Page 97 of Sinful Promises

The kids seated around the table were as loud as their parents and weren’t shy at all. Half the time their parents were scowling at them—the other half the parents were practically bursting with pride.

Every time Roman leaned into my ear to translate something he also touched his hand to my thigh, sending delightful shivers up my spine. I’d officially fallen into a wholesome Disney movie. It was even more delightful than I could possibly have imagined.

I had every intention of impressing Mamma by eating everything that was loaded on my plate. But boy oh boy, if I thought I was a good eater . . . I wasn’t a patch on Roman’s sisters.

I was so full I could barely move. When the desserts started coming out, I was in trouble. If I ate another thing, Roman would need to roll me down the stairs.

A cake smothered in cream and toasted flaked almonds was placed in front of me, and maybe I groaned or something because Roman glanced at me and frowned.

Placing his hand on my thigh, he said, “We should sneak away.”

I chuckled. “I think they’d notice.”

He scrunched up his nose, doing that thing that made him look extra cute. Roman stood. “Okay, sorry, everyone, but Daisy and I have some unfinished business to get to.”

“Oh, unfinished business is it?” Donatella tapped her nose. “Is that what you call it?”

A blaze of heat raced up my neck, but it wasn’t from embarrassment—it was the exhilarating implication of what she thought we’d be getting up to.

I hoped she was right. But at the same time, I doubted I could even get up the stairs.

“Goodnight, everyone,” Roman said.

“Buona notte,” I added and Mamma and Papà grinned at me.

Taking my hand, Roman led me to a set of stairs that were lined with about a hundred photos. Family pictures dominated. Most were of the kids in all stages of their lives . . . babies, toddlers, teenagers, playing, swimming, fishing.

Halfway up the stairs, I paused at a photo that made my skin crawl. I skidded to a halt. It was Roman with a woman who looked exactly like me, except for my red hair.

The smile fell from Roman’s face when he saw what I was looking at.

“What the hell?” I hissed. “Is that Caterina?” I didn’t need an answer. The way they were hugging each other and Roman’s horrified expression confirmed it was.

“Is that why you like me? What am I? Her replacement?”

‘Dais, please, come to my room. I want to explain.”

I hesitated, anger boiling in my blood as I stared at my dark-haired double. Her eyes were the same, her lips, even her freckles. All this time, I’d questioned how a man like him could be interested in a woman like me. And there it was, in a glossy six by nine. I was his answer to the woman who had broken his heart. Now I knew why everyone was looking at me so weirdly. And why that woman in the café had called me Caterina.

Roman squeezed my shoulder, and I jerked away.

“Please.” His pleading eyes matched his request.

I allowed him to lead me upwards, but every step was like wading through wet cement.

He opened the door to his bedroom, and I barely noticed anything except the large bed. He would have shared that with Caterina. Bile rose to my throat. I was his backup plan.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

Roman tried to coax me to the bed. Instead, I planted my feet in the middle of the room, crossed my hands over my chest, and clenched my jaw.

“Dais.” He reached for me.

“Don’t. I can’t believe this. How could you do that to me? I trusted you. I believed in you. I . . . I.” My voice cracked. “I believed there was an us.”

He backed away and sat on his bed. “Please come sit with me. I want to explain.”

“No!” I clenched my teeth so hard it hurt.

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