Irresistible You by Victoria Connelly Page B

don’t get to spend much time with her.’
    ‘You’re staying here ?’
    ‘Yes. You don’t mind, do you? You’ll get more work done without me hanging around, you know you will. And we can always meet up for lunch or dinner,’ she said, trying to be as persuasive as possible.
    ‘God!’ he sighed. ‘I don’t know why I bothered coming!’
    ‘Yes you do,’ she said, aware that she had to change his mood pretty quickly or else they’d have another scene on their hands and Rosanna was bound to walk in right in the middle of it. ‘It’s because you love me.’
    His frown eased a fraction and she wound her fingers through his hair.
    ‘Okay,’ he said at last. ‘I’ll book a hotel. But , I want to see you every day. I don’t want you disappearing on me like you do back at home.’
    ‘Whatever you say, Lord Reuben!’ she smiled. His name was Reuben Lord but, with his slightly pompous nature, she’d always thought Lord Reuben far more suitable.
    ‘All right if I have a shower?’ he asked. ‘Mr high and mighty wouldn’t begrudge me that, would he?’
    ‘As long as you’re quick. There are towels under the sink, but only take one. I don’t want Rosanna having an excuse to get worked up.’
    Reuben groaned. ‘God, I’m only having a shower. I’m not throwing a wild party!’
    ‘I know. I know! It’s just – well – you don’t know what Rosanna can be like.’
    He bent down to give her a kiss. ‘And you’ll get into something slightly more attractive, okay? I’m going to take you out to dinner.’
    Elena hadn’t really brought anything suitable for dining out in as she hadn’t planned to do anything but eat pizza. She went upstairs and opened the wardrobe, whistling as she saw the collection of clothes. Rosanna had moved in good and proper.
    Elena’s hand pushed through the rich velvets and sumptuous silks. She was spoilt for choice. Besides, she reasoned, Rosanna hardly ever wore any of it which was a great shame because she could look like a movie star when she put her mind to it, but she chose to wear nothing but neutrals during the day. Elena had lost count of the number of black skirts and white shirts Rosanna owned. Occasionally, she’d break out into blue but nothing got more exciting than that, which was why Elena was so surprised to find crimsons, amethysts and golds in the wardrobe.
    She pulled out a long velvet indigo dress and held it up for inspection. It was lucky that they were the same size because Elena didn’t have the sort of money to buy such nice things at the moment.
    She was just pulling the dress over her head when she heard voices downstairs. Rosanna was back. And she was talking to Reuben.
    Elena rushed out of the room and ran down the stairs as quickly as was possible in the tight dress.
    ‘Rosanna?’ she called. ‘Is that you?’ It was a silly question but she just wanted to stop her from talking to Reuben.
    ‘Yes! Of course it’s me! Who else could it possibly be?’
    Rosanna was standing in the middle of the living room, her hands on her hips and a deep frown etched across her forehead. She was staring at Reuben who was wearing nothing but a towel. And a scowl.
    He turned and glared at her, his eyes dark and full of anger.
    ‘Elena – who the hell is Mark? ’
    Elena’s heart beat faster than was healthy as she stared at Reuben. ‘What’s she been saying to you?’ she asked.
    ‘Does it matter what Rosanna’s said? I want to hear what you have to say, Elena!’
    ‘He says he’s not Mark, Elena, yet he’s engaged to you!’ Rosanna cried. ‘How can this be? I don’t understand!’
    ‘Shut up a minute, Rosanna!’
    ‘Don’t you tell me to shut up! I go out for five minutes and come back to find a naked man in the apartment. A naked man who says he’s your fiancé but who says his name’s Reuben! I need to know what’s going on here!’
    ‘So do I!’ Reuben shouted, his arms folded across his bare chest and his dark hair dripping down his