The Real Romero(63)

                ‘How long have you been lurking by the door?’ Milly said accusingly and Lucas strolled into the room to take up position by the window, perching against the broad window sill with his arms folded.

                Here comes Adonis again, Milly thought absently, and shouldn’t I have become accustomed to this by now? She could see him a million times and still be startled by his dark, stunning beauty.

                ‘I don’t lurk...’ His features were perfectly controlled, as was the tenor of his voice, but he had to steer firmly away from the soft swell of her breasts jutting against the soft fabric of a flimsy, strappy dress. Hell, she wasn’t even wearing a bra! It bordered on indecent, even though the style was modest enough.

                There was something about the shimmering colours, though...blues and creams that made the fall of her curly red hair even more vibrant...and she was wearing make-up. Just a bit. Just sufficient gloss on her full lips to tease any red-blooded man to distraction.

                He felt himself harden and he looked away from her momentarily, gathering himself, before indulging in his usual light-hearted banter with his mother. The fiercer his desire grew, the more distance he had to try and put between them. Those brief touches were like matches flung onto dry tinder.

                ‘Now, make sure you use Carlos...’ his mother was telling him as he walked towards Milly, who was rising to her feet, as graceful as a ballet dancer in some strappy little sandals that showed off newly painted toenails.

                ‘Is this the drink-driving lecture?’ Lucas slipped his arm around Milly’s waist and felt her soft body against his, which was a predictable challenge to his self-control. ‘Don’t worry. I’ll be using Carlos. If I remember correctly, he has a fondness for that little wine bar not a million miles away from the restaurant. He can enjoy himself with a plate of pasta and a big bottle of mineral water.’ Her breasts were just above where his hand curved on her ribcage.

                As soon as they were through the front door, he dropped his hand and moved away from her.

                Talk about being obvious, Milly thought, stung because he was so clearly turned off by her. She slid into the back seat through the door that Carlos held open for her and didn’t glance in Lucas’s direction as he levered himself in and sat next to her.

                He hadn’t even commented on her dress. Her normally bubbly nature was flattened by that and she was cool as they drove towards the town, choosing to stare through the window at the scenery and replying to his attempts at conversation in stiff monosyllables.

                ‘Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?’ Lucas drawled once they were out of the car and in the restaurant, which was a cosy Italian that obviously appealed to the beautiful and the wealthy.

                ‘Nothing’s wrong.’ Milly reluctantly looked at him and her heart picked up pace. He was staring at her, his dark eyes lazy and unfathomable. Was he comparing her to the sort of women his mother disliked but he didn’t?

                ‘Spit it out.’

                ‘Okay—what’s wrong is that you’re not making any attempt to sort this business out. We’ve been here nearly two weeks.’

                ‘I didn’t think you were in any rush to get back,’ Lucas said mildly.

                ‘That’s not the point. The point is that I don’t like lying to your mother. I feel we’re getting close to one another...’

                ‘Then make sure you pull back, Milly. She’s not a substitute mother because you lost yours.’

                ‘That’s a rotten thing to say!’