Page 59 of Dante
"You have not answered my question." Folding her hands over her breast, she lifted her chin. "You can always make the announcement that it's over."
The only sign that he was angry was the tightening of his jaw. Leaning against the bar, he crossed his legs at the ankles and sipped his drink slowly.
"Either you're spoiling for a fight, or hormones are getting the better of you."
"Oh, I am indeed spoiling for a fight." Her eyes flashed as her own temper surfaced. "You damn well took over every aspect of my life. In a flash, you decided... oh, let's tell everyone about us and you mowed me down to do so. And then you left me to deal with the backlash."
"And I apologize for it. There was a bloody crisis, and I had to deal with it. I don't appreciate you speaking to me that way. And I'm not used to explaining myself to anyone."
She shoved up from the sofa, eyes blazing. "Get used to it. I never asked for any of this. You pushed this... you started everything and now it's out there. And I'm not some empty-headed bimbo that I'm going to sit back and meekly agree with everything that comes out of your mouth. I..."
Her hand flew to her mouth and the expression on her face had him straightening. Before he could move towards her, she was already racing in the direction of the bathroom with him behind her.
She had her head in the bowl, by the time he got to her. Kneeling behind her, he stroked her back as she retched.
"Go away," she murmured weakly when she was through.
"Not a chance." He continued to stroke her back. "Finished?"
"Yes." She leaned back against him and closed her eyes, stomach raw and bruised.
Lifting her up, he took her to the sink and filled a glass of water for her to rinse. She handed him the glass when she had gotten rid of the bitter taste inside her mouth.
Scooping her off the counter, he strode into the bedroom and put her upright on the pillows. "I'll make some tea." He had stocked up on different blends as well as some plain broth in case she was sick. He turned around as he reached the door and stared at her. In that moment, he knew without a shadow of a doubt that he wanted the child she was carrying to be his. And he was going to give him or her his name.
He hadn't been sure before... had been willing to accept the baby because it was a package deal, but now he knew that he wanted it.
"To answer your earlier question. I want everyone to know about everything. No regrets and no backing out. We're in this together for the rest of our lives. Don't you forget it."
She stared at the empty doorway and felt her heart turning over inside her chest.
She had insisted on having the dinner at her home, where she had not been for more than a week and after several arguments back and forth, had won, which was something, she thought resentfully. Going up against Dante Livingston was like going up against a brick wall. The man was as stubborn as a mule. And what was the sense of buying her a new car when she didn't get to drive it? He insisted on her riding with him every morning. And he waited on her even when he had a meeting.
The press release had gone out and the reporters were chomping at the bit with the story. Of course, her past had been pulled out and compared with his. One reporter was calling it 'a match made in heaven'. They had also paraded all his former lovers or women he had been photographed with in the past, something she was not pleased about.
Michael had called her as soon as it hit the press and asked to speak with her in person. She had been putting him off, but he was insisting on speaking with her.
"The press is hounding me asking why I'm not involved with you and what prompted the break," he complained. "It's messing with my life Court, and I insist on meeting with you."
She had told him she would think about it.
Now here she was, inside her tiny living room with the two men in her life, facing each other across the dining table and looking like boxers in a boxing ring. She had gone all out and made her famous potato salad, pumpkin rice and chicken parmesan. And a salad.
"I love my sister very much."
"He knows that." She placed the bowl between them.
"You've been on your feet long enough." Dante snagged her hand to keep her in place.
"I'm almost done."
"You're done now. Your brother and I don't need to be entertained." He swung his golden gaze to the man across from him. "Do we?"
"On that we agree." Caleb drawled. "Sit honey. I'll get the dessert."
"I can..."
"No." Shoving back from the chair, Dante marched her to her seat and practically shoved her into it. "The deal we made was that you would not be doing so much cooking. That's why you should have had this dinner at our place."
