Page 17 of Forbidden Noble
The car stopped in front of a three-tiered estate home that was much nicer than his own and very well-kept. Clara grabbed his arm. “There's something I wanted to talk to you about before we see our friends.”
He motioned for the driver to close the door and asked, “What’s that?”
She met his gaze and her eyes seemed full of… emotion as she said, “You have a reputation with women.”
“Before you,” he said fast.
His father’s love for another woman, her mother, was the poison that had eventually destroyed him. He’d never let Clara or any children if they had them believe they were second choice.
Her eyebrow quirked. “So that means you’re willing to be faithful?”
He was a good negotiator so he traced her side and said, “As long as you keep the bedroom doors open between us, I won't glance at another.”
She lifted her chin. “Or sleep with another?”
A laugh escaped his lips. “No sex. No touching inappropriately, anyone but you.”
He gently pinched her backside. She beamed at him and her smile lit up the limo. “See Astorre, there you go, proving you’re a great guy.”
He could never let her see the full truth of who he was, but he reached for the door to let the driver know they were ready. “That I’m not, but let’s go in now.”
She scooted out and took his hand as they stepped on the driveway, smiling as if she was really happy. He wanted to make sure that she was always taken care of and happy like this. It was the best he could do as she’d never understand the monster inside him.
Chapter 7
Astorre let her hand go the moment they made it up the front step of the huge manor house.
The door opened and her friend rushed to her like she’d actually been missed.
Clara hugged her best friend and the closest person she had to family though they weren’t blood, and hadn't been raised together.
Astorre massaged her back and then went to greet his friend, Stephano.
Rossie had been the only person who actually cared about her for a while now.
So yeah, Clara should have called, or listened to the twenty-six voicemails. But at the time, she’d thought the one person who knew her best would remind her that life had to return to normal. That Clara would have to go home to Miami.
She owed her best friend an apology.
Rossie walked with her, arm-in-arm, as the men followed them into the huge home. Rossie brought them to a side room with plush blue chairs.
Rossie’s husband pointed to another room, and Astorre winked at her. He was attentive and sweet with his silent question as he gazed at her. She waved for him to go and the two men disappeared into the next room.
Rossie closed the door and Clara was enveloped in blue from the blue chairs facing the window to the blue tapestry on the wall.
Her friendwouldhave a color-coordinated house. For years Rossie had talked about color schemes for her wedding business so her house would be no different. Clara perched on the edge of a blue cushion. Rossie quickly sat beside her and studied her face like she was staring at an alien when she said, “Clara, you’re glowing.”
She pressed her hand to her heart. Was it written on her forehead, what she and Astorre had done? Clara avoided Rossie's gaze as she shook her head. “That’s silly.”
Rossie took her hands and squeezed like they were still sisters and Clara hadn’t ignored her for twelve days. “But you are. There's something different about you.”
Clara ignored the zip in her pulse as she studied the tapestry until she had the right words to change the conversation. “You’re being dramatic, when you’re the one that’s clearly happy.”
Rossie’s expression showed her excitement--flushed cheeks, sparkling eyes, but her friend had always lived how she wanted. “I know everything with Stephano was fast but we’re settling into our lives now and it’s been very nice.”
“I can imagine.” Rossie lived without hesitation--her best friend had taken on the world with her effortless style.
Clara ensured her new silk black dress was still straight as Rossie bounced in her chair and said, “Well, I’m dying to see your new husband’s estate, Clara. Stephano has taken me to quite a few empty mansions so that I can get a sense of how the others live--then I can decorate to my heart's content, but we never went to either of yours.”
