‘When he was nineteen, he overdosed. I don’t know if it was deliberate or accidental.’
Phoebe leaned closer. ‘I’m so sorry.’
‘I never forgave my grandfather.’ He’d never forgiven himself.
She nodded slowly. ‘Where is he now?’
‘He died a couple years ago. I didn’t go to the funeral. Didn’t see him after Dante, but I inherited…’Too many things from him. He inhaled sharply. ‘I sold his company as soon as I could.’
Her eyes widened.
‘The money’s in a charitable trust.’ He couldn’t have a cent of the man’s money when it was far too late to help Dante. ‘It supports various addiction groups.’
He couldn’t look at her. He didn’t want her thinking that was particularly good of him or anything. It was simply that he couldn’t bear to have anything to do with it. ‘There was something fundamentally missing in my grandfather.’ Inhimalso. A workaholism, a blinkered focus, obliviousness to true needs…
Edo had failed his mother. And he’d failed his brother. Twice. Because they’d meant to takehimand it was Edoardo’s fault they’d got Dante instead. But he couldn’t ever tell her that. ‘I can’t go through anything like that again.’ He finally met her eyes. ‘It’s why I never intended to marry.’
Her gaze filled with immense sadness. ‘But you’re going to be a father.’
His chest ached. ‘I never intended for that to happen either.’
‘But it has,’ she whispered.
He couldn’t even nod. He knew what he was saying was hurting her. He wished he could make things better, but he was fundamentallylimited. He wasn’t good enough. He was too poorly equipped to be responsible for anyone, let alone a fragile child. He could never offer anyone emotional security and he needed her to know that. And he couldn’t stand to be near her a moment longer. ‘I’d better not miss my conference call.’
Shame filled him as he walked away. But he’d meant it. He couldn’t allow anyone close. He couldn’t bear tofaillike that again.
The only thing was that she didn’t want that either. She’d never wanted to marry again—she wanted to be her own person. To do the things she wanted. Her face had lit up when she’d talked about her business plans. Same as when she talked about supporting her friends. And it was good their child had her because she was amazing. Phoebeflourished—even in a less than ideal environment.
He connected to the scheduled call, listened idly as a security consultant listed off initial possibilities to enhance security of her flat in London. He stared at the date on his desk calendar, distracted as something stirred in the back of his brain. In the end, he waved off the consultant, letting him know he’d be in touch. But he didn’t want to fix deadlocks to the doors and install cameras and panic buttons. It still wouldn’t be secure enough. He wanted her safer. He wantedmorefor her, even though he knewhecouldn’t be enough. But he wanted to make her life better in however limited a scope he could.
He rubbed his face, frustrated. She’d wanted the experience of living in Italy for a week, but she’d chosen quiet village life over other touristy or cultural experiences. Maybe that had been a money thing, but she shouldn’t have had tochoose. He could never let her fall in love with him, but she could love Italy. Maybe that would be something more. Because his estate could be a safe haven for a young child to grow up in—space, sunshine, a swimming pool.
Phoebe could be queen—hell, the staff already adored her—and she could run her business with brilliant efficiency from here. She could have her friends come to stay any time. Surely her life in London would pale in comparison to that?
He breathed out, invigorated. Maybe the least he could do was give her everythingItalyhad to offer.
CHAPTER TEN
‘CAN YOU TAKEa break for a couple of days? After all, it’s the weekend.’
Phoebe glanced up from the document that might as well have been written in gibberish for all she’d taken in. She’d been unable to stop stewing about what Edo had told her at breakfast. He was all she could think about and now here he was in the doorway, bringing all his intensity to her. And such trouble.
‘It’s Thursday,’ she answered blandly.
‘So we make it a long weekend.’ Edo flashed a smile but his eyes held a slight wariness. ‘Neither of us should work all the time. You’ve hardly seen Italy. Come see more of it.’
‘Why?’ she tried to query lightly even as her pulse leapt.
Because she knew he didn’t want to be a father, didn’t want to be a husband. So it was spending more time with Edo that would be dangerous for her. Already she was trying not to fall for him and pretty much failing. She’d besaferstaying right here, glued in front of the enormous computer screens he’d set up for her, only allowing herself to enjoy the physical relationship that he’d assured her would end soon enough.
‘I’ll show you some of our greatest treasures,’ he added. ‘Art, fashion, culture. There’ll be the bestgelatoof your life.’
He was almost playful, offering just a glimpse of the man he’d been the afternoon they’d met. So seductive. And she knew there was so much more to him.
‘Work-life balance,’ he added lightly, taking a single step into her office. ‘We’ll leave in the morning, so you have time to clear your paperwork.
Well,shehardly had that much to sort before she could walk away from her desk. But if someone in the room failed at work-life balance, it was the heartbreakingly handsome man tempting her right now. She didn’t really understand why he was asking her to do this—but if anyone needed a break,hedid, and she wanted to be the one beside him while he did.
