her breath as she circled round him, desperate to avoid any contact between them. He waited until she was seated before taking the chair opposite, sitting sideways on the recliner, legs spread to accommodate the table. ‘Which would you prefer? Orange juice or coffee?’
In actual fact, Abby would have preferred orange juice, but she needed the caffeine so she chose coffee instead. To her surprise, Alejandro lifted the pot himself, asking her preference for milk and sugar before passing a cup to her.
She was tempted to say Isn’t this cosy? but she restrained herself. It was just the bubble of hysteria in her stomach that was putting such ideas into her head. Still, the thought of her sitting here, drinking coffee with the man who had seduced her after her brother’s wedding and then allowed her to return to England without once attempting to find out if she was all right was quite incredible. Did he have no shame? When was he going to mention that he’d forgotten to tell her that he had had a wife?
But that was all in the past, she reminded herself. Concentrating on the swirling coffee in her cup, she forced herself to put such memories aside. What she ought to be asking herself was why he’d invited her to join him. Why would he want to spend any time with her? The fleeting attraction he’d felt for her was dead and buried. She was right to be suspicious about his motives now.
Nevertheless, she remembered unwillingly, he had wanted her once. Had wanted to have sex with her, at least. Well, he’d achieved his aim, she thought, an angry sob rising in her throat. So what now? A belated apology for past sins? Her lips twisted. More likely a plea that she wouldn’t spoil his current plans by denouncing him to his family.
She noticed that although Alejandro had poured himself a cup of strong black coffee he didn’t touch it. Instead, he played with the gold signet ring on his smallest finger, causing it to glint hypnotically in the sunlight. His hands hung between his thighs and Abby had to force herself not to watch him—had to force her eyes not be to be drawn to the taut seam of his pants between his legs.
‘You are looking good, Abigail,’ he said abruptly, and she set her cup down in its saucer rather harder than she’d intended. This was not what she’d expected at all. ‘How are you? I understand you are still teaching. You are quite happy to pursue your career?’
‘I have to earn a living, if that’s what you mean,’ she responded tersely, wondering why he’d be interested enough to find out, and Alejandro inclined his head.
‘Por supuesto. Of course.’ A half-smile touched his lips. ‘Edward would have told me if your circumstances had changed.’
Would he? Abby doubted that very much. Why would Edward tell him anything? What he meant was that Edward would have mentioned it to his in-laws and it might then have found its way to his ears.
‘Do you see much of Edward?’ she asked, deciding this was as good a way as any of finding out what Alejandro thought of her brother, and the dark man gave her a level look.
‘Did he not tell you?’ he countered surprisingly, and once again she gave him a wary look.
‘I—I believe you and—and Luis are working together these days,’ she said obliquely, reminding herself to keep her tone impartial. ‘Do you—er—do you spend a lot of time here?’
Alejandro studied her expression for a moment, before responding drily, ‘Is that a polite way of finding out if I am likely to be—what is it you say?—under your feet?’
‘No!’ Abby’s face was suddenly suffused with hot colour. ‘What you do is nothing to do with me, Mr Varga. I was just wondering why—why you are here so early, that’s all.’
‘And I thought I had made that clear.’ Alejandro arched a dark brow. ‘And—Mr Varga? Do you honestly think we can behave as if there was never anything between us?’
Oh, God!
Abby had been about to pick up her coffee cup again, but now she pressed her hands together in her lap. She’d never dreamt that he might confront her with what had happened two years ago. Had he no shame? Or did he just enjoy making her squirm?
‘I’d prefer not to talk about it,’ she said at last, though she balked at addressing him as Mr Varga again. She didn’t want to anger him. That would be foolish. ‘It was a mistake I’d just as soon forget.’
Alejandro’s mouth compressed. ‘You think?’ he said, regarding her flushed face for several long nerve-racking seconds. His eyes dropped to the ring on her finger. ‘Edward told me there was a new man in your life.’
A new man?
Abby didn’t know what he meant by that, but she had no intention of entering into a discussion about her private life. It was hard enough to believe Edward would have told him anything. And that rekindled all the suspicions about Lauren her brother had raised.
‘Look,’ she said, trying not to sound concerned, ‘what is this all about? And please don’t tell me you’re interested in what I’ve been doing. It’s a little late to find your conscience now.’
‘My conscience?’ He seemed amazed by her directness. ‘I am sure your brother has told you I do not have such a thing. But you, Abigail—you are different from Edward. And I still find you attractive. Please have no doubts about that.’
Abby was stunned into silence. Had he guessed why Edward had tricked her into coming here? But, if so, did that mean there was some truth in what Edward had been saying? Were he and Lauren really involved in an affair?
‘I—my brother has had an accident,’ she said unevenly. ‘That’s the only reason why I’m here.’
‘If you say so,’ he said, his eyes dark and guarded. ‘But your brother has another agenda, I think.’
Abby swallowed. ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ she said, not sure now she even wanted to know.
‘Edward has a hairline fracture to his leg,’ he said, his tone dismissive. ‘Hardly life-threatening, I think you will agree.’
The fact that Abby herself had said much the same when she’d found out was not an issue. ‘He’s had a terrible shock,’ she insisted tensely. ‘He could have been killed—’
‘But he was not,’ inserted Alejandro unfeelingly, much like her fiancé. ‘Forgive me, Abigail, but your brother leads far too charmed a life to have it taken away by a drunken driver. The accident was unfortunate, but not serious. The car was damaged, sí, but it was not a write-off.’
Abby pushed back her chair and got to her feet. Whatever Edward expected of her, she couldn’t stand any more of this. Did Alejandro know why Edward had brought her here, or was he only guessing? And why, when he insisted he was still interested in her, did she feel so aggrieved when this was exactly what her brother had hoped?
‘If you’ll excuse me…’ she said, not really caring whether he did or not. But Alejandro wasn’t finished with her.
When she would have circled the table and hurried up the steps to the terrace, he moved into her path. ‘You are not leaving already,’ he said, and although it was said innocently enough Abby thought it sounded like a warning. ‘We have not finished our discussion, Abigail. Edward is