Page 49 of Secret Admirer
He closed the space between them and her lips tingled with hope. He said, “I… wanted this… us to be different than the others.”
“Why?” Every cell in her body alerted, waiting for his answer.
He pressed his forehead to hers and said, “Because I… I’m lonely. I didn’t know that until you showed up.”
And that had nothing to do with her. He didn’t care. She detangled herself and adjusted her bag on her shoulder. “Well, I’m sure the next woman that comes into your life today will be able to fix that. I want to be with someone who loves me.”
His lips thinned as he stared at her. “I can never be that man.”
“I see that now.” She nodded and this time she didn’t shed a single tear.
“I’m sorry.”
She couldn't go back--she straightened her spine but glanced over her shoulder. “See? That’s twice now you’ve apologized. I guess I got something from you after all.”
He put his hands in his pockets and said, “The driver will take you wherever you want to go.”
Hollow didn’t begin to describe her. She ached at the loss of what might have been. She accepted the driver’s offer to take her to her house. It might not be grand, but it was hers and she’d be safe there.
Chapter 16
Perhaps Bart should have stayed in Italy and never come to Miami.
Or bought this place. He paced his house again and glanced at the walls.
Who honestly cared that he could thumb his nose at his father now that the man was dead?
Perhaps it was stupid to think he could move here and not feel small.
And partly unwanted.
Bart's shoulders slumped like they had the day his mother had died. Sorrow had engulfed him.
This was similar. He stepped into the bedroom--Rebecca haunted the place.
The bed smelled like her.
The shower still had her ghost in the droplets of water and her rose and lavender scent.
Everywhere was Rebecca and yet she was gone.
His doorbell rang and he pulled himself together.
It was time for his family to help him celebrate his first Miami home. Hopefully they would help him forget Rebecca, and love, and trust, so that he could be himself again.
Gio arrived with a bottle of his personal wine from his villa and his smiling bride, Kiwi. Lorenzo carried a fruit tray. Anthony brought his usual scowl and nothing else. And then his sister, Aurelia, beaming joy as she balanced a cheese selection. She was last, but the moment she entered, she asked, “Bart, where’s Rebecca?”
The rest of their brothers and Kiwi found seats on the sofas in the living area.
Bart crossed his arms and said, “She left me.”
“She left you?” Aurelia pushed the cheese tray at him.
He put it on the side table, closed the front door, and motioned for Aurelia to join the others. “Yes. It’s fine. Come in.”
“And you’re fine?” She didn't budge.
Aurelia had been Rebecca’s friend for a long time, but only because their father had cruelly stolen her away. He ignored the pinch in his neck and said, “I know she was your friend, Aurelia.”
