Page 38 of Modern Romance Collection February 2025, 5-8

‘Did he? Well, obviouslythat’snot going to happen.’ Did that sound convincing enough? she wondered. She pulled away from him and took a step towards the breakfast bar, needing to put some distance between them. Because she still hadn’t heard what he wanted to ask and that was making her feel scared. She cleared her throat. ‘Now it’s your turn. You wanted to ask me something, didn’t you?’

He frowned, as if taken aback by her words. He probably couldn’t believe she’d steered the conversation away from the subject of marriage, which presumably would have had most women gagging to hear what he’d said in response to the elderly tycoon. In any other circumstances Kelly might have been among their number. But not now. Because the giant elephant in the room was threatening to trample over everything and yet Romano didn’t even know it existed.

‘It’s just that sometimes you look as if all the cares of the world are weighing down on your shoulders,’ he said softly. ‘Why is that?’

Kelly swallowed. ‘Is that what I do?’ she prevaricated, her voice cracking a little.

‘Sì.Especially when you think nobody is watching.’

His voice was gentle as she’d ever heard it but that was misleading. Thank God she had stepped away from him and could grip the kitchen counter with fingers which suddenly felt boneless. Because now she felt like the biggest fool in the world. Worse than a fool. What had shethoughthe was going to ask her?

To spend longer here with him?

Or had she thought he was going to take the elderly Italian’s advice and ask her tomarryhim?

Afterwards she would regret the way she said it—her unfounded disappointment colouring her delivery and making her words unnecessarily clumsy. ‘My period’s late,’ she stated baldly.

For a moment she thought he hadn’t heard her, because he didn’t say a word. But then she saw she’d made another major miscalculation because his powerful body had stilled, like a wild predator disturbed by an unexpected crash in the jungle. And when he spoke it was in a tone she’d never heard him use before, not even when he’d been at his most disapproving—clipping each syllable out as though they had been fashioned from unyielding chips of marble. ‘How long have you known?’

‘I don’t actually know anything yet. I haven’t done a test and—’

‘How long?’ he cut in.

‘When we were at thecastello—’

‘You mean you’ve known all this time?’ he demanded. ‘All the time you’ve been here? You must have thought about it at least a hundred times a day.’ He shook his head incredulously. ‘And yet still you said nothing?’

There was genuine appeal in her voice. ‘How could I?’

‘It’s quite simple, Kelly,’ he answered cuttingly. ‘You just open your lips and the words come out—the same ones you’ve just used. I’m not asking for a definitive answer but at least you could have done me the courtesy of sharing your fears.’ He gave a bitter laugh. ‘Though why should I imagine you would behave in a manner which could in any way be considered honourable? You’re a woman, aren’t you, who learnt to lie and deceive from the moment you first opened those big green eyes?’

The world tilted. His contempt was tangible and Kelly’s throat felt as if someone were pressing all the air from it. ‘How could I have forgotten what a cynic you are?’ she breathed.

‘Not a cynic,cara. Let’s just call it dealing in facts, shall we? But I’m curious,’ he added, his voice growing steadier now and somehow this new and icy calm was as intimidating as anything which had come before.

‘What did you think would happen, by not telling me?’ he mused. ‘That I would grow to find you indispensable? That all this time alone with me would allow you to showcase your many charms and enable you to seduce me—’

‘I thought we’d already done that bit!’

‘I’m not talking about sex!’ he bit out. ‘I’m talking about trying to worm your way into my life by showing me that domesticity isn’t necessarily a thing to be avoided.’

‘Wow. I’ve never been compared to a worm before—but I’ve certainly thought it about a few men in my time and I’m looking at one right now!’ she countered furiously. ‘And this isn’trealdomesticity, Romano—not with unseen servants drifting in and out, catering to your every need. It’s all make-believe. In fact, nothing about your life is real. You don’t have real relationships—not with your family, nor with your lovers. Everyone you deal with forms part of some sort oftransaction, don’t they?’

They stared at one another, both dragging in furious breaths. Suddenly he grabbed his phone and stormed out of the kitchen, and she could hear him getting his coat from the hallway before slamming his way out of the apartment.

She waited until she was certain he’d gone, until the vast apartment was completely silent, and then Kelly stumbled into the sitting room, her knees giving way as she flopped onto one of the giant grey leather sofas. She wanted to rage and howl and hurl some of the fancy velvet cushions against the walls, but she didn’t dare risk damaging any of the priceless artwork and, besides, what was the point? Who was she most angry with—him, or herself?

Why hadn’t she told him before?

She knew why.

Deep down wasn’t she just as guilty of playing make-believe as Romano? She’d wanted to hold onto what they had, without reality intruding. To carry on pretending this was a real relationship, instead of something calculated and temporary. But that was always going to be a doomed venture—like trying to preserve a bubble and prevent it from bursting.

So now what?

She looked around, knowing she couldn’t stay here, wondering whether she should just pack her bag and get a bus to the airport. She didn’t want to be seen to be running away, but what was the alternative? Meekly waiting for the angry tycoon to return home and hoping he would offer her a lift in his fancy limousine? Why, she’d rather walk barefoot to the airport than have to throw herself on his mercy.

Slowly, she made her way to the bedroom, the unmade bed testament to the passionate night they’d spent together, and Kelly despaired at the futile clench of her heart and the fact that her anger had been replaced by a sudden terrible sadness. Because, in the end, sex counted for very little, didn’t it? It might be a very enjoyable exercise, but unless there was some sort of shared emotion it meant about as much as going for a run in the park.Shehad been the one to read too much into it, who had silently nurtured her own hopes along the way. Had she thought she could help heal Romano’s wounded heart through intimacy? Did she think she was any different from all those other women who must have tried before? Her! Market trader Kelly Butler without a penny to her name.

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