“So don’t talk about it. You’re here with me now and that’s all I want. Right this moment. Don’t you?”

Annie shivered at the intensity of his gaze and the power in his words.

“Yes,” she breathed before his lips silenced her. The passion in his kiss muddled her brain and sent all thoughts of caution scampering as her shoes dropped from her hand into the sand.

“Come with me,” he asked as they parted. He was as breathless as she was and the passion in his eyes was savage. He led them back along the beach toward the pier and Annie followed, her eyes wide, wondering if he was actually planning on an al fresco shag.

“Hang on a second. Where are you going? We can’t... Not here.”

“Not the pier,” Harry answered with a grin. “To the hotel... My room.”

Nice one...

Her limbs trembled with desire as they climbed back up the stone steps and hurried to the hotel.

In the lift, he wrapped himself around her, kissing her with such intensity that she felt like hitting the emergency stop button and going at it there and then.

This was probably going way too fast but she couldn’t stop it. And what else was new? Their heads were swimming and both were going under. She wanted him, desperately wanted to be with Harry.

Or whatever his name was.

Chapter 23

Then

“You really don’t have to keep coming here,” Colette argued for the thousandth time. “I’m fine now.” She sat rigidly on the tatty old sofa in the living room, while Luca brought her food.

She appreciated his efforts but she was sure the man had better things to do.

When Luca smiled it was like the clouds opening on an overcast day, and suddenly the sun came through in full force, making everything brighter.

Colette couldn’t help but study him as he moved. He was so cool and authoritative in everything he did. The way he walked with long calm strides. The controlled way he moved to unpack the tray of food he’d brought with him.

However, what really got her was the way he looked at her. His dark eyes seemed to peel back all of her defenses and cut straight through to what was beneath.

“I told you, I will be here until you are fully recovered,” Luca insisted as he set a glass of water on a side table and took a seat on the sofa next to her. “Besides, I promised my aunt I would look after you. I would be in big trouble if I didn’t.”

Colette smiled. Yes, Mama Elene was sweet but fierce, she’d seen that much for herself. “I’m guessing she can be a bit of a drill sergeant,” she joked.