She continued to the bar, her nerves jumpier than they had been a minute ago. ‘I did, a long time ago.’
‘Good. You’ll join me.’
‘Is that a request or a demand?’
He’d ignored her for the past two days. The idea that he now wanted to spend time with her jangled her fraying nerves. As she recalled what had happened on the plane heat and confusion spiked anew through her.
‘It’s a very civilised request.’
And yet...
Regardless of what Narciso was requesting, the last thing she needed to be doing was anticipating spending any time in his company. He made her lose control. She only had to look into his eyes to feel herself skating close to emotional meltdown.
The last thing she’d wanted when she met Narciso was to give in to the attraction she’d felt for him. But perversely, now he’d made it clear he intended to give her a wide berth, her mind kept conjuring up scenarios of how things could be between them.
She’d been wrong to compare Narciso to Simon, or even to her father. Despite the playboy exterior, she’d glimpsed a core of integrity in her potential new business partner that was markedly absent from the men she’d so far encountered.
Potential new business partner...
Therein lay her next problem. Whether active or passive, if she passed his test, Narciso would own a share in her business. They’d have a business relationship.
Which meant, nothing could be allowed to develop between them personally.
She worked almost absent-mindedly and only realised the drink she’d made after she opened the cocktail shaker. Aghast, she stared into the bold red drink.
‘Are you going to serve...what is that anyway?’
Flames surged up her cheeks. ‘Allow me to present the Afrodisiaco.’
One brow cocked; a touch of the irreverence she’d become used to darted over his features. ‘Is there a message in there somewhere?’
That she’d produced one of the most suggestive cocktails on her list made her pulse jump as she poured it. ‘It’s just a name.’
He immediately shook his head. ‘I’ve learned that nothing is ever what its face value suggests.’ He sipped the cocktail, swirled it around in his mouth. ‘Although now I’ve tasted this, I’m willing to alter that view.’
‘Narciso...’ The moment she uttered his name he froze. Another crack forked through the severely compromised foundation of her resistance as she watched his eyes darken.
‘No, Ruby mio, you don’t get to say my name for the first time like that.’
She paused. ‘I’m sorry, but you need to explain to me what the last two days have been about.’
‘Basta...’ His voice held stark warning.
‘Non abbastanza! I didn’t ask you to seduce me on your plane. In fact, I made it very clear I wanted to be left alone because I knew— I wasn’t... Look, whatever experiences you’ve had in the past are your own. But you told me you didn’t like women who blew hot and cold. Well, guess what, that’s exactly what you’re doing!’