“Stop!” she snapped and jumped off the bed. Grabbing my bicep, she nudged me toward the door. “I mean, please. I don’t want to know the details. You don’t want me to hate you, do you?”
“No.”
“Good. Then let’s not speak of this again.” She unlocked the door and opened it. “I really am quite fatigued and would like to retire early.”
I couldn’t read her expression. Indifference radiated off her, along with something else… Perhaps she already hated me.
“We’re supposed to be getting acquainted with each other tonight. You didn’t even have dinner.” Why was I trying to convince her to let me stay? She’d just given me my freedom to be with Cara and probably any other woman I chose. I should be thrilled, but my feelings for her had started to change and now it felt like she had friend zoned me.
“Tomorrow would be better. Today was a lot, don’t you agree?”
I nodded and stepped out of her suite. “Very well. Tomorrow. Good night, Giovanna.”
“Good night, Alessio.” The door closed and I heard the clicking of the lock.
I stood there staring at the dark abyss that would soon be my future. She would probably want to have separate bedrooms, which my parents would hate. We’d be mocked in public for not being a real couple.
What would happen when we had children? Would they notice how icy Giovanna was to me? They wouldn’t see us being affectionate like I had seen my parents when I was a child.
What if they found out about Cara? They would hate me…
Dammit! I dragged my hand down the side of my face.
In a matter of hours, Giovanna Amano had me rethinking all my plans. I had no intention of falling for her but here I was doing just that… falling for her.
Except, she rejected me.
I would never forget the disgust on her face and contempt in her eyes. She thought very little of me now that she knew I had a lover, and rightly so. What the hell had I been thinking?
“What happened?” my father asked from behind me. “If you’ve fucked this up, I will make you pay.”
“I didn’t. She’s tired and I insisted she get some rest,” I told him, lying directly to his face. He’d never know the truth. Disappointing my father was far more dangerous than a small lie.
“She’s not getting sick, is she?” he asked in a concerned tone.
“No. Tomorrow we’re spending the day together.”
He smiled. “Good. Don’t let me down.”
“Never, Papà. I think she likes me.”
“Really?” Joy burst from his pores.
“I believe so.” I adjusted my collar. “You have nothing to worry about. We’ll be very happy together.”
He embraced me firmly. “I’m very happy to hear this. By this time next year, we’ll have a bambino in the house. Mamma will be over the moon.” He released me.
“If we’re lucky, we’ll have one before the end of the year. I want to get started right away.” If she hadn’t locked the door, I would march back into her room and get her under me. I would possess her all night, until she screamed my name like a prayer.
What had come over me was baffling. No woman had ever rejected me. Perhaps it was the feeling of loss that had me spinning out of control.
“Eccellente! I see no reason for waiting until your wedding night. The documents will be signed tomorrow, then you’ll be legally married. Just not in the eyes of the church, but that’s okay.” He winked and gripped my arm. “Make me a grandson.”
“Yes, Papà.” But there was one thing I needed to do and that was break it off with Cara. “Since my fiancée has retired for the night, I’m going out for a bit.”
“Why?” He furrowed his brow. “Or should I ask to see who?”
“I have some business, but don’t worry. I’ll be discreet.”
