‘My parents weren’t exactly rolling in money, Gabriel. They had enough for the things that mattered but definitely not enough to throw around on skiing holidays. My dad was always careful with money which is why...you know...’
‘I get it. Why the injection of cash you’ll be getting for this little escapade will be invaluable for him.’ Gabriel frowned, because for a minute there he really hadn’t liked being reminded that she was doing this for a reason, and that this pleasant little situation was all part and parcel of a business transaction.
‘You’re good for Ava, you know.’ He changed the subject. ‘She likes you. Feels relaxed around you. That’s something I honestly didn’t give a great deal of thought to when we began this charade.’
Abby didn’t say anything. Being reminded that what they had wasn’t real felt like a bucket of cold water being poured over her head, and that alarmed her, because the reality of this situation was not something she could afford to forget. Not for a second.
‘No, well...’ She shrugged. ‘Women tend to bond with women, and you know you can be a little daunting.’
‘Daunting,’ Gabriel mused. ‘Is that a compliment, I wonder?’
‘It’s true. I’ve spent a lot more time with Ava than I thought I would, and she’s in awe of her brilliant, charismatic grandson. You have to remember that you have that effect on people.’
‘Although not on you. Or maybe I’m wrong. Are you in awe of me?’
‘No,’ Abby said truthfully. ‘I’m not.’
‘It’s going to be tough when she has to be told that you and I are over.’ It was good that reminders were dropped that this was an artificial situation and one that had a very strict timeline.
‘But, in due course, she’ll meet the woman you really intend to marry and she’ll get along with whoever you choose just as well—probably better, because at least she’ll be able to really look forward to wedding bells and great-grandchildren.’ Something caught in her throat and she looked away. ‘Poor Ava keeps trying to coerce me into talking about wedding dresses and setting a date. She must wonder why I’m not more excited about the big day.’
Did he detect something in her voice? He remembered that she had been ditched by her fiancé. Of course, this would be hard for her, but he wasn’t going to get wrapped up in any long conversations about that. ‘It’ll become apparent when this is all over.’ He kissed her neck, tilting her head back, but for once Abby wasn’t distracted by her body and its responses.
‘How can you be so detached?’ She breathed, and she could have kicked herself when he stilled and drew back to look at her levelly, his dark eyes cool and assessing.
‘How do you imagine I should be reacting, Abby?’
‘I guess a little more emotionally, because sheisyour grandmother, and I know you love her very much.’
It was a passing statement, and it was fact, but suddenly Gabriel detected the sound of alarm bells because the way she’d said it, the easy acceptance of knowing him in a way that was bone-deep...
‘I’m detached because I haven’t lost sight of the ball,’ he said abruptly, shoving aside the unsettling suspicion that he had, a couple of times. ‘I’ve never seen my grandmother this energised, and I’m very happy about that, but it doesn’t mean that what’s going on here is real. It’s not.’
‘We’re sleeping together.’ Abby laughed nervously, ducking to one side and pushing off so that she could swim towards the step, giving herself some time to think and to organise the tumult of thoughts whirring round in her head like angry wasps. She threw over her shoulder, back in control, ‘But I understand what you’re saying.’ She gave him an uneven smile which felt forced. ‘Don’t worry,’ she laughed as her self-control gathered momentum and she forced herself back down to earth, ‘I’ve realised I’m very good when it comes to evading tricky questions without ever resorting to any untruths.’
‘I know,’ Gabriel said wryly.
‘You know?’
‘Well, you’ve managed to spend two years disapproving of my lifestyle without ever saying a word.’ He stood up and held out his hand. ‘Too much talking. My grandmother won’t be up for at least another hour—and, by the way, I approve of the way you managed to entice her into the water. I think she was beginning to nurture fantasies about turning it into a lily pond.’ He grinned and instantly forgot the uneasy jarring he had felt earlier on that their conversation had taken an unexpected turn.
‘Where are we going?’
‘Where do you think?’ He pulled her towards him, wet body against wet body, and kissed her with lingering thoroughness. ‘I can’t get enough of you.’
Same,Abby wanted to tell him, but she didn’t. She knew the rules of this game and, whilst he could talk about wanting her, she wasn’t sure how happy he would be if she became too expressive on the subject of wanting him back.
He enjoyed her cries of pleasure but there were many lines she knew she couldn’t step over, and she wanted to. She wanted to tell him how much she craved him and how much she enjoyed his company—his wit, his intelligence, the feel of his mouth on hers, the expression in his deep, dark eyes when they roved over her body, caressing it in a single look.
She wanted...
She wanted it all.
Heart beating like a steam engine, she followed him into the house, half-trotting along, their fingers linked together.
‘You’re all about the sex, aren’t you?’ she said huskily as soon as he had shut the bedroom door and swivelled round to press her back against it, too horny to make it to the bed without touching her first.
‘Sex works.’ Gabriel pulled down the bikini top and groaned as he cupped her breast in his hand and began playing with it, playing with her nipple, teasing it until it was a stiffened bud and she was breathing fast, sighing those little fluttery sighs that always managed to send his blood pressure through the roof.
