Chapter Five

Melo’s legs shook as she walked into the villa. The touch of Cade’s fingers on her skin still tingled as she stumbled up the stairs. Thank God there was no one around. She couldn’t have faced meeting anyone. Not with her mouth swollen from Cade’s kisses, her hair tangled from his fingers’ ruthless exploration, and her stomach churning from his rejection.

She pushed open the door to her bedroom, and stripped off the bikini, tossing it into the corner. She needed a shower to cool her heated skin. And wash Cade off her. She caught a glimpse of her naked body in the full-length mirror.

He’d said she was beautiful. He wanted her; he couldn’t hide his body’s response. So why, why had he pulled back? She grabbed her robe from the end of the bed and wrapped it around her, tying the sash tightly. Then lay on the bed and pulled her knees up. Everything had been going so well up until the moment they started to talk. Was that it? Her tired eyes ached with the beginning of a headache. He’d wanted to explain. Had even tried, but she’d seen the way he was struggling to express his feelings and hadn’t been able to stand to hear whatever excuse he was searching for.

He wanted her. She wanted him. What else was there to say?

A stray thought niggled. If they’d made love, things would be different between them. He’d only been on the island a couple of days. They hadn’t seen each other for twelve years, and both of them were very different people than they’d been then. She massaged her temples with her fingers, and closed her eyes.

Maybe his reasons for stopping were as simple as he said. It was too soon. Too quick. She’d fallen into his arms at the slightest touch. Offered herself willingly and brazenly. Men such as Cade liked the chase, and she’d been so damned available it was embarrassing. Another woman might tease, lead him in. But she wasn’t that type of woman. She already knew she wanted Cade. Had known for years. But he wasn’t to know that.

Thinking back over her eager response, a blush heated her body. She’d been totally willing. Wanton, even. She’d never been so bold with any man before, never felt the raging passion that had set her aflame in Cade’s arms.

The urge to forget about the shower and sleep was overwhelming. Yes, slowing things down was probably a good idea. As well as being slightly less available. No one liked a sure thing, did they? Time to play it cool.

****

“Aren’t you ready yet?” Rosa stood in the middle of Melo’s bedroom, looking aghast at her sister’s dripping hair.

She was wearing a beautiful silver dress which clung to all the right places, and ended a couple of inches above her knees. Her blonde swathe of hair swung in the light, and her makeup was perfect. A smoky grey shadow highlighted her eyes to stunning effect, and she looked like she’d spent hours on her appearance. Melo glanced at the clock, and rolled her eyes.

“I fell asleep.”

She’d dreamed of Cade. In all his glory. And woken up with frustration burning a hole in her gut. Now she had to get ready for the party, and there wasn’t enough time. Wasn’t nearly enough time. Panic rose in her chest. She’d look like the dull sister. Her heart sank. Why hadn’t she wakened earlier?

Rosa’s eyes softened. “You need help. I’ll get Marie and Anna.”

Marie was one of Rosa’s best friends. She also made a lucrative living as makeup artist to the stars. If there was anyone who could rid Melo’s nose of shine, and banish the dark circles shadowing her eyes, it was Marie. And Anna was the hairstylist seconded to the wedding party for the duration.

A glimmer of hope sprang to life.

“Back in a minute,” Rosa said, slipping from the room.

Half an hour later, Melo gaped at her reflection in the mirror. Her bird’s nest hair had been teased into a soft cascade of waves that tumbled down her back.

Anna had done something magical to her face. She’d accentuated Melo’s cheekbones with a tawny blush which matched her skin tone, highlighted her eyes with a subtle application of brown shadow that looked revolting in the tiny glass pot, but fantastic on, and lengthened her lashes with a liberal application of black mascara.

“With your coloring, less is definitely more.” Anna’d confided, as she drew a careful line of eyeliner above the lash line. “You’re so lucky, like Sophia Loren, or someone.” She leaned closer and whispered. “This is exactly the makeup I used on the film with the kick-ass female bounty hunter. You have exactly the same coloring.” She brushed on coral lipstick. “And a really good mouth.” She blushed, and grinned. “Sorry, I’m used to evaluating faces. It’s my business.”

Melo’s smile echoed Anna’s. “Well, you’re saying such nice things you’re forgiven.” She grasped Anna’s hand and squeezed it. “I really appreciate it, Anna. I couldn’t have made myself look as good as this.”

She angled her head in the mirror, still bemused at the transformation.

“Practice makes perfect.” Anna packed up her box of tricks, and waved at the wardrobe. “Now, get dressed. Time’s a-wasting.”

****

Cade couldn’t stand still. He strode across the room to Adam.

“What’s up?” Adam asked, raising an eyebrow.

The impressive trick always prompted a smile, but not this time. Cade’s gut clenched at the thought of Melo’s arrival. He’d completely blown it this afternoon. She probably wouldn’t want to have anything to do with him.

“Nothing,” Cade replied, hoping that for once Adam would just drop it.

Adam shrugged. “Come on, let’s go into the hall. The girls will be arriving soon.”

Adam walked across the marble floor, every inch the happy groom in his tailored tuxedo.

Cade ran a finger around the collar of his shirt, wishing he could dispense with formality and rip off the constricting bow tie.

“You’re worrying me, Mate.” Adam stopped and skewered Cade with his stare. “What the hell’s the matter with you? You’re so twitchy you’re making me nervous. Come on, out with it.”

Cade pulled in a breath. He couldn’t tell Adam. The last thing he was supposed to be doing was getting involved with someone this trip. Especially Melo.

The bridesmaid and the best man. It was every corny movie’s cliché. And Melo meant something to Adam, too. They’d kept in touch over the years, and Adam considered her one of his dearest friends.

The sound of voices outside heralded the arrival of the coach, and Adam threw him one last glance. “Cheer up, Mate. It’s my wedding.” He flung the door open, and stood back to allow the guests to enter.

Rosa came first. A vision in silver. Smiling, Cade kissed both cheeks. Then raised his gaze to the woman standing behind her. Melo. Wearing a sort of greeny dress that clung to every curve and dusted the ground. Like a mermaid. A very, very sexy mermaid. Her hair flowed over her shoulders inviting his touch. He clenched his hands at his side as she stepped closer, reaching up to kiss him on both cheeks as her sister had. The silken touch sent a shudder racing through him, and he barely resisted the urge to angle his head so their lips met.

He breathed in her perfume, remembered images of her naked in his arms on the floor of the cabana flooding through him. Before he had a chance to react, she stepped away, and another glamorous Italian took her place. His gaze followed her as she strode into the palazzo, heading for their hostess Signora Bettina, and out of his reach.

For now.

“Aha.”

Cade’s guilty glance flicked to Adam. His friend stared back with knowing eyes that, as usual, saw right through his clumsy attempt at deception. The familiar irritation itched and burned, like sand in a swimsuit.

“Got a little crush, have you?”

Cade’s blood heated to a boil. “None of your business.”

He should be gracious. Shouldn’t snap at his friend, who was only speaking the truth. In fact he had one hell of a crush, but the last thing he wanted was Adam pointing it out. He felt as transparent as the glass of champagne one of the waiters offered from a silver tray. He grabbed it and drank deeply.

Adam’s gaze narrowed. “She’s not for you, Cade.”

Cade clenched his jaw and bit back the words trying to escape. It was Adam’s day. Adam’s week. He had to keep it together. He dragged a smile from somewhere, and slipped it on like a mask. “Melo and I have been friends for years, there’s nothing going on.”

“Yeah, and I was born yesterday,” Adam replied.

Rosa was chatting to her friends, oblivious, and Adam took advantage of the situation to talk to Cade sotto voce. “Melo’s always had a thing for you. I don’t think you’ve ever noticed, but she hung on your every word when we were teenagers. She looks like a woman of the world, but she’s not.” He glanced at Rosa, then back to Cade. “She’s not in your league, Cade. She could get hurt.”

He pressed a hand to Cade’s arm.

“Don’t be angry with me. You know I care about you more than any bloke in the world. But Melo’s going to be my sister. And she has no brothers of her own to warn you off. So if you’re only playing, play with someone else. What about the girl from last night—Sophia?”

Cade’s heart twisted in his chest. Yes, he’d played hard after his broken engagement, what of it? He was known as a man who treated women well, but never stayed the night. But he’d never treated a woman badly. Never. The fact that his best friend thought him capable of toying with Melo’s heart stung.

He squared his shoulders. “I care about her too, Adam. If anything happens between us, I won’t be playing.”

There was surprise in Adam’s eyes. Surprise and respect. “Okay. Say no more.”

Cade’s gaze focused on Melo as she wove through the crowd.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to claim a dance.”

****

Sebastiano Volpi circled the room like a vulture. He must have been invited by Signora Bettina; neither Melo or Rosa would have added his name to the guest list. His eyes lit on Melo with a predatory gleam, and her heart fell as he started across the room toward her. Once, she’d found his dark, Italian perfection attractive. But she wasn’t eighteen any more. And the way Sebastiano treated her during their brief fling had opened her eyes. He might have a gorgeous face, but he had an ugly mind. A very ugly mind.

“Ciao, Bella. You look very beautiful tonight.”

Melo angled her body away from Sebastiano, keen to avoid his embrace.

He smirked, grasped her hand and smothered its back with damp lips.

Melo squeezed her free hand into a fist. Made her face blank. One, two… Finally he released her. Melo gritted her teeth resisting the urge to slap him. This was Rosa’s party. Not the place to have a scene.

“Sebastiano,” she acknowledged, pulling her hand away rapidly and clasping it with its twin in front of her dress. “I haven’t seen you for a long time. How are you?”

Maybe she could distract the man by getting him to talk about his favorite subject, himself.

Sebastiano launched into a detailed monologue. He talked about the extensive renovations he was doing to his house in the hills. His successful business. The new jet he’d bought to travel from Florence to Rome.

Melo stifled a yawn. When they’d been in school and he’d singled her out senior year and brought all his considerable charms into play to woo her, she’d been flattered. He was the first boy to pay her any sort of attention; all the other boys were drawn to Rosa’s blonde perfection like moths to the flame.

But Sebastiano had seemed different. It was only when he suggested double dates with Rosa and her boyfriend that she suspected he was using her to get closer to her sister. And when Rosa’s relationship broke up soon thereafter, and Sebastiano chucked her so he could move in for the kill…

Well that just confirmed it.

Rosa hadn’t given him the time of day. She still wouldn’t.

It was unbelievable he’d decided to attend the party; he couldn’t possibly be unaware of how the Bellucci girls felt about him, could he?

She glanced over to where he was gesticulating and still talking about himself. Then glanced around the room, seeking a savior. If she had to listen to any more she’d explode.

Cade was walking her direction.

It was a funny thing about tuxedos. They really separated the men from the boys. Sebastiano looked like a waiter in his custom-made Armani. Cade, on the other hand, was every woman’s dream. Tall, devastatingly good looking, and grumpy as hell.

Sebastiano reached out to grasp Melo’s arm.

And Cade’s expression darkened from grumpy to furious.

In a moment of madness, Melo turned to Sebastiano, and gifted him with her widest smile. She raised her eyebrows questioningly. She hadn’t heard a word he said, but he wasn’t holding any grudges. His chest puffed up like a dog being patted.

“I was asking you to dance.” He leaned closer. “I would like to have you in my arms again.”

Her stomach turned over at the very thought, but before she had a chance to react Cade was there.

He stood so close, the heat of his body warmed through her soft silk dress. She breathed him in, and her heart thudded hard. She forced air out through crushed lungs; swaying toward him like a compass unerringly finding true north.

“Melo, can I talk to you for a moment?”

Her dazed brain dimly registered his words and her head automatically tilted back and forth.

A sharp tongue-click snapped her back to reality, and her glance flicked to Sebastiano. If looks could kill, Cade would have gone up in flames instantly. It was so ridiculously macho Melo almost giggled.

“Melo and I were just about to dance.” Sebastiano curled his fingers around her upper arm.

His touch was abhorrent, and she picked his hand off like removing a caterpillar from a rose.

“If you remember, Sebastiano, I hadn’t given you my answer.” She lowered her voice not wanting to publicly humiliate him, even though he sure deserved it. “And my answer is no. I would not like to dance with you.”

“Va bene. La vostra perdita.”

He spoke Italian in blatant rudeness, then spun on a heel and strode away.

“What did he say?” Cade’s fists were clenched at his sides and his body tensed as he watched the other man leave.

“He said your loss.” Melo grinned.

The guy had such a huge ego, he probably believed it too. “Nothing to punch him out for.” She schooled her face into a polite mask. “Now, what did you want to talk to me about?”

Cade folded his arms. His body relaxed, as if the threat had been neutralized. He reached out and casually smoothed a lock of hair back from her face, and her heart fluttered wildly. “I didn’t have anything to talk to you about. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Of course I was okay. Didn’t I look okay?” Melo frowned.

She was in the process of being bored to death, that was all. Something easily remedied by walking away.

“You looked interested.” Cade’s top lip curled as if he’d eaten something unpleasant. “And that guy…” He crossed his arms over his chest and scowled.

“What are you, my brother? I’m more than capable of choosing who I want to be interested in, Cade. I don’t need your help.” She stuck out her chin and stared him down.

This was ridiculous. He didn’t want her, but was trying to make sure she didn’t make any foolish choices. Anger heated her blood.

Cade reached out and captured her hand. “Stop being angry.”

That sure didn’t help. She started to pull her hand away, but he gripped tighter.

His face softened and a “play with me” smile teased his lips. “Come on, Melo. Stop being angry.”

He’d teased her when they were kids. Had always been able to get around her. To her frustration, he still could.

“Huh.” Her mouth pouted, but her hand stayed in his.

“I didn’t like you looking at him like that. Didn’t want you to be interested,” Cade confessed. “I want you to be interested in me. Only me.” He pulled her close, and whispered in her ear. “Now, will you dance with me?”

The band was playing a slow ballad as they walked out onto the dance floor. Couples swirled past under the chandelier’s soft light. Cade’s hand slid around her waist, and she moved close against him like an obedient sleepwalker.

“I remember being here, before.” His warm breath feathered over her ear as their bodies fused in perfect time. “When we were kids.”

It had been a day she’d never forgotten. Rosa and Adam were off somewhere, and when Cade arrived at the villa, she suggested they go and look at the roman ruins unearthed in the field on the outskirts of Signora Bettina’s land. The climb to the site was strenuous, and she’d almost fallen a couple of times on the rough pebbles of the track. Cade had held her hand. And her heart had almost burst with happiness.

“I remember.” She trembled at the feel of his fingers splayed against her spine. Her nipples tightened as they brushed against his chest. They were in public, but she couldn’t resist pushing her body closer against him.

She pulled in a deep breath, and thought back to that time, long ago. Standing in the ruins watching the archaeologists excavate the past was thrilling. And when they’d unearthed an intact bowl, Cade’s excitement had matched her own. They sat on a rock, gazing out to sea, and talked for hours.

“You talked about how the echoes of people long ago fuse into the earth.”

She glanced up at his shadowed jaw line. Even after all these years he remembered her fanciful girlish notions. The realization stunned and thrilled in equal measure.

“I didn’t think you’d remember,” she whispered.

“How could I forget? I’d felt it too.” His mouth dusted the top of her head, and she gave in to the temptation to rest her head against his broad shoulder.

“After my father’s death we had to sell the ranch. We’d lived on the land for three generations. It was our land, and the ghosts of my ancestors were always there. I felt them. Imagined them looking out for me.” The hand around her waist tightened. “I thought I was the only person in the world who felt like that. Hearing you say it was amazing.”

“What happened to the ranch?” When he’d been a boy, she’d never dared ask. The bleak look that flooded his eyes each time he mentioned his past had warned her away.

“It was demolished. To make way for progress.”

She glanced up. His mouth was set in a tight line.

“They put a highway through it and built over the land. Thousands of houses.”

Melo’s heart clenched. Even when he’d made his fortune he wouldn’t have been able to turn the clock back and save his home; there was no home to save. All trace of his family had been obliterated. Her fingers feathered over his jaw.

He glanced down, a wicked light gleaming in his eyes.

“How about we get some air?”

****

It was cooler in the garden, and more private. A few couples had ventured out into the moonlit darkness, but away from the crowd they could finally be alone.

In silent accord they walked toward a solitary bench overlooking the darkened garden. It was a relief to sit quietly for a few moments to get his head together. Somehow, they’d started talking about the ranch. He hadn’t even thought about the ranch in years. There was no use in hankering after something long lost. He’d learnt that the hard way.

“How did you lose the ranch?” Melo asked quietly.

Cade turned the question around in his mind. It wasn’t something he normally talked about, but somehow, here in the perfumed darkness it seemed right to tell her.

“My father wasn’t a bad man, but he had a gambling problem.” It was something he’d managed to hide from Cade’s mother, for a while anyway. Until it was too late.

Melo just sat silently and waited for him to continue.

Cade pulled in a deep breath, and pushed the hair back from his face. “He won a few times on a poker game, and that fed his addiction.” His mouth twisted at the memory of his father’s good mood the day he’d come home with tickets for a holiday for them all. His father’s pride. Misplaced, as it turned out. “Then he gambled heavier, and before he knew it, he was in debt.” A bitter taste filled Cade’s mouth, tainting the words that followed. “He could have sold off some of the land, paid his debts. But he was in too deep. And in addiction’s grip. He bet the ranch, and lost.”

Melo gasped, and her soft hand gripped his.

“And then?”

“He shot himself in the barn.” The memory of the last conversation he’d had with his father rose to the surface of Cade’s mind, and he allowed himself to remember for a moment.

The look of utter desperation on his father’s face had been terrible to behold. Cade had tried to offer solace, asking what he could do, what his father needed. He heard his father’s long ago answer echo in his mind.

“Money.”

The one thing Cade didn’t have. It wasn’t his fault; a boy couldn’t solve the financial worries of a man living on the edge. But when his father died Cade had known the only way to help those he loved was to provide for them financially, so they would never suffer the agonies his father had.

The year that followed had been the worst year of his family’s life. Dealing with his father’s death was one thing, but dealing with the loss of their home—their eviction, was a nightmare it had taken long years to fade.

Cade made it through school, and had won a scholarship to college, funding it by working two jobs, weekends and evenings. His determination paid off, and through hard work he made enough to secure his family’s future.

The moonlight glinted off Melo’s hair, adding silvery lights to its rich darkness, and when she turned to him her eyes were almost navy. “I’m sorry it was so difficult for you.”

He’d never kissed anyone who knew so much about his past before. For the first time in years he felt vulnerable, exposed.

Her lips parted, and she leaned closer.

Soft. Tempting. Inviting. He had to kiss her. He stroked along her jaw line, and then grasped her nape, pulling her closer to kiss.

She tasted of honey. Of champagne. Of Melo. The scent of her perfume filled the air as his hands slid lower. Heat flared in his abdomen. His palms skirted over her shoulders, and when she moaned into his mouth, his desire flared out of control. His heart pounded and his breathing quickened. The elegant line of her neck arched in an invitation he instantly accepted, and she gripped his shoulders as if she was in fear of falling. Maybe she was—he sure was.

Falling out of control, and fast.

“Sit on my knee.”

She couldn’t straddle him, not in that dress, but at least if she sat on him he’d have better access.

She stood, towering over him in her high heels.

The seductive curve of her mouth sent a wave of molten lust through him.

Her gaze flickered to the open French windows. Muted music drifted in the air, and she swayed slightly to its beat.

They could be seen from the doorway. It wasn’t nearly private enough. The dress had to go. He wanted to run his hands and his mouth all over her. Have her naked beneath him, as they’d been earlier.

She pulled in her bottom lip, and bit gently.

He reached for her hand, pressing a kiss into her palm.

She shivered, but didn’t move. Cade got to his feet, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

“Let’s go.”