Lorenzo's Reward. CATHERINE GEORGE
“Before he met me Roberto was very partial to sexy blondes. He’ll melt at the sight of you.”
And in doing so impart some information about his companion at the pub, maybe. Unknown to Leonie, Jess had secretly jumped at the chance to go out. She felt oddly restless. Wedding fever, she decided, as she neared the outskirts of the town. Until recently a committed relationship of any kind had held little attraction for her, except as something far off in the future. But since Leonie and Jonah’s reunion a gradual feeling of discontent had crept up on her, a hankering after something different from the no-strings, light-hearted arrangements she’d preferred up to now. But the fleeting encounter with the dark stranger had jolted her into a sudden longing for the kind of relationship Leo had with Jonah Savage. Not that she was likely to achieve that in the foreseeable future, Jess thought irritably as she picked her way across the gravel of the Chesterton car park.
Relieved to find that Roberto Forli was nowhere in sight for the moment, Jess made for the bar, and spotted the tall figure of Jonah Savage talking to the barman.
“Jess,” exclaimed Jonah, smiling, his green eyes alight with welcome as he came forward to give her a hug. “Sexy haircut!”
“Hi, Jonah. Glad you approve.”
“You look positively edible. Shame I’m promised to Another,” he teased. “What can I get you?”
“Just some fruit juice, then I must go straight back.”
Jonah gave the order, then leaned close to Jess with a probing look. “So tell me. How is she?”
“Leo’s fine. A bit emotional when she remembered the earrings, but otherwise in perfectly good nick, I promise you.” Jess nursed her sister’s secret with hidden glee as she sipped her orange juice. “How’s the groom?”
“Nervous as hell. God knows why,” he added, “marrying Leo is all I’ve ever wanted since the day I met her.”
“I know.” Jess drained the glass, feeling edgy, for once wanting Jonah to make himself scarce so she could find Roberto and get her apologies over and done with. “Thanks, Jonah. Must dash.”
He looked surprised. “Why the rush? My parents hoped you’d come to the flat for a drink. My aunt’s with them.”
“Sorry, I must get back to Leo. The earrings were a vital necessity before the bride could go happy to bed. Give the three of them my love.”
“Jess,” said Jonah, frowning. “Are you being straight with me? You’d tell me if something was wrong?”
She laughed indulgently, and reached up to pat his cheek. “Scout’s honour, the blushing bride can’t wait to sprint down the aisle to you. But we all want an early night tonight. Ditto for you, too—you can stay up late tomorrow.”
Jonah grinned. “I seriously doubt that.”
“Spare my blushes, please!” she retorted, fluttering her eyelashes.
“Jess, I really appreciate your coming all this way for Leo’s sake,” said Jonah as they left the bar. “Drive carefully.”
“I will.” She returned his affectionate hug and kiss with warmth, took the box he gave her, and stowed it carefully in her bag. “Must make a pitstop before I go back. Don’t wait. See you tomorrow, brother-in-law.”
Jess waved Jonah off, then hurried off to the cloakroom, needing to make a few repairs as self-defence before she went in search of Roberto Forli. But no search was necessary. When she returned to the foyer, lips re-touched and hair in place, he was waiting for her. And he had company. Jess’s heart gave a great lurch, missed a couple of beats, then resumed with a force which made her feel giddy. She felt hollow, hardly able to breathe, the blood pounding through her veins at a dizzying rate as she recognised Roberto’s companion.
Like Roberto, he wore a pale linen suit, but his hair was thick and dark, and the unforgettable black eyes held hers with the look Jess had persuaded herself she’d imagined. A faint smile played at the corners of his mouth while she gazed at him mutely, for the first time in her life struck completely dumb.
“Will you not introduce us, Roberto?” said the stranger at last, his voice deep-toned and husky, with a hint of accent which accelerated Jess’s pulse to an alarming degree.
“I will do so at once, before she runs away again.” Roberto, who had been looking from one to the other with narrowed eyes, bowed formally. “Miss Jessamy Dysart, allow me to present my brother, Lorenzo Forli.”
Jess murmured an incoherent greeting, and Lorenzi Forli took her hand and raised it to his lips. Jess disengaged her hand swiftly, and forced her attention back to Roberto. She had met him only once before, when she’d played an unwanted third at dinner in this very hotel the night Leonie had informed Roberto Forli she was marrying another man. Then, they had spent a pleasant hour together after Jonah had arrived to take Leonie home, and Roberto, despite the circumstances, had been charm itself to Jess. Tonight, however, his manner was hostile. Nor did Jess blame him for it.
“I’m glad to see you again, Roberto.” She held out her hand to him. “How are you?”
He took the hand and bowed, unsmiling. “I am well. And you?”
His chill courtesy made it difficult to embark on the apology she was very conscious that he deserved. “I’m fine. I came on an errand for Leo. My sister,” she explained, turning to Lorenzo.
“I am acquainted with the beautiful Leonie,” he informed her. And Leo had never thought fit to mention him?
“How is the bride?” asked Roberto. “Radiant and beautiful as always?”
“Even more so at the moment,” Jess informed him.
Roberto’s eyes flickered for an instant. “Ah, yes. You know I am invited to the wedding?”
“Leo told me. But I was surprised you’d want to come,” she said frankly.
Roberto shrugged his shoulders in the way Jess remembered well from their first meeting. “I was coming to your country at this time for other reasons.”
“Is it a business trip?” asked Jess. “I’ve forgotten what you actually do, I’m afraid.”
“We are involved in hotels,” said Lorenzo, moving closer. “Miss Dysart, please drink a glass of wine with us.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t,” said Jess with deep regret. “I’m driving, I must get back.”
“We saw you with Leonie’s fidanzato.” Roberto informed her, his eyes bright with unexpected malice. “But he left before we could congratulate him.”
“I came to collect some earrings from Jonah,” said Jess. “Leo’s wearing them tomorrow, and he’d forgotten to hand them over.”
“Neither your brother nor your father could do this?”
Jess stiffened at his tone. “They wanted to,” she said shortly. “But I had my reasons for coming myself.”
“Of course you did,” said Roberto with open sarcasm.
“Enough, Roberto,” commanded Lorenzo. “Rejoin the Ravellos. I will escort Miss Dysart to her car.”
Roberto, obviously about to protest, received a quelling look from his brother, and reluctantly acquiesced. He nodded coldly to Jess. “Please give my—my regards to Leonie. Arrivederci!” And before she could embark on her apology he strode off.
“There’s something I must explain to Roberto,” began Jess in a rush, and would have gone after him, but Lorenzo Forli took her arm.
“Leave him.”
“But he’s obviously put out with me—I need to apologise for running away that day in London,” she said, ignoring the fact that Lorenzo Forli’s touch seemed to be scorching through her sleeve.
“Roberto