‘I’m sorry. I should’ve told you sooner but I come out in a rash when I have to tell Mum’s sad story. People get tired of hearing about it and it depresses them. Tabitha and I have learned not to talk too much about her treatments and prognosis. Mum’s been ill for years now. My grandfather made us feel about an inch high when we asked him for help. It was humiliating…and, of course, at the end of the day it may prove to be wasted money because thereisno guarantee of a positive result,’ she advanced awkwardly.
‘I understand but that money being demanded in advance of the wedding gave me a poor opinion of you and coloured my whole attitude towards you,’ Tore framed with barely restrained anger, his lean, strong face taut. ‘My mother’s sister only took me on because I was the egg laid by the golden goose. Without my money, she would never have fought to keep me. But at the same time, she resented the burden of a young child in her life. Naturally, I have a low opinion of those who will do anything for cash.’
‘Naturally,’ she echoed weakly, striving not to cringe at that admission as she sipped her coffee. Belle fixed little fingers to Tore’s knees and settled big brown eyes on him, begging him to lift her.
‘She’s a very pretty baby,’ Tore commented, grabbing her up. ‘And she already knows how to use those eyes of hers.’
‘She already knows they work on you. No, don’t give her your phone,’ Violet urged. ‘Because she’ll create merry hell when you want it back. Let her wander and explore.’
‘The only thing she wants to explore is that poor dog.’
Even so, he let her daughter down again and watched her stumble like a determined little drunk across a flower bed. There was a chorus of complaint from her when they put her back in the stroller. Tore bought her a wooden train in one of the workshops and she made a fair approximation of thechoo-choosounds he taught her before she dropped into a nap. Tore exchanged greetings with various acquaintances, stopping occasionally to introduce Violet and chat for a few moments.
In the faded denim jeans that fit his lean, powerful frame like a glove and a casual blue linen shirt, his silver hair glittering in the sunshine, which accentuated his classic features, Tore looked heartbreakingly beautiful. Just glancing at him quickened Violet’s heartbeat and sent the blood racing through her veins as a wicked pulse of arousal assailed her.
They strolled back to the villa in the sunshine, although Tore was the one strolling with Violet walking at a faster pace than normal to keep up with his impossibly long legs. ‘Slow down…it’s too warm for this much exertion.’
Tore sent her a smouldering look from hooded eyes. ‘I’m sad to hear that. Possibly, I was looking forward to a little afternoon delight,’ he teased.
A flush warmed her already warm body. They had been intimate every day and in every place possible. Nobody could say she had been half-hearted or less than adventurous. Tore seemed to want her round the clock and she found him equally irresistible. More and more she appreciated that the moment she recognised the beginning of her emotional attachment should have been the same moment that she told him that sex should be taken out of their marriage. For her sake, not forhis. But she couldn’t have admitted that, could she have? Even she had her pride and preferred to conserve some mystery.
Tore Renzetti, however, was charming, consistently courteous and respectful. Always entertaining, great sense of humour, amazing in bed and in the shower and in all the other locations he had seduced her. He was no innocent but there was nothing fake about him. He gave her gifts all the time. They couldn’t go out without him buying her something he believed she lacked, whether it be a new watch, a bigger handbag or the pool lounger of her dreams.
But she didn’t think that emotions came into their marriage at all for Tore. Which reduced her status to one of convenience, she acknowledged unhappily. He held her in his arms most nights, though. He was surprisingly cuddly and a fabulous father figure for Belle. He had barely worked since they’d arrived in Tuscany. He had made time for her. He gave both her and her daughter his full attention. A lot of women would kill for what he was already giving her in the husband stakes. Unluckily for her, she wanted love and longevity. She wanted him forever, no take-backsies, no divorce and he hadn’t signed up for that. And she was the total idiot who had invited him into bed and ensured that they got much, much closer in every way!
‘Have you ever been in love?’ she had asked one night, lying entwined in his arms in the shelter of darkness, asking one of those questions women always want to ask.
‘I thought I was when I was a teenager and it creeped me out,’ he had admitted.
‘Why did it repulse you?’
‘Just think about it. Having totrustsomeone to that extent. Fortunately for me, she slept with someone else before I got in too deep,’ he had explained. ‘I dodged a bullet. I still see her around occasionally. She’s already on her third marriage and she’s been faithful to none of her lovers. At heart, she’s reckless, changeable, disloyal and not my type at all.’
‘But you must’ve met someone more appealing since then,’ she had persisted.
‘I didn’t want to. I like my focus on work and if you have the kind of brain that focuses on a woman’s flaws rather than her virtues, it’s easy to avoid entanglements. I expect too much from people but at heart, I think I’m too cold and logical to fall in love. I mean, there’s nothing logical about love.’
And she hadn’t slept that night for ruminating on what he had told her, thinking of the fiery arguments they still had over silly things, of her own many flaws and the truth that she came with a dependent child. So she had suppressed her fears, had tried to lower her expectations and had attempted to just make hay while the sun still shone. Only now the sun was about to go down on their intimacy.
As they crossed the inner courtyard of the villa, Tabitha phoned her.
‘Just thought I should say…’ she began. ‘You know that social worker in charge of your adoption thingy. Catriona? She’s visited a couple of times, wanting to know where you were. I forgot to mention it. I told her you were on holiday on her first visit and she was happy enough with that but I had to be more honest the second time.’
‘Why? What did you tell her?’ Violet pressed worriedly as she paced and watched Tore carry Belle into the house.
‘Well, obviously, I couldn’t tell her the truth about the contract but I tried to be as honest as I could be,’ Tabitha explained. ‘I admitted that you’d got married and she was very taken aback that you hadn’t informed them of your changed circumstances. I thought you were only waiting for the adoption order to be ratified by the court.’
Violet flinched. ‘I am but this is my fault,myoversight. I didn’t once think of how this marriage would affect my standing with social services.’
‘I shouldn’t think it’ll be a problem. I mean, Tore’s young and loaded, perfect daddy material. But Catriona said they would have to vet him as well and see your new home.’
‘Vet him? Vet Tore?’ Violet exclaimed in horror. ‘Ican’task him to go through all those intrusive questions and interviews on my behalf!’
‘Don’t think you’re going to have any choice,’ Tabitha groaned with sympathy. ‘Now that you’re married to the guy, he has to be passed as a suitable parent, too. I’m sure he won’t be difficult about it. The two of you are getting on like a house on fire, and going by the photos you’ve sent me he’s clearly fond of Belle, so there shouldn’t be a problem.’
Violet flinched and muttered uneasily, ‘I don’t expect so but I’ll feel awful having to ask him because it’s not like it’s really any of his business when we’re not staying together. I don’t want him to feel obligated to do anything he doesn’t want to do.’
And how could she ask him to adopt Belle with her when they would only be in his life for such a short time? It wouldn’t even be fair to Belle to give her an adoptive father who would not be staying, she reflected wretchedly.
