she really be surprised by that bleak statement? It was no more than what she’d suspected, feared, and had tried to convince herself to believe over the years. And yet...she had believed in the miracle. The possibility of a miracle. She’d lied to Leo last night about that, just as she’d lied to herself over the last six years. She’d clung, stubbornly and stupidly, to the hope that he would learn to love her. That things would somehow miraculously change.
And she still clung to it now. Alyse’s mouth twisted in a grim smile as she acknowledged the truth. Despite everything Leo had said, she still hoped he might come to love her in time, that physical attraction and possible friendship might deepen into the kind of love he didn’t even believe in.
The smarter thing to do would be to let go of that hope, let it trickle away like water in sand, and get on with what was possible. Alyse knew she wouldn’t. Couldn’t. She’d keep hoping, keep believing, because thin vapour that it was, hope was all that sustained her.
And why shouldn’t Leo love her? Why shouldn’t it be possible, eventually, ultimately?
I’m not going to love you. I don’t love anyone and I never have. The memory of his words made her both wince and wonder. Why didn’t he love anyone, not even his parents or his sister? Anyone who believes in love is deluded. And what had made him lock up his heart so coldly and tightly that he refused even to believe love could exist, never mind flourish?
Could she—did she dare—be the one to try and unlock it?
‘Good morning.’
Alyse turned to see Leo standing on the beach just a little bit away from her. He still wore only his pyjama bottoms and he looked glorious. She hoped her recent thoughts weren’t visible on her face, her contrary hope reflected in her eyes.
‘Good morning.’
‘Did you sleep well?’
‘Not particularly.’
He smiled then, a proper grin that set her heart racing. Did he know how attractive he was, how a single smile made her heart turn somersaults and then soar straight up into the sky?
‘Me neither.’ Leo came to sit beside her, stretching his legs out alongside hers. ‘I’m not used to conversations like last night’s.’
‘I gathered that.’
‘It was rather obvious, wasn’t it?’
His wry smile tugged at her heart. ‘Considering revealing anything of a personal nature seems to be akin to pulling teeth for you, I’d say yes.’
He chuckled softly and shook his head. ‘Well. I tried.’
‘That’s all I’m asking for.’
He turned to her then, his gaze dark and searching, his smile gone. ‘Is it?’
She fell silent under that searching and seemingly knowing gaze, for of course it wasn’t—and it seemed he knew that, or at least suspected. Did he guess that she was in love with him? The possibility made both humiliation and hope rush through her.
She wanted him to know her feelings, wanted to stop pretending, and yet...the thought of his contempt and horror made everything inside her shrivel. She couldn’t risk revealing so much. Not yet, and maybe not ever.
‘So, snorkelling,’ he said, and she nodded.
‘Sounds fun.’
‘Why don’t we get dressed and go for breakfast, and then we can sort it out after?’
‘All right.’
With a brisk nod Leo rose from the sand, brushing off his pyjamas, and headed back to the hut. Alyse watched him go, half-amazed that she was finally, actually going to spend an entire day in Leo’s company... And still, as always, hopeful for what this day might bring.
* * *
This friendship business, Leo decided, was simple. At least so far. All he had to do was spend a little time with Alyse, do things with her. That suited him; he preferred having a plan, preferred action to talking. As long as they kept it to leisure activities, preferably ones that kept them from conversing, he’d be fine. Everything would be fine. The thought brought him a rush of much-needed relief.
Twenty minutes later they were both dressed and heading over to the main resort for breakfast. Alyse wore a pair of body-hugging canvas shorts that made Leo even more aware of her long, slim legs and the curve of her bottom. The tee-shirt she wore, in a pale petal-pink, seemed tight to Leo. Not obscenely so, but he kept finding his gaze being drawn to the high, firm breasts he’d seen on such provocative display in those frothy nightgowns she wore. Her hair was loose and fell down her back in shining, dark waves and her eyes sparkled silver as she fell into step beside him.
He’d always thought her pretty enough but now, seeing her looking natural rather than coiffed, styled and professionally made up, he realised she was actually quite beautiful.
And he wanted her very badly.
There was no reason, he thought, why they couldn’t be friends by day and lovers by night. Really, it was the perfect solution.
As long as Alyse didn’t confuse the two. As long as she didn’t start wanting more.
He’d just have to make sure she didn’t.
The restaurant, of course, was empty except for half a dozen staff who scurried to attention as soon as Leo and Alyse entered the pavilion that was shaded from the sun and open to the sea.
They sat at a table in the corner and soon had a pot of coffee and a pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice in front of them.
‘I’m starving,’ Alyse confessed. She glanced at the buffet that was spread out along one side of the pavilion. ‘I think there’s plenty of food.’
Leo followed her gaze, taking in the platters of pastries and bowls of fresh fruit, the personal chef on hand to make omelettes to order and the several silver tureens of bacon, sausage and eggs. ‘So it seems.’
‘It’s a bit of a waste, though, isn’t it?’ she said. ‘When we’re the only ones staying here.’
‘I’m sure the staff will eat it. The resort is meant to be eco-friendly.’
‘That’s good to know.’ She looked at him curiously. ‘Are you very concerned about such things?’
He shrugged. ‘I certainly intend to bring my country into the twenty-first century, in environmental matters as well as in others.’
He saw the curiosity flare in her eyes. ‘Others? What kinds of things?’
He shrugged again, discomfited now. He wasn’t used to talking about himself. He wasn’t used to anyone asking. ‘Technologically, Maldinia is about twenty years behind the rest of Europe. I’ve been drafting a proposal for broadband to be accessible to most areas.’
‘Is it not now?’
‘Really just in Averne and the outlying towns and tourist resorts. Admittedly, most of Maldinia is agricultural, and their methods are about a hundred years out of date, never mind twenty.’
She smiled, her eyes lightening with humour. ‘But that must be good for the tourist revenue—very quaint, those farmers in traditional dress herding their sheep along with their wooden crooks.’
He acknowledged the point with a wry nod. ‘They do look rather nice on a postcard. But those farmers should be able to check the weather—or the latest football scores—on the Internet when they get back home, don’t you think?’
She laughed, the sound silvery and crystal-clear. It was a sound, Leo realised with a jolt, that he liked to hear, and he hadn’t heard it very much over the last six years. ‘Absolutely. Internet access is practically an inalienable right these days.’
‘Inalienable,’ he agreed solemnly, and they smiled at each other, the moment spinning