her upright.
‘I wouldn’t expect anything less from a man like you.’ Before he even had time to respond, she fled, dashing up the stairs to her room, enjoying the rush of anticipation that ran through her. She paused briefly. She’d always been excited by the prospect of jetting off when she’d worked for Seb’s team, but never had such a handsome man been part of the reason.
He’s not, she scolded herself and quickly changed, before applying light make-up. Then, with practised speed and efficiency, she packed a small bag, just enough for a few days in Italy. She’d shop for anything else she needed once there.
His expression of shock made her smile as she returned to the kitchen. He hadn’t expected that. At least it proved he didn’t know as much about her as he claimed.
‘Have you your passport?’ His accent was heavy as he moved towards her to take her bag.
His fingers grazed hers as she gave him the bag and heat scorched her skin. She looked up at him and a flush crept over her face. In his eyes she thought she saw desire, the same desire she was sure must be shining from hers. Would he see it? Recognise it?
She hoped not. From the first second her eyes had met his, the pull of attraction had been strong. With each passing minute it had strengthened, but she could not and would not act on it. To do so would be disloyal to Seb. Whatever had happened the night of the accident, this was Seb’s business partner.
She hesitated. Could she do this? Should she be considering going anywhere with this man? The desire he lit within her contrasted starkly with the anger she felt at her brother’s death. As far as she was concerned, he was the reason her brother had crashed.
She’d do well to remember that.
* * *
This was going to be harder than he’d imagined. Sandro took the case from Charlie, taking in her change of clothes. Heels, tight jeans of soft beige with a white blouse and dark brown jacket. Chic. Elegant. Not at all like the dishevelled gardener he’d met on arrival. She was now very much the woman he’d seen on television promoting Seb’s team. The woman he’d admired more and more as Seb had enthused about her.
Don’t go there. He pushed thoughts of her to the back of his mind, focusing instead on maintaining a businesslike manner. One that would keep her where she needed to be in his mind.
He watched as she opened a drawer and pulled out her passport.
‘I should really let my neighbour know I’m going away.’
He frowned, unsure where that comment was going. ‘Why is this?’
‘She’ll keep an eye on the place, water the garden.’ Absently she picked up her phone and began tapping quickly onto the screen. ‘At least for a few days.’
Garden, he pondered. That didn’t fit with the glamorous image she’d built up as she’d promoted the team. Had this cottage, this garden been her escape from the media frenzy that had followed? He knew well about the need to escape. It had been something he’d had to do twice in his life now.
‘You gave up your career to become a gardener?’
She turned to face him, putting her phone in her handbag at the same time. ‘Why is that so shocking?’
‘Seb never mentioned you were a gardener.’
‘It is something I’ve always enjoyed, but I didn’t feel the need to change my life before Seb’s accident.’ She looked up at him, her expression serious and focused. ‘Seb’s death changed all that. That’s why I want to know all he did that day. I have to understand why it happened.’
Each word echoed with her accusation, leaving him in no doubt she blamed him. The only other person who knew the truth was her father—and he’d insisted that she must never know all the details of Seb’s accident.
Thoughts of Seb grounded him and the urge to tell her everything, just to clear his name of blame in her eyes, was overwhelming. But he wasn’t doing this for himself; he was doing it for Seb. He would do well to remember that when he next thought of succumbing to the temptation of Charlie. She was out of his reach. Put there by his sense of honour and his promise to Seb and subsequently her father. Out of his reach was where she had to stay.
AS DARKNESS BEGAN to descend the car pulled to a halt outside Alessandro’s offices and Charlie got her first view of the place she’d heard so much about from her brother. His calls had always been full of excitement and pride as he’d enthused about the Roselli factory, workshops and test track.
Sadness crept over her too. This was where Seb had spent his final weeks and she could have been part of that if she’d accepted his offer to come out and visit instead of being so tied up in her career. The same career she’d dropped after Seb’s death.
She got out of the car and stood looking up at the buildings, wishing she had come to see what he was doing. ‘I should have come when he asked me to,’ she said softly and was startled when Alessandro responded.
‘Seb always hoped you’d come here one day.’ His voice was gentle and not at all judgemental as he placed his hand in the small of her back. She drew in a ragged breath, her emotions all over the place. Memories of Seb mixed with the undeniable attraction she felt for Alessandro. Guilt added to the mix and washed over her. How could she even be thinking such thoughts? Quickly she blocked them out.
‘I wish I had.’ Her voice was a croaky whisper of raw emotion. She stood next to him in the warm evening air, her emotions exposed and vulnerable, as if she stood before him totally naked. She was certain that not only was he able to see every bit of her skin, but into her heart and soul.
He stopped outside a glass door and keyed in his pass code, his other hand sliding away from her back, the heat of his touch cooling, giving her space to think. Judging by the shiver which had run up her spine, she needed that space. Badly.
‘Why didn’t you?’ he asked, pushing open the door, stepping inside and holding the door open for her, but she didn’t miss the lightly veiled accusation in his voice.
‘It was busy. You know how the end of the racing season gets.’ She saw his jaw tighten, saw the sceptical look on his face and shame heated her cheeks. She’d also been worried about Seb’s blatant attempts at matchmaking. He’d often teased her on the phone about finding the perfect man for her.
She could have come. She’d wanted to come, but she had been a tiny bit threatened by this new life Seb had found. They’d always been so close and when he’d met Alessandro all that had changed overnight. She was pleased he’d found something he was so passionate about; she’d just never expected it to take him so far away from her, physically or emotionally.
He shrugged nonchalantly but she knew what he was thinking. She could almost hear his words, heavy and accented, telling her she was selfish, and she retaliated as if he’d actually spoken. ‘I didn’t know time was against me.’
He let the door go and she stood in the semi-darkness of the large reception. His face was a mask of hardened fury as the accusation in her words hit him. Did he feel any guilt? Did he have regrets? Did he want to go back and change things?
He stepped forward, coming closer, and she wished there was more light, something to lessen the presence of a man who excited and angered her so intensely. She veered wildly between those two emotions as he looked directly at her.
‘Whatever guilt you carry, Charlotte, I do not need it added to what I feel.’ His voice had deepened, become growly, anger lingering dangerously beneath the surface like a serpent waiting to strike. He loomed over her in the dim light, every bit the predator, but she wasn’t going to be his next victim.
‘Just by saying that you are admitting guilt.’ She rounded on him. The hours spent on the plane and in his car, when she’d