“All right,” she managed to say lightly, even though doubts pounded in her chest. She opened her mouth to ask him if he still loved the woman he hurt, but hesitated. At this point, she wasn’t sure if she’d like his answer.
Chapter Seven
“There he is. We finally see you. Where have you been?” Bacchus Rhodes said in that lively tone so typical of him.
It was nice to see that even though his father had started to experience health problems recently due to high cholesterol and blood pressure, his spirits were still high.
Theo glanced around his parents’ living room. Every Saturday, a couple dozen of the Rhodes family had lunch at his father’s place, and even the generous amount of cousins and longtime friends of the family didn’t threaten to crowd the spacious area. With French doors leading to the terrace overlooking the sea, the place always looked spotless and the hosts always ready to entertain.
If only he could have brought Amaya. A stab of guilt bothered him, and he scratched his shoulder where she had touched him the previous night. Damn it. This morning, she’d understood when he’d said he had a commitment he couldn’t miss. After their failed attempt to have sex, they’d slept together. Sharing a bed with her had been better than expected, and he’d almost woken her up in the middle of the night to make love. But something held him back. The frown on her face when he’d started inching inside her popped in his head, the vivid memory changing his mind. Maybe we’ll do it when we least expect it. Without much planning.
He supposed he could have skipped the family lunch, but he’d already avoided his father enough during the week and didn’t need to make it worse.
“I’ve been busy.”
“Too busy for your papakis?” Bacchus said, using the word Theo hadn’t used to call his father since he’d turned into a teenager. “Your mom is in the kitchen, and I invited Viskos today.”
Frustration tensed his shoulders, and he stretched to his full height. “Why?” he asked, though he knew his father and Faustus Viskos, Talia’s father, probably wanted to resume these get-togethers to start talks of wedding plans. From the start, Theo had insisted he wanted nothing more than a quick arrangement at the courthouse, and Talia had agreed. Why pretend they were sharing a loving marriage based on mutual affection for each other and have family and friends witness?
“Why not? They haven’t been over in a few months, and now you’re marrying Talia—”
“Not for another couple months,” he said, unable to keep the irritation from his voice.
“It’ll go by quickly. You’ll see. We’ll get control of our company again, and you’ll be tied to the best family in the country.” And everyone would live happily ever after. Everyone but him, and probably Talia.
Acid spilled into his stomach. He’d always wondered if Talia hated the agreement as much as he did, not that it made any difference. He’d never made a promise he hadn’t kept—and he wasn’t going to start breaking them now.
Still, the image of Amaya unraveled in his mind, even as he walked and tuned out whatever his father said. The previous night hadn’t ended the way he envisioned, but he treasured the moments he spent with her. A smile curled his lips, and a tremor coursed through him, stirring him from top to bottom. Amaya made him…feel things, things about the ordinary stuff he never thought about. He wanted more of those things. Hell, he needed more of her. Right now. Why not? He’d spend the rest of his life tied to a pragmatic marriage. “Actually, I dropped by to say hello. I have other things to do and can’t stay.”
“What? You’ve just arrived,” Bacchus said.
“Yeah. I’ll say hello to Mom. Then I’m out.”
Bacchus scratched his chin. “Why? What am I going to say to Viskos and Talia? I told them you’d be here.”
“Tell them I’m busy. I’m not married yet. I don’t owe anyone explanations,” he said and marched into the kitchen.
Even though a cook minded the heavy-duty stuff, his mother still oversaw everything, wearing an apron to prevent staining her nice dress.
“My darling,” she said, setting the pot on the counter and rushing to give him a hug. “It’s so nice to see you. How are you?” she asked in a sweet voice she’d managed to keep even after decades of a very pragmatic marriage. His heart squeezed a little, and he didn’t know why. He’d always thought of his parents as a united front from a strong marriage.
“I’m good.” He kissed her cheek. “Wanted to say hello before I head out.”
A glint of surprise came into her hazel eyes. “Already?”
“Yeah, I have some stuff to do.”
“They are coming,” she said, nudging his elbow. “I scheduled a lunch with Talia next week to get to know her better.”
“Seems like you’re invested in getting to know her better than me.”
She glanced around, then stepped closer, tilting her head to the side. “Shhh. Don’t say that, my darling. She’ll be your wife soon. Why don’t you take her out?”
Frustration clogged his throat. If it had been his father making the suggestion, he could have been a lot more abrasive, but his kind mother didn’t get it. It had been instilled in her to make a good, prosperous marriage since childhood.
He kissed the top of his mother’s head, squeezing her shoulders. “When I take Talia on a date, it’ll be my decision.”
“Of course. I’m reminding you—”
