Page 46 of 2 Books in One Bundle

Connie stared. ‘But...but wearemarried,’ she said.

Dante lifted a hand, then dropped it. ‘That’s our business—and no one else’s. I’m not going to tell the world what I was forced into doing. The only person who knows other than my grandfather’s lawyers is Raf. And I want to keep it that way,’ he said tightly.

There was irritation in his voice, in his face. More than that—a taut sense of frustration. Resistance. Resentment.

Rejection of what he’s been forced into.

A word formed in her brain. Brutal and stark.

Denial.

She felt cold to the bone, but Dante was still speaking.

‘That’s why I’ve kept you to myself,’ he said. ‘I don’t want any talk or speculation—let alone having to make explanations. Like I’ve said, it’s no one else’s business!’

His expression softened, but the cold was still running in her veins. He dropped a light kiss on her upswept hair, then relaxed back again. He was cradling his brandy glass in his cupped free hand. The other was warm on her shoulder as she sat nestled against him. But the warmth of his hand did not penetrate the coldness filling her.

Nor did the words he spoke now, his voice becoming ruminative.

‘The thing is, you and I have had to cope with a situation that neither of us would have given the time of day even to consider in normal circumstances. But we were forced into it. If I could have got my inheritance any other way, I would have. And if you could have protected your grandmother any other way, you would have. Neither of uswantedthis marriage, and the consequences have been a challenge for us both in different ways.’

His voice softened, warmed. Yet there was no trace of warmth in her.

‘You’ve been a godsend to me, Connie. You know that. And I hope you know just how much I appreciate what you did for me, agreeing to my proposition. I meant what I said—that after everything you’ve been through, caring for your grandmother, you deserve to have a wonderful time now.’

He dropped another light kiss on her hair, and then crooked his head forward to reach her cheek, brushing it with gentle affection. His eyes met hers, and in them she could see what had always before set her melting.

But now—now everything seemed frozen. As if a glaze of ice had formed over him—and her. Chilling her to the core.

‘And you don’t need me to tell you how fantastic this time with you has been,’ he said gruffly.

He took another slow mouthful of his brandy, drawing a little away from her so he could see her more clearly.

His eyes held hers. ‘I want you to know that, despite Raf’s idiotic remarks, I completely respect that you have your own life to lead and that you want to make a career for yourself—whether in publishing or academia or anything else you choose. We still have another good few months of our marriage to run before I can safely avoid any legal challenge by my grandfather’s lawyers, but you absolutely must not feel under any obligation whatsoever to stay in Italy with me till then. Whenever you want to head back to the UK, just say the word.’

He brushed her lips with his, and Connie could taste the heat of the brandy on them—a heat that was in his eyes as well. Which was strange, because her lips felt frozen, just like the rest of her.

‘Of course I’m self-indulgent enough to hope that won’t be too soon. Let’s definitely pack Amalfi in!’ A thought clearly struck him. ‘And with winter heading our way, how would you feel about checking out the Dolomites? Have you ever been skiing?’

Connie swallowed. ‘No...never...’ she said. She managed to get the words out through stiff lips, but she didn’t know how.

Dante smiled in satisfaction. ‘Then why not give it a go? The Dolomites are spectacular in their own right. We could have Christmas there, maybe. What do you say to that?’

She didn’t answer. Couldn’t. Could only give the briefest of flickering smiles and clutch her liqueur glass in fingers that were suddenly numb.

Like her insides...

Dante was still talking. ‘The best snow is after the New Year, mind you. And maybe after Christmas we’d like a taste of heat again—to head for warmer climes. The Seychelles, Mauritius, the Maldives... Loads to choose from. And plenty of time in the next four months or so to do it before we need to think about our divorce.’

She heard him speaking, but his voice seemed to be coming from very far away, across a gulf that had without warning opened up like a chasm between them. A gaping, jagged chasm into which she was falling, falling, falling...

And she could do nothing at all to stop it.

CHAPTER EIGHT

THEPALMSOFConnie’s hands were moving slowly, sensuously, across the planed smooth torso of Dante’s chest, the tips of her fingers tracing every contour of his perfect, honed musculature. Her head dipped to let her lips follow the path of her fingers. She heard Dante groan dimly from the pleasure she was giving him.

She was making love to him. Making love to him with all the dedication and all the devotion that filled her.

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