She couldn’t believe what was happening. He didn’t just struggle with loss but with guilt, and it was too much for anyone to bear. But he didn’t have to do it alone—she would be with him. Only he was determined to push her away.
‘I’m a passionate, caring person, right?’ She threw back his description of her. ‘Willing to go all in for someone.’
‘Willing to stay in my compound, surrounded by bodyguards, secreted away for ever?’ He pulled her to him, squeezing out what little breath was left in her lungs. ‘Phoebe?’
He gazed into her eyes and pressed her closer. He could mould her to him so easily. She shivered as he all but rummaged through her soul. And then—even more easily—she melted.
Yes. Shewaswilling. She quite desperately wanted to be with him.
His sharp inhalation pierced the warmth permeating her. ‘Only because you can’t get enough ofthis.’ He harshly released her. ‘Chemistry. Great sex, Phoebe. There’s nothing more to us than that.’
He flipped from sizzling to stone-cold in less than a second.
‘Last nightwasn’ta stress release,’ she threw back at him, sliced. Not for her. It had been connection and giving. And of course they were more than great sex. Her demanding that ‘honeymoon’ had been little more than bravado. She’d thought she could remain emotionally independent, but she’d been wrong. Everything had changed for her and honestly she couldn’t believe it hadn’t changed for him as well. Because he’d been unable to stay away from her too.
‘You’re willing to give everything up for me, Phoebe?’ he taunted cruelly. ‘Lose yourself for a man who’ll never give you what you want or what you deserve?’
She didn’t want toloseherself in him. She wanted to build alifewith him. This relationship was utterly different to the one she’d had with Ryan. Because this was Edo, and he was kind and thoughtbeyondhimself. ‘You have more to give than you—’
‘No,’ he interrupted. ‘I told you, Phoebe. Ican’t. I never promised anything more.’
It slapped. Hard. Edoardo Benedetti would never love her. He wanted her—temporarily—but wouldn’t love her. He didn’t want to attach to anyone. He deserved to love and be loved every bit as much as she did, but he’d encased his heart in stone. The way he’d played her just now wasexcruciating.
‘And you won’t even try?’ she asked even though she knew the answer. Not for her. Not for anyone. And that wasnotgood enough for theirchild.
‘Why would you sacrifice everything to settle for so little?’ he said.
‘It’s not what I’d be doing,’ she said, with sudden clarity. ‘The person I’m willing to sacrifice everything for is our child.’
His mouth thinned. ‘Don’t use the baby to blackmail me into what you want.’
‘As if you didn’t do that to me?’ She shot back. ‘And for what? A piece of paper you’re going to do nothing with. You’re abdicating your responsibilities. Well, you don’t get to choose which little parts of parenting you get to perform.’
‘Actually, that’s exactly what I get to do.’
‘Not with me. Not with my child.’ She snarled. ‘Mychild should havemore. Not suffer a thousand cuts while trying so hard to get their father’s approval or attention, and never being able to, because you’ll never stay long enough, never visit enough. You’ll neverbeenough for this baby because you’re not actuallyinterestedand I don’t want my child going through that.’
‘All or nothing, is that what you’re saying?’ He glared at her. ‘Is this an ultimatum?’
She tossed her head. ‘Yes.’
His eyes were like ice chips. ‘Then it’s nothing.’
‘Just like that?’ She chilled. He would walk away fromeverything?
‘Yes.’
Wow.She steeled herself. She’d suffered rejection so many times, but this was the absolute worst.
‘I got you something. Not that you’re going to need it.’ With shaking hands, she took the cheerfully wrapped present from her bag and set it on the table. She’d seen it when walking past the boutique shops this morning and had been unable to resist buying it for him. She’d been stupidly nervous about it, actually—had hoped he’d understand her intention.
But he didn’t even look at it, let alone open it. He just stared at her.
‘Get me on the first flight to London,’ she said. She wasn’t sticking around to suffer for a second longer.‘Now.’
CHAPTER TWELVE
SHE DIDN’T HAVEto wait for the first flight because Edo sent her back on a private jet only two hours after their horrific argument—that was how determined he was to get her out of his life as quickly as possible. He’d removed himself moments after their fight and reappeared only when all arrangements had been made. That meant two bodyguards went with her. No softening. No apology. No kiss goodbye. He’d just brusquely told her he’d be in touch. Her present had still been on the table as she’d walked out.
