Kristof nodded. ‘Fair enough.’
‘Everyone has their way of showing their feelings,’ she snapped, shaken at the idea seeping into her thoughts over the past couple of days. She was more angry about once again being shown she was unlovable than feeling as if her heart had been ripped out of her chest.
A large, warm hand covered hers briefly, those long fingers squeezing gently. ‘You’re right. I’m sorry.’
‘Kristof.’ She aimed for serous, half got it right. ‘I’m not grieving for him. I’m angry he let me down, and for thinking there was more to our relationship than was real.’ Startled, she dropped her fork. That was so true.
‘Enough. Enjoy your entrée.’ Kristof removed his hand, and picked up a fork. ‘I hope you like lobster.’
Her mouth salivated. ‘Do I what?’ Grinning, she forked up a healthy mouthful. ‘One of my favourite foods of all time. What else are we having?’
‘Next course is rabbit goulash, followed by an apple and chocolate creation I’m sure you’ll love.’ His smile was wicked, sending her stomach into a riot of butterflies.
As the night progressed Alesha found it harder and harder to keep on track. Whenever Kristof looked at her as though she was his favourite course all her defence mechanisms came into play, at the same time warring with the need to have fun and follow her determination to enjoy each day as it unfolded. This latest version of her week in Dubrovnik had her blood racing and her nerves out of kilter. What if she made another mistake so soon after the last one? Was she throwing herself at Kristof?
Have a fling.
How did she start one if not by showing her intentions?
‘We’re only spending the evening together helping my mother out,’ Kristof said in a tone that spoke loud and clear—there’d be no further dates. A reminder he hadn’t been the one to invite her here.
Apparently she was an open book. ‘I wasn’t expecting anything else.’ Although she might have been wishing for more. Disappointment tugged, because she was out with a handsome man in an amazing setting in a city far from any other she’d visited, and of course it would be fun to experience everything the city had to offer.
‘Good.’ This man did blunt well.
Time for a subject change. She shoved her chair back. ‘I’m going to look at the gifts to be auctioned.’ Bidding for something would be the right thing to do after Kristof’s mother had so kindly invited her along.
Kristof strolled alongside her, his shoulder brushing hers. Intentionally? After his warning? There were mixed messages coming her way. ‘There’s lots of art; paintings, pottery, and sketches. Most are too big to carry back to London.’
‘Tell me what those vouchers are for.’ Alesha pointed to a line of cards with photos of food, buses, views, and a beauty parlour, trying to ignore his tall, well-proportioned body. ‘I get what most of them are about, but not where the service offered is situated. Like that one.’ Her finger tapped a picture of an outdoor restaurant with the sparkling blue ocean as a backdrop.
‘Cavtat, which is south of here. You can go by road, or, better yet, take a boat ride down there. It’s a lovely town with a baroque church and the Rector’s Palace to visit. The beaches are stunning, and there are lots of food choices.’
‘You’ve sold me on the place. I’ll visit one day this week.’ She’d bid for that voucher, even though it was a meal for two people. She laughed. Perhaps she could use it twice. Or talk Kristof into going with her. Although, he’d made it clear, no further dates, remember? Was this even a date when his mother had invited her and demanded Kristof drive her?
‘You could eat there every night this week for what you’ve just bid,’ Kristof admonished an hour later when she held the Cavtat restaurant voucher in her hand.
‘That’s hardly the point of this auction.’
‘I doubt my mother invited you along to spend your hard-earned money.’
‘Then why did she?’ Alesha asked, doubting she’d get an answer.
Kristof’s face softened. ‘She likes making kind gestures. Genuinely kind ones.’
And that was all Alesha was getting. She could ask until she was blue in the face but Kristof would not say another word on the subject. She knew that shut-off look already. She recognised the need to keep himself to himself, because it was the same with her. It didn’t stop her wanting to wipe away that hurt flitting through his eyes, pain that he thought he had under wraps. ‘Would you like to come to this restaurant with me?’
‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’
‘I’m not asking you to do anything you wouldn’t want to, just to share another meal with me.’ So far she’d been in Dubrovnik two nights and had eaten with Kristof for both of them. ‘Let me know if you change your mind.’
‘I could drive you down to Cavtat after I finish at the children’s centre, I suppose.’
Sound happy about it, why don’t you?
‘I’m going by boat so I get to see the coast along the way.’ Sitting on a ferry was far more fun than in a car. ‘Or don’t you like being on the water?’
‘You’re persistent, aren’t you?’ He finally cracked a smile that sent fire throughout her. ‘Okay, thank you. I’ll go with you by boat to Cavtat. As long as we walk around the peninsula before eating. It’s a spectacular spot with the water so clear you can see right to the bottom.’
‘Done.’ She wouldn’t look smug, or excited, or grateful. Nope, just relieved, and happy, and—calm. Okay, that wasn’t so easy to pull off, but she gave it her best shot. ‘I guess we’re going for dinner, not lunch?’
‘Yes. If that’s all right with you?’ Kristof hastened to add, inexplicable excitement flashing across his face before he shut down again.
What was that about? Forget the fling idea. It wasn’t happening. They both had too many issues to let loose and enjoy each other. ‘Absolutely.’
He stood up and reached for her hand to pull her gently upright. ‘Let’s say goodnight to everyone and get out of here. I’ve done my bit for this time.’
There it was again, that hint he was not happy about something to do with his mother. Or was it her charity he had issues with? Yet he gave her weeks out of what would no doubt be a hectic schedule back in London. Alesha smoothed down the front of her dress and looked at Kristof as he said goodbye to Filip and Nina. She’d probably never know what made this man tick. That wasn’t such a bad thing. After this week she wouldn’t see him again anyway. Getting to know more about him only meant getting close, involved with him, and she didn’t need that. Nor, she suspected, did he.
Outside in the slightly cooler air Alesha stared around at the city so alien to anything at home. The night lights and shadows gave an eerie yet exhilarating feel to the place. ‘Wow.’
‘Come on. I’ll take you down to the harbour edge. It’s on the other side of these buildings.’ Kristof reached for her hand.
The need to slip her hand in his was strong. As was the need to kiss him. She did neither. The champagne had been delicious at dinner but she’d refrained from enjoying too much, and she could do the same about holding hands. It would only be a gesture and she didn’t need any more of those now that she’d made up her mind to be strong—and single.
* * *
Kristof pulled off the road outside the apartment complex, relieved he’d got Alesha back without giving into the temptation that was her scent, her beauty, the wondrous figure that skin-tight dress highlighted, her soft yet strong voice. He’d lost count of how many times he’d made to haul her into his arms so he could kiss her down at the waterfront by the boats tied up. Temptation usually came with written warnings, but there were no warnings about Alesha.
None other than the ones his brain kept throwing up. What really bugged him was that he never hesitated when a woman came on to him, and yet last night when Alesha had he’d hauled the brakes on fast. She overwhelmed
him with her smiles, her frankness.
Oh, get real. She’s so sexy in that little red number it’s impossible to ignore her.
He wanted her, plain and simple.
Alesha opened her door. ‘Thanks for a great time. I’ll see you later in the week.’