The Purest of Diamonds(18)

                ‘I don’t want to risk butter dripping down my dress.’ She raised a brow at him, conscious that her sisters were watching them closely. ‘This dress has been through enough adventures for one night, don’t you agree, Raffa?’

                As Britt and Eva exchanged a look, Leila appeared to change her mind, and, lifting a buttery spear to her lips, she sucked on it thoughtfully.

                ‘Here—have another one if you’re hungry,’ he prompted in a way that made her breath catch.

                Her sisters were transfixed by now, while the look in Raffa’s eyes wasn’t doing all that much for her own equilibrium. It was just an act, she told herself, until he captured some butter from her lips on his thumb and sucked it clean. She felt an answering pulse of pleasure with each lazy tug of his mouth. It was such a sexy, intimate thing for him to do.

                And she should look away.

                When it came to the entrée, a black pepper filet mignon with a blob of Gorgonzola on top, resting on a bed of wilted spinach, she was still watching Raffa eat.

                ‘Hmm, delicious,’ he murmured, savouring the delicious meat. ‘Why aren’t you eating, Leila?’

                ‘It’s chocolate fondue for pudding,’ Britt remarked innocently.

                Okay, there was no leaving this game half played. ‘Chocolate fondue?’ She gazed deep into Raffa’s eyes. ‘My favourite...’

                As Raffa paused, fork suspended, she tucked in with relish. This was easy. Where had she been hiding all these years?

                ‘Leila.’

                Why was Raffa whispering?

                She turned to look at him with confidence. ‘Yes? What is it? What’s wrong?’

                She prickled with awareness as he leaned in close.

                ‘You’ve got spinach between your teeth...’





                                      CHAPTER THREE

                IT WAS INEVITABLE the conversation around the table would eventually return to the hottest topic of the night: where had Leila and Raffa been for such a long time? Britt and Eva clearly weren’t convinced by the hotel lounge story.

                ‘So, what did you two find to talk about up in Raffa’s suite?’ Britt asked casually.

                ‘We weren’t in Raffa’s suite,’ Leila said patiently. ‘We were chatting in the hotel lounge, surrounded by other guests—’ She was just getting into her stride when her eyes widened with surprise as Raffa’s warm, strong hand covered hers in a cautionary gesture.

                ‘We were discussing the mining museum, as a matter of fact,’ he commented casually. ‘Leila’s got some great ideas,’ he went on without missing a beat. ‘And I was saying that, as I have one of the finest gem collections in the world, perhaps Leila should visit my island with a view to displaying a selection of her choice in Skavanga.’

                The silence was absolute. Everyone was stunned, including Leila. Raffa had just hit them with the conversation stopper of all time. Was that a serious invitation? Or was he still playing games?

                ‘Just say yes,’ he suggested, easing back on his chair as she looked at him.

                For once, Britt had nothing to say, and it was Eva who filled the gap in her usual blunt manner. ‘What are you suggesting?’ she asked Raffa suspiciously, flying in defence of her sister.