of bewilderment in his eyes.
And that was when Gemma knew he felt it, too. This strong, enduring bond between them that was turning her life upside down, forcing her to reevaluate who she was and what she wanted from her life.
“Okay, I’ll come.”
His eyes lit up. He raised her hand to his lips, turned it over and placed a soft, seductive kiss inside her wrist. “You won’t regret it.”
Gemma gave him a look of disbelief. Of course she was going to regret it. But she couldn’t let the chance to spend a few more days with him pass.
Poseidon’s Cavern, the resort on Kalos, was magnificent. At the centre of the main resort complex Angelo had installed a giant tank filled with sea creatures and fish. Walking through the lobby, she was drawn to the tank to stare at the rays flapping past the viewing windows.
“This is fantastic.” She turned to Angelo. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“I brought you here before. Doesn’t it stir any memories?”
Gemma’s excitement dimmed and she shook her head, hating the lie that she’d trapped herself in.
“Don’t worry. Later I’ll show the rest of the complex. There’s a bar and a restaurant with a fabulous view of the tank. They were designed to feel like part of an underwater grotto. Aside from the theatre and cinemas, there’s a water theme park to keep you busy. On the south side of the island we’ve used the underwater caves in the theme park and we’ll take a ride through them tomorrow. It will be a little cool this time of the year, but it’s spectacular down there and it’s something that we hadn’t completed last time you were here.”
“That’s sounds lovely.” But the best part was that it was an experience where she wasn’t following in Mandy’s footsteps. She wouldn’t have to worry about how her twin had reacted.
Not that she was worried about Angelo working the truth out any more. If he hadn’t twigged by now that she wasn’t Mandy, but her twin sister, it was unlikely that he was going to discover the truth. But she couldn’t allow this to go on.
A week, she decided. She’d give herself a week. And then she’d tell him. That night she made love to him with the fervour of the damned. Afterwards he looked at her with a question in his eyes.
When Angelo disappeared the following morning to his all-day meeting, Gemma took one look at the overcast sky, then spent a couple of hours examining the enormous tank inside the resort and reading the plaques about the occupants. Later in the morning she made her way to the heated conservatory pool where she was stunned by the sight of Jean-Paul tanning himself beside a svelte blonde.
“Cherie.” He leapt up when he saw her. Gemma turned her head, and the kiss intended for her mouth landed on her cheek.
“Has Apollonides allowed you out your cage, pet?”
His words riled her. “Looks like you’ve acquired a pet of your own.” Gemma gave the blonde a meaningful look.
“She is nothing. I’d drop her like a hot potato if you showed any interest.”
His faked heartbroken expression made Gemma glare at him. “You’re a wicked man.”
“Who loves to do wicked things, remember?” His voice dropped to husky intimacy.
She didn’t want to go there. “I don’t want to remember.”
“Ah, the big fish pays better. How can I blame you?” Jean-Paul sounded philosophical. A waiter materialised at his elbow. “Ah, pull up a lounger for the lady. Gemma, let me order you something to drink and we can catch up on old times.”
Gemma wasn’t that keen to catch up on old times but she badly wanted to quiz him about Mandy. So she opted for a coffee-and so did Jean-Paul’s companion whom he introduced as Birgitte. She turned out to be Swedish and, besides having a wonderful figure, appeared to be thoroughly nice. Gemma couldn’t help regretting her pet crack. After they’d finished their coffees Birgitte took off to the nearby spa.
“Are you ready for a swim?” Jean-Paul asked.
“In a while.”
“I’m sure it won’t be long before Apollonides arrives-and he won’t like finding you in my company.” Jean-Paul looked pleased at the prospect.
Men! Gemma gave a mental headshake. “Angelo doesn’t own me. He said I could drink with whom I liked.” But apprehension shivered through her.
“If he pays your bills, he owns you. That’s how a man thinks.”
“How awful.” Gemma took the gap he unwittingly provided. “Speaking of bills, after my last encounter with you three years ago my credit card suffered more damage than I expected. I must have gambled more than I’d intended.”
“You’re calling it gambling now?” Moreau shot her guarded look and Gemma’s interest picked up. He knew.
She gave him an enticing smile. “What would you prefer me to call my little secret, hmm?”
“Cherie, better to keep quiet about that. Apollonides might not be happy about your little habit.”
So Angelo hadn’t known. Or at least that was what Jean-Paul believed. Gemma frowned. That was not the impression Mandy had given Gemma before her death. I loved him, he ruined me.
“Did you share my little secret?” It was a shot in the dark. The memory of her sister’s wan, sunken face, her listless eyes, her shaking hands still haunted Gemma.
Jean-Paul’s gaze sharpened. “Why are you asking me these questions?” His eyes dropped to the shirt over her swimsuit. He pushed the buttons aside.
“Hey, what are you doing? Take your hands off me!”
“Sorry…I thought…it doesn’t matter.”
But Gemma put it together. “It was you. You introduced her to the drugs that killed her.”
“What do you mean her? And what are you talking about, saying I introduced her to drugs?” Jean-Paul’s gaze darted around, examining everyone in the immediate surround.
Gemma realised her indiscretion. She’d nearly given away the fact that she was not the woman he thought she was. She couldn’t afford another slip like that. “You were the source, the supplier.”
“But, cherie.” He stroked his hand along her thigh. “You know all-”
“I don’t remember. I had an accident, I lost my memory. So don’t cherie me.” She smacked his hand away. The way he’d touched her chest made sense. “You thought I was wearing a wire. You’re scared of being arrested.”
A flash of fear flitted through his eyes. “I’ll deny it. Everything. You’d be stupid to start this. You’ve got Apollonides eating out of your hand.” He gave an acid laugh. “I never thought I’d see the day that he took you back into his bed. Not after what he saw. He must want you badly. Funny, I didn’t think you were that special myself.”
Gemma’s stomach turned. She felt ill.
Oh, Mandy…how could you?
As Gemma had gotten to know Angelo, she’d come to wonder how Mandy could have cheated on him. Jean- Paul’s words made it clear that her sister had climbed out of Angelo’s arms into the Frenchman’s. Angelo was convinced there’d been other men, too. Maybe he was right. And he believed she was Mandy.
Pain twisted deep inside her. Well, she could hardly object. She’d led him to believe she was her twin. She couldn’t blame him for that. But she hadn’t given a damn about Angelo at the start of her deception, when she’d arrived on Strathmos. She’d believed him to be the bastard who’d gotten Mandy hooked on hard drugs.
But she’d been mistaken.
It wasn’t Angelo who started Mandy down her path to destruction…it was Jean-Paul.
Revulsion swept her as Jean-Paul smiled at her, over-familiar and over-expectant. She had to get away from him. He’d ruined her sister’s life, caused her death. Mumbling an excuse, Gemma hoisted her tote over her shoulder and scooted off the lounger, desperate to find a place where she could be alone to think about what she had discovered.
One thought kept festering: how could she ever set her relationship with Angelo right?
Nine
