‘I don’t understand.’
The throb in his voice had her closing her eyes. ‘And I hope to God you never do.’
This time when she tried to get up he let her.
* * *
Dylan watched Mia walk away and his heart pounded against the walls of his ribs. He wanted her with a savagery that frightened him.
He couldn’t recall wanting Caitlin like this.
He couldn’t recall wanting any woman with this kind of hunger!
He wanted to shred their ground rules to pieces—tear them up and burn them. He wanted Mia in his bed.
But do you want her in your heart?
The roaring inside him screeched to a halt. He swallowed.
No.
But you’re prepared to seduce her? To make things harder for her.
He shot to his feet. He wouldn’t make them harder! He’d make sure she enjoyed every moment of their time together. He’d make her laugh and he’d lavish her with gifts. He’d give her anything she wanted.
Except the quiet life she craves.
He whirled around, hands fisted. She was wrong about that. She should be living life to the full—not hiding herself in the shadows. She should be living her life like the woman in Felipe’s photograph—full of joy and laughter. If only he could get her to see that.
If only...
He stilled. If he managed that, then maybe she’d rip up those ground rules herself and welcome some fun—some pleasure—into her life. It was worth a shot.
Thrusting out his jaw, he moved towards the house.
* * *
Mia sat at a picnic table, listlessly feeding a peacock what looked to be part of her usual lunchtime sandwich, and something in Dylan’s chest tightened. It was four days since their kiss and she looked pale and tired. She looked the way he felt. It didn’t give him the slightest sense of satisfaction or triumph.
He wanted her. His lips tightened. And she wanted him.
She had another think coming if she thought he’d give up. He wanted to know what she’d meant by saving herself, and he had every intention of finding out. Once he knew, he’d be able to develop a game plan for knocking down those walls of hers.
She half turned, as if she’d sensed his presence, dropping her sandwich when their gazes collided. The peacock immediately pounced on it.
Dylan forced his legs forward. ‘It’s just as well I brought these or you’d go hungry.’ He dropped a couple of chocolate bars to the table before taking the seat opposite. ‘How are you, Mia?’
‘I’m okay.’ She reached for one of the chocolate bars but didn’t unwrap it, worry lurking in the depths of her eyes. ‘How are you?’
He’d meant to tell her that he couldn’t sleep at night for thinking of her. Instead he shot her a grin and winked. ‘I’ll be a whole lot better once I’ve eaten this.’
He seized the second chocolate bar and was rewarded when her shoulders unhitched a fraction.
‘I’m glad you dropped by today,’ she said.
He stared at her. For a moment he felt like punching the air. He didn’t push her, though. He’d let her tell him why in her own time.
‘Carla asked me to give you this.’ He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. ‘It’s Thierry’s veal scaloppini recipe.’
‘Why didn’t she give it to me herself?’
He shrugged, hoping he hadn’t given himself away. ‘She said she was busy.’ And he’d latched on to any excuse to see Mia. ‘Maybe she thought I’d see you first.’
‘Are you busy? There’s something I’d like you to see.’
‘I’m free as a bird.’ Even if he hadn’t been he’d have cancelled any appointment for her.
‘Good. Come with me.’
She led him along a narrow track through dense native forest. Everything was hushed and serene. He marvelled anew that such a place existed in the middle of the city. Mia didn’t talk and he was content to follow behind, admiring the dark lustre of her hair and the innate grace of her hips.
After ten minutes she slowed. Turning to him, she put a finger to her lips and then held down the branch of a Bottlebrush tree, gesturing for him to look.
He glanced at her, wondering what on earth she’d brought him here to see. He turned to survey the view and sucked in a breath. Moving closer, he held the branch for himself while Mia moved off to one side.
She’d brought him via a circuitous route to the far side of the lily pond. Just in front of him—no more than twenty yards away—stretched out on a picnic blanket, were Carla and Thierry. Carla’s head was in Thierry’s lap and he was idly combing his fingers through her hair. She laughed up at him at something he’d said.
Dylan’s heart started to thump. He stared from his sister’s face to her fiancé’s face and back again. Eventually Mia’s fingers wrapped about the top of his arm and she pulled him away. Pressing her finger to her lips again, she led him along a different path until they emerged into a rocky clearing. She sat on a boulder and stared at him with pursed lips.
He fell down onto a neighbouring rock, his mind racing. Finally he glanced across at her. ‘I have never seen Carla that happy.’
She nodded, as if the sight of that much happiness had awed her.
‘How did you know they were there?’
‘I accidentally stumbled across them on Monday. I noticed Thierry’s car in the car park a little while ago and figured they’d be there again today.’
‘She’s totally in love with him...and...and completely happy.’
‘Did you notice the way he looked at her?’
He had. An ache stretched behind his eyes. ‘He looked at her as if she were the most precious person on earth.’ His shot to his feet and paced up and down for a bit before swinging back to Mia. ‘A man who looks at a woman like that is never going to hurt her. He’s going to do everything in his power to protect her, to cherish her...to make her happy.’
Mia nodded.
He started to pace again. Seeing Carla and Thierry together like that, so unguarded, it should put his mind at rest...
He collapsed back on his rock and Mia reached out to clasp his hand briefly. ‘Dylan, you’re not losing Carla. You’re gaining a brother-in-law.’
‘But he’s such an unpleasant man!’
She sat back. ‘I suspect the more you get to know him, the better you’ll come to like him.’
Could she be right?
‘I also think...’
He glanced up, suddenly on guard. There was something too tight in her voice, which was at odds with the casual way she ran her fingers along a tall spike of native grass.
‘You also think...?’ he prompted.
She rubbed her hand across her throat, not looking at him. ‘I think our dating pretence is no longer necessary.’
She told you kissing her would be a bad idea.
He hadn’t known it would have her bringing their relationship to such an abrupt halt!
There is no relationship.
But he wanted there to be. Not a relationship, exactly, but a relationship of sorts.
He