As it had seemed to be just now, too….
Or maybe it was because the abrupt end of his relationship with Cairo three months later had always seemed like unfinished business to him….
One day they had seemed to be totally together and the next she had told him it was all over, using empty phrases like ‘we both need our own space’ and ‘it was fun while it lasted but now it’s over’ as she’d walked out of his life.
Phrases that had only made sense to Rafe when that very same evening Cairo had gone out to dinner with the producer of the film, and only weeks later she had married him!
To add insult to injury, the ‘happy couple’ had even invited him, and the rest of the crew from A Love For All Time to the wedding! Rafe had excused himself from that invitation and spent the afternoon in bed with his co-star Pamela Raines instead.
But being here with Cairo like this, talking to her, touching her again, imagining making love with her, seemed to have released all those old memories, the good, as well as the bad.
Half of him had wanted to punish her just now as he told her of how he would make love to her, the other half punishing himself for still wanting her. He was still hard from those imaginings, his arousal a low throb that he had no control over—
‘Margo’s had the baby,’ Cairo spoke huskily behind him. ‘A little boy,’ she added as Rafe turned in sharp enquiry. ‘Margo is fine,’ she continued emotionally. ‘The baby—
Simon Raphael—is in an incubator, but Jeff seems very hopeful that he’s going to be okay, too—’ She broke off to bury her face in her hands as she began to cry.
‘But that’s good, isn’t it?’ Rafe frowned, this time having no choice but to take her in his arms.
Cairo had no idea why she was crying. Relief, probably. She had been so worried about Margo and the baby.
But it wasn’t just that, she knew. The strain of being here with Rafe, talking to him, having him describe what it would be like making love to her, feeling every caress and touch of his lips on her body, was also taking its toll. Finding herself in his arms certainly wasn’t helping her dispel the effect!
She straightened, avoiding his searching gaze as she wiped the tears from her cheeks to step away from him. ‘It’s much better news than I’d hoped for,’ she agreed.
His eyes narrowed. ‘Does Jeff want you and Daisy to go back to England now?’
‘Not for a few more days, until he’s absolutely sure …’ Cairo shook her head. ‘I have to go in and tell Daisy the good news,’ she said as she turned away.
‘Cairo?’
She closed her lids briefly before turning back to look at him with guarded eyes. ‘Yes?’
Rafe’s gaze was mocking. ‘Now there are only two reasons why you can’t come to Cannes with me this evening….’
She drew in a sharp breath. ‘Rafe, you have no idea of the avalanche of publicity we would be bringing down on ourselves by appearing in public together!’
Rafe gave a rueful smile. ‘I think I have a pretty good idea. Besides, with the appearance of tomorrow’s newspapers, the chances are we’re going to be presented with a fait accompli, anyway.’ His mouth tightened grimly. ‘Personally I would rather spike the bast—the guy’s guns, by appearing in public with you tonight and so ruining his chances of an exclusive tomorrow.’
He had a point, Cairo realized unwillingly.
She was weakening in her resolve not to accompany him, Rafe noted with satisfaction as she hesitated. And he was determined that she would, meant it when he told Cairo she couldn’t go on hiding like this. Yeah, her divorce had been messy and very public, but she needed to get some perspective back in her life.
With their past history, why the hell should he care what Cairo did, either now or in the future?
He shouldn’t.
And yet he knew that he did….
He should never have given into the temptation of telling her all the things he would like to do to her.
‘Well?’ he prompted tersely.
Cairo sighed heavily, knowing that he wasn’t going to give up.
‘Okay, I—I’ll ask Daisy what she wants to do—’
‘Coward,’ Rafe told her softly.
Her chin came up, her eyes flashing darkly. ‘You know nothing about me, Rafe. Nothing!’ she snapped angrily.
He shrugged. ‘Then prove me wrong, Cairo, and come with me tonight.’
Her mouth twisted into a derisive smile. ‘I guarantee you’ll regret your insistence more than I will.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘I’m willing to take that chance if you are.’
Was she? She could see the logic of what Rafe was saying concerning spiking the guns of the reporter who had followed them today. The two of them appearing together in public this evening would certainly diffuse the exclusivity of any story he might have written. Except the very idea of appearing in public with Rafe as her partner for the evening, so totally aware of him as she now was, was Cairo’s idea of a nightmare!
‘I’ll ask Daisy,’ she repeated firmly. ‘If she wants to go, then we will.’
Rafe could tell by the finality in her tone that it was the best answer he was going to get for now.
‘Okay.’ He sighed. ‘Go and talk to Daisy now so that I know whether or not I have to call and make my excuses for this evening, after all.’
Rafe made no effort to follow Cairo into the villa, instead moving to sit on one of the chairs on the terrace, needing these few minutes’ respite to bring his throbbing need for her under control.
Impossible when he could practically taste her….
CHAPTER SEVEN
‘YOU have to believe me, Cairo, when I tell you I had no idea Bond had been invited this evening!’
Cairo knew by the grimness of Rafe’s expression as he looked down at her so intently that he was telling the truth.
Not that she had ever thought otherwise; the two of them might have had their differences in the past, Rafe uncaring of her feelings for him, but she had never found him to be a vindictive man.
Believing what he did, to have deliberately brought her to this party in Cannes knowing Lionel was going to be here, too, would definitely have been vindictive on Rafe’s part!
Until now it had been a surprisingly pleasant evening. Cairo had met up and chatted with several old acquaintances as she sipped the freely flowing champagne, and Daisy was absolutely enthralled with the whole thing as she pointed out people she recognized from films and television.
There had been the usual barrage of photographers outside, of course, an experience Cairo had also found less of an ordeal than she had expected. Rafe had kept a firm hold of her arm and smilingly fended off most of the more personal questions while at the same time keeping an eye out for the man who had followed them earlier today. He wasn’t there, Rafe had informed her as they went into the huge white marquee on Cannes beach where the party was being held.
No doubt the man believed he had enough of an exclusive for one day!
Which he probably did….
Cairo had decided to put him firmly from her mind—along with that earlier, erotic, conversation with Rafe!—once