Page 18 of The Convenient Cosentino Wife

Rocco glanced at Clare, amusement in his eyes. “Should we make it two times?”

She thought of the work waiting for her, and yesterday’s unanswered emails. The hotel manager in Galway that had threatened to quit. The decisions needing to be made after the staff management meeting yesterday morning. But then there was this beautiful son of hers who deserved all the happiness in the world. It was difficult sometimes juggling everything, but her son always came first. Every single time. “Yes,” she said, then laughed as Adriano jumped out of his chair and cheered. “But I need a half hour. Can we do that? Adriano, you need to go to Ava and brush your teeth and put on walking shoes. And Rocco—” she broke off, flushed.

“Yes?”

Clare shook her head, embarrassed, realizing she didn’t know what she was going to say to him, only that she’d wanted to include him. “Nothing. I’ll see you in thirty minutes.”

The massive castle was just two kilometers from the villa. It dated back to the sixteenth century, but before that, there was another fortification on the same spot, a fortress from the Middle Ages. The castle’s foundation rose high from the rocks, and the castle walls and buildings stood tall, pale gold stone outlined against the brilliant blue sky. Unlike somecastellosthis was intact, the heavy walls, smooth round towers and narrow windows beautifully preserved. As it was early and midweek there were very few tourists. Gio had accompanied them to the castle and he kept pace with Adriano as the child burst into a run as they entered through the front entrance.

Clare watched Adriano stop and examine a tall wood door, the door studded with iron. Clare and Rocco caught up to Adriano and then together they went through the door to the stairs that curved inside the tower. The stone steps were narrow and high and Rocco offered his hand to Adriano who happily took it. Together they climbed to the fourth floor where the stairwell opened onto a walkway leading to the next tower.

Rocco was explaining features of the castle to Adriano, and Adriano nodded, eyes wide. She’d brought him here a year ago but he’d grown so much since then, and his understanding of things was greater and he asked Rocco questions which Rocco answered.

Gio was now at her side and she thought it was interesting how Gio had been in their lives since Adriano was born, but Gio rarely spoke and only interacted with Adriano as security, not family, and Adriano even at two and a half, could tell the difference.

They climbed stairs and peeked at things, exploring for an hour and a half before Clare could see that Adriano was growing tired and it was getting close to his lunch. She suggested they return to the villa and all readily agreed, but Adriano looked happy as he’d learned new things today, and the castle had been dramatic and full of possibilities, especially for a young child with energy and a vivid imagination.

Back at the villa, Clare, Adriano and Rocco had a picnic lunch down on the villa’s private beach, and as Adriano had brought his green ball down with him, Rocco and Adriano kicked the ball up and down the sand until Adriano drooped with exhaustion. Ava, who’d been waiting at the house, was summoned and she came down to take a yawning Adriano up to the nursery for his afternoon nap while Clare and Rocco remained on the blankets on the sand.

“He’ll sleep well,” Clare said, her lips curving as she watched Ava lead Adriano up the stairs. She couldn’t look away, her heart so full. Adriano was changing daily. It was exciting to watch him grow up, thrilling being his mom.

“You’re a good mother,” Rocco said quietly.

She turned to look at Rocco and there was something in his expression that made her breath catch, air bottling in her chest. She felt a shaft of sharp emotion, emotion she didn’t understand, but it made her realize how alone she’d been these past few years. Yes, there was staff, but they were all on payroll. She had no family, no friends; it was her and Adriano against the world.

And now Rocco, which just made her chest ache all the more.

“I do love that little boy,” she said after a moment, voice hoarse.

“He knows it,” Rocco said, “and love is the most important thing at this age. Love creates stability and confidence.”

Clare’s eyes burned and she blinked. “You should have been a father.”

“I got to be father and brother to Marius.”

He glanced away, giving her his profile, the one without the burns and it was so hard and masculine—the cheekbone, the jaw, the flat black eyebrow over his silver eyes—and she felt a little shiver of appreciation race through her. In a different life she might have been drawn to him. In this life she...

Clare swallowed, stopping herself, unwilling to continue the thought. There was no point. It was too unsettling. Just thinking about a different life made her feel scared. Unsettled. She couldn’t be attracted to him, or anyone. It wasn’t her future. She and Adriano were tight. They were a team.

“It was a good morning,” Rocco said, shifting the conversation to a neutral topic.

She nodded. “A wonderful morning,” she agreed. “It felt so good to be out enjoying the day.” Clare slipped her hand beneath the edge of the blanket, digging her fingers into the sand. “I sometimes forget that we’re right here on the beach. We should get out more.”

“Why don’t you get out more?” he asked, leaning back on his hands, legs stretched in front of him. “Is it because of your workload?”

She shook her head, her gaze traveling up his legs, which were long and muscular, even in the dark denim which hugged his powerful thighs.

Blushing Clare glanced away. “I think I fall into a routine and forget how much I enjoy—and Adriano enjoys—excursions. Sometimes it seems easiest to remain at the villa. It’s spacious and safe. There’s a big lawn for Adriano to play on. We have this private beach. There is also a pool, but that is indoors, which is nice in winter but unused this time of year.”

“Can Adriano swim yet?”

“Yes, but that’s because he had lessons since he was one. It was something I insisted on as we live so close to the sea.”

“You are always thinking of the dangers,” Rocco said, his voice low.

She looked at him, feeling raw, and shy, as if she’d just been caught changing, revealing more of herself than she should. “Because the world is full of dangers.”

“Would you feel this way if Marius was still alive?”

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