The Ultimate Playboy(69)

                ‘So what are you going to do about it?’

                Sì, what was he going to do?

                Call it a day and cut off all ties with Giacomo? The sudden ache in his gut made him stiffen and jerk upright.

                ‘Enough about me. You have an exceptional talent. I’m officially hiring you to cater my dinner party.’

                The compliment brought a smile to her lips. Again, he forced himself not to reach out and caress the satin smoothness of her determined jaw. The urge was stronger because he needed something to blot out his confused thoughts of his father.

                ‘Thank you.’ She put the sun protection down and glanced at him. ‘Can I get you anything?’

                He shook his head. ‘No more cocktails.’

                Her smile widened. ‘Then I have the perfect thing.’

                She stood and walked to the chiller behind the bar. To his surprise she returned with an ice-cold beer. ‘Sometimes a beer is the perfect solution to thirst.’

                Narciso twisted off the cap with relish and took a long swig, and looked over to find her eyes on his throat. The feel of her eyes on him made his temperature shoot sky-high.

                ‘Aren’t you having a drink?’

                She indicated the glass of water on the table next to her lounger.

                ‘That must be warm by now.’

                Wordlessly, he held out the bottle to her. Her eyes met his and sensation skated over him. Their attraction was skittering out of control but he couldn’t seem to apply the brakes.

                ‘You’re thirsty. Take it.’

                Slowly, she took the bottle from him. Her pink tongue darted out to caress the lip of the bottle before she took a small swig.

                She held it back out to him. ‘Thanks.’

                ‘So beers are an exception to your don’t-drink-much rules?’

                ‘A small drink doesn’t hurt.’

                ‘Aren’t you afraid you’ll lose control with me?’ he asked roughly.

                ‘We established that anything between us would be a mistake, remember?’

                He stepped deeper into quicksand, felt it close dangerously over him but still he didn’t retreat.

                Eyes on her, he took another swig of beer. ‘Perhaps that no longer holds true.’

                Her breath audibly hitched. ‘Why? Tell me and I’ll remind you when things threaten to get out of hand.’

                He couldn’t stop the laughter that rumbled from his chest. ‘You mean as some form of shock therapy?’

                ‘If it’s what works for you.’

                His gaze slid down her body. Skin made vibrant by the sun and the exertions of their dive this morning offered temptation so strong it was no wonder he could think straight.

                ‘Don’t worry, tesoro, I’ll try and curb my uncontrollable urges.’

                ‘I’m glad you can. I’m not so sure about myself,’ she blurted.