‘Good, because I’d like to stand at your side and give my own version of events, if that’s okay with you?’
There was heavy silence for a good few moments and then he said stiffly. ‘If that would make you happy.’
‘It would.’
Perhaps she should be angry with Cesar but she had grown up with four brilliant brothers—brilliant in the sense of their keen, ever-seeking minds, and brilliant because they were so good to her—but they often saw no further than their noses, especially where matters of the heart were involved. ‘What time tomorrow?’
Cesar gave a time. She thanked him and promised to be there. Putting the phone down, she went to stare at her reflection in the mirror. Very nice if red eyes and runny noses were your thing. Not such a good look for a woman who was about to buckle on her armour to fight for the heart of a man she couldn’t bring herself to let go. Never mind what Cesar could do for her. What could she do for him?
He felt like a child on Christmas Day waking early to check that everything was as it should be when the moment came when gifts could be opened in a shower of discarded paper and laughter. A run, a ride, a workout in the gym, and a swim before his shower, and he was ready for what would be a very different day.
Dressed in riding gear, he greeted Sofia’s brothers in the arena. Sofia was already there, with his favourite mutt Bran at her heels. He took it as a sign. The hound viewed him with his big, intelligent brown eyes, assessing his mood as Cesar was assessing Sofia’s.
‘Good boy, Bran,’ he soothed as the dog trotted over to him. He dug out some treats.
‘Well?’ Sofia’s youngest and wildest brother Xander demanded, snapping a whip impatiently against his boots. ‘You called this meeting. What do the two of you want to talk about? We’ve got training to do.’
‘Cesar has asked me to marry him.’
Sofia’s voice carried clear and strong in the vaulted space. A good few seconds of deafening silence passed before Sofia’s older brother Raffa commented, ‘He must have enjoyed your article.’
‘I can do without your sarcasm, Raffa,’ she scolded.
Her brother shrugged.
The only four men in the world who could possibly, in a concerted effort, take Cesar down were staring at him as if his remaining time on earth would be short. That didn’t bother him. What did concern him was Sofia’s blood-drained face. She was standing in front of them at her most vulnerable. He lost no time reassuring her.
‘I’m here to ask you, Sofia’s brothers, to do me the honour of allowing me to ask for your sister’s hand in marriage.’ Pretty words could trip off his tongue when he was desperate. ‘I want to do everything properly,’ he explained with a long look at Sofia. ‘And in case you’re wondering, I’ve already asked Sofia to marry me and she said no. My timing was out, but I’ll make that right.’
‘If Sofia said no, that’s an end of it,’ Xander insisted, slashing a whip impatiently against his booted calf.
‘No.’ Sofia held up her hand as she stepped forward. ‘At least do Cesar the courtesy of listening to him—as I shall.’
‘So talk,’ Xander growled.
‘Have you engineered this proposal to spare you the accusations in the latest article?’ Raffa demanded suspiciously.
‘Of course not.’ He could state that with a clear conscience. ‘If there had never been an article, I would want to marry Sofia. For me, there’s no one like her. No one remotely close. And I love her.’ He had to hope he wasn’t too late. ‘Humble pie is not a dish I eat with any frequency,’ he admitted with a self-deprecating shrug, ‘but this is different, this is for Sofia, and I’ll grovel if that’s what it takes.’
‘My sister has brought you to your knees?’ Dante suggested, failing to hide his amusement.
‘She did,’ he confirmed. ‘I’ve promised myself to listen and act in future, rather than the other way around. I think we all know that your sister had nothing to do with those articles. My equerry, Domenico, is the culprit, and has been dealt with, while his master Howard Blake will be funding Sofia’s retreat, as well as any future retreats she cares to open, out of his substantial bank account.’
‘How on earth did you get him to agree to that?’ Xander remarked with a glance at his brothers.
‘I bought his company with a binding agreement that ensures Blake signs away part of those funds to Sofia’s retreats each year. So now all that remains is your answer...’
‘Sofia?’ Dante asked.
Not realising what he had arranged with Blake, Sofia appeared shocked numb, and could only nod her head briefly. ‘You did this for me?’ she managed finally.
‘Useless with words, better with actions,’ he confirmed with a smile.
‘I can’t believe what you’ve done!’ she exclaimed.
‘But it pleases you?’ he confirmed.
‘Securing the future of my work? Of course. I can’t thank you enough.’
