Romance Of A Lifetime

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Dark brows rose curiously. ‘Are you over here to work?'

Her mouth firmed. ‘Not exactly,’ she avoided; visiting her mother's boutique while in Venice was merely saving her mother the trip later in the year, not exactly working herself. ‘Are you here on business or pleasure, Mr Craven?'

‘If I'm truthful I'm not really sure any more,’ he bit out tersely, seeming to relax with effort, although some of the tension remained in the smile he gave. ‘But let's not think about that,’ he dismissed. ‘If you don't wish to return to your hotel just yet maybe we could have a cool drink somewhere instead?'

Persistent didn't even begin to describe this man, Beth realised wearily. Why her? That was what she still didn't understand.

She had never been led to believe that her looks were such that they would cause a man to be this insistent, and she was well aware of the fact that at the moment she didn't look her best anyway, her face and body too thin rather than fashionably so. Not that it seemed to have deterred this man!

‘Mr Craven—–'

‘Marcus, please,’ he cut in smoothly.

Leaving her little choice but to reciprocate! ‘Beth,’ she supplied abruptly, far from pleased at this continued invasion of her privacy.

His gaze lingered on the delicacy of her face. ‘Its pure simplicity and beauty suit you,’ he said slowly.

Beth had never thought about it one way or the other—it was just her name.

‘Tell me,’ he frowned. ‘Where do you live on the Isle of Man?'

It was such a sudden change of subject that she could only blink up at him.

‘You said you're Manx,’ he reminded at her silence.

In self-defence, she remembered! ‘I am,’ she acknowledged shortly. ‘But I haven't lived on the island for several years,’ she admitted with regret. ‘I live in London now.'

His mouth twisted. ‘Of course.'

Why ‘of course'? She actually wasn't that impressed with living in London any more; in fact one of the things she had come away to decide was whether or not she should move back to the home of her childhood. She had been very reluctant to come to any major decisions while feeling so unsettled within herself, but she certainly wasn't being given any time to just sit and contemplate the problem with this man constantly about!

‘It suits me for the moment,’ she dismissed offhandedly. ‘Now I really would like to go back to my hotel.'

Marcus nodded. ‘I'll walk with you.'

She turned to him, her eyes blazing. ‘I've said that isn't necessary!'

His mouth twisted derisively. ‘I'm going back there myself anyway.'

Beth looked up at him searchingly, seeing the truth of what he said in his eyes; he was staying at the Danieli, and knew she was too!

She was starting to long for the impersonality and anonymity that existed in London, was literally being driven out of Italy by this man!

‘Suit yourself,’ she said ungraciously, turning to walk towards the salmon-pink and white building that faced across the lagoon a few yards away.

‘I usually do,’ he murmured softly at her side as he managed to keep up with her despite her brisk pace.

Beth didn't doubt that for a moment. Accustomed to dealing with arrogance at its worst, even she found this man incredible in his forcefulness. He took her breath away!