‘Including you?’

‘You’re damn right, including me. And when we were outside you lured me on to kiss you, then backed off, leaving me looking a fool-and feeling one.’

‘Now wait a minute! It was you who lured me on, just to prove that no woman was immune to you, not even me. You admitted it.’

‘I did what?’

‘You said, “since you saw through me so easily…I might as well give up.”’

‘Well, of course I did!’ he exploded. ‘I had to say I hadn’t been serious, to save my face. I was going crazy wanting to kiss you, but you’d just been leading me up a blind alley and having a good laugh.’

‘And that’s just what you were doing. Making a point.’

‘Give me patience. I was the victim there.’

‘Well, you got your revenge, didn’t you, the next night,’ she countered.

‘What in heaven’s name did I do the next night? You were poorly, I massaged you to make you better. And I never put a hand out of place, so why are you complaining?’

‘Because you never put a hand out of place,’ she said furiously.

‘Did you want me to?’

‘Give me patience! It’s like trying to get through to a brick wall. Something stares you in the face and you can’t see it. And what’s funny?’ Renzo had given a snort of laughter.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said in a shaking voice. ‘It’s you talking about seeing what’s staring me in the face. Can you see anything?’

The darkness was black around them, but in her indignation she’d actually forgotten it. Now she was seized with longing to see him, but all she could do was reach out, touching his face, feeling the amusement that shook his body.

Had there ever been a man like this one? They were teetering on the edge of annihilation and he was laughing.

‘I don’t need to see you,’ she said. ‘I know you’ve got that wicked look, and you’re making fun of me-’

‘Making fun? After what you’ve put me through? Mandy-’

His voice changed as her fingertips brushed his lips.