[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.’‘Oh…I thought you were comparing me to…’Kira’s voice sounded very small suddenly, as she became aware of how little she really knew this man.His eyes burned with cold fire.‘No.Never.’Kira’s mind worked with the speed of light.She pieced together enough hints to know this was a delicate area.‘Were you very close to your sister?’ she risked, pretending to be busy with her meal.‘We were inseparable.We had to be, on the streets.She had no one else to protect her.’He dropped his fork with a clatter.Kira looked up sharply.Elbows on the table, his fingers were netted in front of his mouth as though to stop any more words escaping.‘Maria was very lucky to have a brother like you looking after her,’ she said, hoping to sidestep the awkward subject.Stefano was not so tactful.‘It was people like me who made the streets dangerous in the first place,’ he muttered.‘I don’t think so.’ Kira tried to pacify him, but she was desperate to hear more.‘You must have been different, even then.You told me how you started your own business.’‘Maria’s death was the only reason I changed.’He stopped talking, and looked up to meet her eyes.He saw only sympathy and willingness to listen.Taking a deep breath, he continued, his voice hoarse and seeming to force the words out.It was the first time he’d told anyone the truth for more than twenty years.‘She was killed when a raid on a shop went wrong.She hadn’t wanted to go—I convinced her, saying it was “for the good of the family.” It was my fault.From that moment on I vowed to turn my life around, and I did.’‘Maria would be really proud of you now.’Stefano exhaled so heavily all the candle flames fluttered.‘I’m not so sure.When I decided to go straight, I made a clean break.Since her funeral, I haven’t spoken to any members of my family.I turned my back on them all when I abandoned that way of life.It was the only way to get out.The last time I saw any of them was when I was acting as a witness for the prosecution.’Oh, why did I have to open my big mouth? Kira thought desperately.She wanted to reach out and comfort him, but didn’t dare.Where would that lead for either of them? Placing her knife and fork carefully on her plate she hoped for inspiration.None came.Instead, Stefano sprang to his feet when he saw she had finished.Collecting the remains of their meal, he carried it out to the kitchen.Kira fought the impulse to follow him.She desperately wanted to apologise for raising the subject, hold him, share his pain and tell him everything would be okay.It was impossible.Stefano wasn’t that sort of man.Expecting an agonising wait, she was relieved when he came back almost immediately with a confection of tropical fruit sorbets.They glittered like jewels set in crystal dishes.‘There are sponge cakes and wafers, too, in case you share Maria’s appetite as well as her temper,’ he told her, sounding perfectly normal.There was no trace of the anguish she expected.All the self-control was back in place.Astonished, Kira looked up into his gaze.He was expressionless again, but something in her questioning face seemed to relax him.‘You’re right, Kira.There are plenty of things about my life of which Maria would be proud.I’d never thought of that until you said it.’‘Wasn’t it obvious?’ she said as he placed the delicious dessert in front of her.‘No.I’d genuinely never considered it.All I focused on was losing her, and then the rest of my family.I knew there had to be more to life than crime and handouts.I made myself master of my own destiny.Working gave me an outlet, and an escape.I channelled all my frustrations into learning as much as I could about my own city, and then other places, as I climbed the ladder to success.That single-minded toil dulled the pain, but it left an awful void.Maybe that’s why I’m never satisfied.’He drew back from her suddenly.‘I’ve never told anyone that before,’ he added, with such an air of surprise Kira couldn’t help smiling.‘Then thank you,’ she said softly.On impulse, she stood.Before either of them knew what was happening, she kissed him on the cheek.Coming to her senses like a sleepwalker waking from a dream, she dropped straight back into her seat.Until a moment before, she had been ready to resist him.Now she didn’t know how she felt.In that same instant, Stefano made her confusion worse.He reached out and squeezed her hand.‘Let’s live in the present and future, not the past, Kira.’With a final pat he left her side and went back to his seat at the far end of the table.Much later, Kira lay back on one of the long, cream leather couches and felt a huge smile creep across her face.A threatened disaster was turning into the best evening she had ever spent.The rest of the night had passed in a glorious blur of conversation—the best kind.Sharing true thoughts and ambitions and dreams.She felt filled with utter happiness.A sound from the doorway made her sit up quickly.Stefano stood there, coffee in hand, looking at her.‘I didn’t mean to wake you,’ he said softly.Suddenly the sensual tension which had been disguised with words drew taut again.His gaze was serious, clouded and full of desire.‘It’s okay.I wasn’t asleep.’She stretched into a sitting position as he came towards her.‘You don’t have far to go,’ he said simply.Kira watched him placing things on the glass surface beside her.He wasn’t looking at her any longer, but her body jangled from his nearness.He turned his head suddenly and she was caught in his gaze, almost trembling.‘Kira, tonight has been fantastic.In fact, I can’t remember a night like it.’‘Nor me.’ She sighed [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]