He danced slowly, but seemingly without difficulty, which puzzled her. Only recently he’d been in such pain that he’d needed a wheelchair. Now it was hard to tell that there was anything wrong with him.
One thing was clear to her. He’d been wrong that time when he’d said women stared at him only out of cruel calculation. They were staring at him now, and their expressions were the same ones she’d seen in the Alps: curiosity, desire, anticipation. But no pity.
With her high heels she could almost look him in the eye, something he seemed to appreciate, for he held her gaze steadily and his mouth was dangerously close.
She tried to remember that she was angry with him for ignoring her for days, but the pleasure of his presence had made everything else retreat into the distance. He’d always had that effect and it was as annoying now as it had been then. She wanted to tell him to stop his nonsense. She wanted to kick his shins-very gently. She wanted to kiss him.
‘I’m suspicious of you,’ she said at last.
‘No change there, then,’ he murmured, so that she felt his breath softly touching her face.
‘I mean, I want to know what’s brought about this miracle recovery.’
‘I’m a genius, hadn’t you heard?’
‘Yes, you’ve told me. I never believed it, then or now.’
‘That’s what I was afraid of.’ He sighed.
‘Will you be serious? Have you done something stupid? Yes, of course you have. You’ve got no sense.’
‘True. There’s a lot going through my head just now, but none of it’s sensible.’
‘Does it matter?’ She chuckled. ‘Common sense is for wimps.’
‘I couldn’t agree more.’
‘If I were being really sensible, I’d wonder at the coincidence of us both turning up here tonight.’ When he didn’t reply, she cocked her head on one side and challenged him. ‘It’s not an accident, is it?’
He eyed her warily. ‘What do you think?’
‘I think you’re the most devious, unscrupulous…If I really told you what I thought of you, we’d be here all night. You set it up, didn’t you?’
‘I admit nothing.’
‘You don’t have to. If ever a man appeared guilty-’
‘No, no, you misunderstand,’ he said with a grin. ‘That isn’t guilt. It’s conceit at getting my own way.’
‘Of course it is.’
At that moment Ferrini danced by. He was amazed at the sight of Mandy.
‘
He danced away. Mandy stared indignantly at Renzo, who was looking sheepish.
‘You told me he sent you to fetch me,’ she accused.
‘Did I? I forget.’
‘You’re a rotten liar.’
‘No, actually, I’m a very good liar,’ he said outrageously. ‘I can produce a hundred witnesses to testify to my skill at being most convincing when I’m most dishonest. Look, you were on your own with Luigi. You might have needed help.’
‘You were protecting me?’
‘Didn’t you protect me back there?’
That silenced her just for a moment, until she recovered enough to say, ‘Don’t get all offended and full of male pride.’
‘Oddly enough, I wasn’t,’ he said softly. ‘I just never thought of you taking up the cudgels on my behalf.’
‘I don’t like people having a go at you,’ she muttered.
‘You mean, you reserve that privilege for yourself?’
‘Something like that. Anyway, we’re even now. Though why you thought I needed help to deal with that silly boy, I don’t know.’
‘I know what he can be like.’
‘Like you at the same age,’ she ventured.
‘I was much worse,’ he said with a grin.
‘Why do I find that so easy to believe?’ she asked of the air.
‘Because you know me better than I know myself, which is alarming. I keep wondering, What did I do that she knows and I don’t?’
She gave him an impish smile which came and went in the fairy lights.
‘If you’re hoping I’m going to tell you,’ she murmured, ‘think again.’
‘Little cat. Don’t torment me-tell me.’
‘No. There are some things a man must remember for himself, or they weren’t important.’
‘And it was important, wasn’t it, Mandy?’
‘Oh, yes.’
‘Be patient. It’ll come to you.’
‘And if it doesn’t?’
‘Then I’ll just have to go away.’
His arms tightened. ‘I won’t let you. I’ll keep you prisoner.’
‘You won’t find that easy. I’ll escape.’
He leaned down so that his mouth was close to hers. ‘Give me a clue.’
‘Let’s think-what do you
His eyes gleamed, but he seemed puzzled, as well.
‘Mandy-are you telling me-it wasn’t just my imagination?’
She lifted her head a little and laid her lips against his. ‘Remember,’ she whispered.
The next moment she’d slid free of him and glided away. Before he could follow her, she was in the arms of another partner.
Renzo went to sit at the edge of the patio, where he could watch her. His mind was reeling with the impressions chasing through it. Had he understood her properly? Would any woman tease about such a thing if it wasn’t true? Did he dare to believe her?
A dead man, Luigi had said. But not any more. Even the thought of making love to her was bringing life back to a body resigned to a half existence. It was strange and thrilling in a way he’d thought never to experience again. And his pretty little cat had done it with the merest flick of her tail.
Now the sight of her dancing with other men was as electrifying as it had been the first time. Did she know that? Of course she did.
She glided past, giving him a challenging look that he couldn’t mistake. He returned it in full measure, then moved determinedly among the dancers to claim her.
‘Hey,’ protested her partner. ‘You can’t do that.’
‘Watch me,’ Renzo said simply.
‘Don’t tangle with him,’ Mandy advised the young man. ‘He knows what he wants.’
As she said it she smiled at Renzo in a way that made him grasp her firmly and swing her away.
‘You never said a truer word,’ he told her. ‘And what I want now is to know where you’re leading me.’
She stopped, giving him the same look as a few minutes before, full of promise, daring, provocation.
‘All right,’ she said, taking his hand. ‘Let’s find out together.’
She moved him away, keeping hold of him, making him her prisoner as he’d threatened to make her his. But no prisoner had ever been more content. She could sense that, just as she could sense the jealous stares of the other women as they passed. They knew she’d secured the most desirable man in the place. They knew where she was taking him, and what they were going to do. And every one of them was burning with envy.
She had never enjoyed anything more.
Ferrini appeared, laughing, understanding.
‘My car will take you home,’ he said. ‘Look after him,
