Gio’s throat thickened because the truth was there in her stricken face and defensive pose. He’d never before felt ashamed of his actions.
‘I’m sorry, Stella.’
Why hadn’t he trusted his instinct? Could it be because from the start he’d sensed Stella was different? He’d responded to her differently. So he’d been extra wary, falling back on distrust and suspicion.
‘But…’ he caught her eye ‘…I never lied about being attracted to you. That was real,isreal. What happened here yesterday…’ He waved towards the salon where he’d taken her on the grand piano. Despite his remorse, that memory made his groin tight.
‘That could have been revenge. A power-play.’
Horrified, Gio shot forward in his seat, elbows on his knees, hands clasped as he leaned closer. ‘No! Absolutely not. It was…necessary. I wanted you from the first. I still want you. Like you still want me.’
Her soft gasp confirmed it, as did her expression. She pressed back in her chair as if distancing herself from the truth, but Gio was having none of that. He’d worked for months to deny this truth and it was a relief to set it free. He felt some of the weight lift off his shoulders.
‘Don’t deny it, Stella. I’m not bragging, just doing what we should have done from the start, being frank.’ He watched her digest his words. ‘Between us we’ve created a difficult situation—’
‘Difficult!’ Her laughter held a stark edge. ‘It’s a nightmare!’
‘So we’ll untangle it. For ourselves and our child.’
He waited for her to snap that it wasn’t his baby but she remained silent. His heart smashed against his ribs. Was that tacit agreement, or a refusal to commit herself?
‘Tell me, Stella. What was it your father wanted you to do? What sent you running to Rome?’
Once again she looked past him, as if the view held the answer to every question. When she looked back he recognised the determined set of her features.
‘I’ve done all the explaining. It’s time to do your share. You can begin by telling me why you and my father hate each other. If it weren’t for your feud, none of this would have happened. What did he do to make you think he’d go to such lengths as spy on you?’
Astonished, Gio stared. ‘You don’t know?’
‘Would I ask if I did?’
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
‘It’s not mehe hates. It’s my family.’
‘But you have no family. Just distant cousins.’
Stella watched Gio’s grim expression lighten. ‘You remember that?’
Of course she remembered. Every detail of their time together was branded in her brain. She blinked, reading what might have been eagerness in those grey eyes.
Before today she’d have thought it impossible, but after what had just passed between them, and his apology, she wondered if he felt the way she had when he’d recalled her night-time jogging.
She’d felt a tendril of warmth unfurl inside. As if his remembering meant he cared.
It was so hard to keep her distance from Gio. Physically, mentally and emotionally. Even through her outrage at him snatching her from the wedding, her feelings for him were jumbled. And intense.
She’d seen and heard the change in him when she’d explained her trip to Rome. There’d been regret and guilt, and he’d been horrified when she’d accused him of having sex as some power game. That had moved her, for it had been obviously real.
Or was wishful thinking clouding her judgement? But what had he to gain with lies now? Her intuition had been sharpened by the last few traumatic months and her inner voice urged her to listen and give him the benefit of the doubt.
He’d misjudged her and apologised. Frankly, she’d lived with her father and brothers so long she wasn’t used to apologies. That alone set him apart.
She hated that her expectations had lowered so much.
Was it possible she’d misjudged Gio as he had her?
She wasn’t sure anything excused his actions, but she was desperate to understand.
