Page 48 of The Roman's Woman (A Singular Obsession)

“No, not really,” he admitted as the elevator doors opened, revealing the penthouse foyer…and his father.

“Papà,” he said, taken aback. “You were supposed to come over with everyone later.”

His father was standing there in his favorite sweater vest and faded black slacks. He was a small man, around Sophia’s height, with dark hair that had gone gray at the temples. Gio resembled him, except for his size and stature.

“I thought I would meet your friend before everyone arrived,” Salvatore said, extending his hand.

The words were friendly. His father even had a smile on his face. But Gio knew the tone and it wasn’t good. Especially the emphasis “friend.” Also, Salvatore didn’t shake hands. He kissed on the cheek like any good Italian.

Gio had hoped his father would warm to Sophia on sight, but apparently it wasn’t going to be that easy. Salvatore had lobbied hard for him to marry Maria Gianna, and he still wasn’t ready to let the dream die.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Sophia said, a fixed and overly large smile on her face.

They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries about the flight. It was very polite and completely awkward. She fidgeted with her hair, which was still a little mussed from their lovemaking session on the plane, and then shot him a meaningful look over his father’s head.

Hopefully, his father hadn’t noticed. Gio offered him something from the bar and Sophia excused herself, presumably to find the nearest mirror.

Salvatore turned to watch her walk away. “She seems nice, although not in your usual style,” he said in Italian

“I don’t have a style,Papà,” Gio replied flatly, pouring himself a drink.

“All I am saying is most of the girls you’ve dated were on the thin side.”Like Maria Gianna.“And this new girl is…”

“Perfect the way she is,” he said in a noticeably colder voice.

“Maria is more beautiful,” Salvatore muttered.

Gio slammed his drink down on the mahogany surface of the bar. “Only on the outside.”

And it wasn’t true. Sophia was far more beautiful and exotic. She just wasn’t model thin and blonde.

“Mio figlio, I don’t have anything against this girl. I think it’s fine for you to spend some time with her for now. But eventually you and Maria Gianna will reconcile. I know there’s been some bad blood recently—”

“It’s more than bad blood. Reconciliation is not possible.”

“But—”

“No.”

Salvatore templed his hands. “Tobias and I were speaking about your problem. We think if Maria gets a little counseling, she can turn her life around. All she needs is a man to take charge of things, someone to encourage her to stay out of trouble.”

Unbelievable.They wanted him to be his ex-wife’s keeper. Didn’t his happiness matter to them?

“That someone is not going to be me.”

His father was not above pouting. “Think of my grandchildren.”

Gio put up his hands. “Any children that woman had wouldn’t have beenyourgrandchildren. Trust me on that.”

Behind his father, Sophia stepped out of the hallway, but after hearing that last sentence, promptly turned around and went to hide.

Passing a hand over his face, he decided it was time to tell the truth about Maria Gianna. It was long overdue. He couldn’t allow his father’s blind allegiance to the idea of him with his best friend’s child bias him against Sophia.

Salvatore drew himself up to his full and unimpressive height. “I'm aware there were rumors, but you can’t listen—”

“They were more than rumors. I caught her in bed with Vincenzo Gavazzi.”

His father’s face fell, the air leaking out of his tires until he sagged, seeming to shrink before his eyes.

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