an offer of comfort from the one you trust the most.”
Maybe Romano was trying as much to convince himself as Sonnie. Chris didn’t blame him for wanting to hold her, but he didn’t quite believe she trusted him the most, as Romano said; in fact, he’d put money on her wanting to get rid of him.
There was a pause in conversation from the other side of the bougainvillea. Chris rubbed a hand over his mouth. Had she accepted Romano’s offer of “comfort”? “Well, baby,” he murmured softly, “if you buy that one, I’ve got a real nice bridge for sale.”
He didn’t want to think of her in Giacano’s arms—or any man’s arms.
Now there was a confusing admission. Ah, he’d flipped into protective mode; that was all. For a tough man, he’d always been weak when it came to letting women open doors for themselves, or carry their own bags. Too bad. He guessed he must be one of those Renaissance men people spoke about. There were definitely some who referred to him as a “throwback,” not that he thought they were complimenting him.
“Very well,” Romano said. “Perhaps it will take time for you to remember the trust we have shared.”
She hadn’t let him get his clammy paws on her.
“I will stay here with you. If you are searching for some clue to Frank—not that I can understand why you would choose this place—but if you are, I will help you.”
Sonnie didn’t answer.
“You were never sure of yourself. It will be good for you to know there is a man in the house.”
Chris held absolutely still.
“I’m quite sure of myself,” Sonnie said. “I’ve had to learn to be.”
In any other circumstance, Chris would have cheered.
“I am glad you feel so,” Romano said. “I will help you become even more sure—while we try to help each other. But this decision of yours to come here is not, er, easy to understand. If, as you insist, you came here to be alone, and you are not involved with someone else, then we must examine what has happened in your mind.”
Those words brought Chris to attention.
“I have enough of my things to manage for some days. Then, if I can’t persuade you to leave with me, I must send for more. I will take the bedroom nearest to yours and Frank’s, just in case you need me in the night.”
Damn the slimy little bastard, Chris thought, setting his teeth. In case she needed him in the night for what?
“That wouldn’t be a good idea.” Sonnie was barely audible. “I have neighbors. People talk.”
“But, my dear—”
“No,” Sonnie said, with more force. “You can’t stay here. I suggest you go back to New York. We’ll stay in touch, and the moment I find out anything useful, I’ll call you.”
“I will do as I have said and remain here.”
“You will not stay in this house, Romano. It’s not that I wouldn’t love to have your company, but I can’t. If you insist on being in Key West for a while, you’ll have to find another place to stay.”
“How can you say that?” Anger edged those sexy, reasonable Italian nuances. “You wound me, my dear. It is exactly as I feared. You are not yourself. Very well, I will stay at the club. At least until you stop being afraid of gossip. But I insist that we bring in a doctor to examine you.”
“Examine me?”
“You knοw you are not ready to be without medical supervision.”
“Are you talking about bringing in a psychiatrist?”
The man laughed. “Leave these matters to me. I will call the Sunset shortly and arrange for a room. A good thing we kept up our membership.”
In other words, he did intend to try to make Sonnie submit to some psychiatric examination.
“There will be no doctors brought here,” Sonnie said. “I’d like to be alone now.”
“Alone is the last thing you should be. It’s obvious I must care for you. I will call your father and he will agree with me.”
Making sure he made plenty of noise with his boots, Chris walked to the next corner of the house and stepped out.
Maybe Romano was trying as much to convince himself as Sonnie. Chris didn’t blame him for wanting to hold her, but he didn’t quite believe she trusted him the most, as Romano said; in fact, he’d put money on her wanting to get rid of him.
There was a pause in conversation from the other side of the bougainvillea. Chris rubbed a hand over his mouth. Had she accepted Romano’s offer of “comfort”? “Well, baby,” he murmured softly, “if you buy that one, I’ve got a real nice bridge for sale.”
He didn’t want to think of her in Giacano’s arms—or any man’s arms.
Now there was a confusing admission. Ah, he’d flipped into protective mode; that was all. For a tough man, he’d always been weak when it came to letting women open doors for themselves, or carry their own bags. Too bad. He guessed he must be one of those Renaissance men people spoke about. There were definitely some who referred to him as a “throwback,” not that he thought they were complimenting him.
“Very well,” Romano said. “Perhaps it will take time for you to remember the trust we have shared.”
She hadn’t let him get his clammy paws on her.
“I will stay here with you. If you are searching for some clue to Frank—not that I can understand why you would choose this place—but if you are, I will help you.”
Sonnie didn’t answer.
“You were never sure of yourself. It will be good for you to know there is a man in the house.”
Chris held absolutely still.
“I’m quite sure of myself,” Sonnie said. “I’ve had to learn to be.”
In any other circumstance, Chris would have cheered.
“I am glad you feel so,” Romano said. “I will help you become even more sure—while we try to help each other. But this decision of yours to come here is not, er, easy to understand. If, as you insist, you came here to be alone, and you are not involved with someone else, then we must examine what has happened in your mind.”
Those words brought Chris to attention.
“I have enough of my things to manage for some days. Then, if I can’t persuade you to leave with me, I must send for more. I will take the bedroom nearest to yours and Frank’s, just in case you need me in the night.”
Damn the slimy little bastard, Chris thought, setting his teeth. In case she needed him in the night for what?
“That wouldn’t be a good idea.” Sonnie was barely audible. “I have neighbors. People talk.”
“But, my dear—”
“No,” Sonnie said, with more force. “You can’t stay here. I suggest you go back to New York. We’ll stay in touch, and the moment I find out anything useful, I’ll call you.”
“I will do as I have said and remain here.”
“You will not stay in this house, Romano. It’s not that I wouldn’t love to have your company, but I can’t. If you insist on being in Key West for a while, you’ll have to find another place to stay.”
“How can you say that?” Anger edged those sexy, reasonable Italian nuances. “You wound me, my dear. It is exactly as I feared. You are not yourself. Very well, I will stay at the club. At least until you stop being afraid of gossip. But I insist that we bring in a doctor to examine you.”
“Examine me?”
“You knοw you are not ready to be without medical supervision.”
“Are you talking about bringing in a psychiatrist?”
The man laughed. “Leave these matters to me. I will call the Sunset shortly and arrange for a room. A good thing we kept up our membership.”
In other words, he did intend to try to make Sonnie submit to some psychiatric examination.
“There will be no doctors brought here,” Sonnie said. “I’d like to be alone now.”
“Alone is the last thing you should be. It’s obvious I must care for you. I will call your father and he will agree with me.”
Making sure he made plenty of noise with his boots, Chris walked to the next corner of the house and stepped out.
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