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“I was angry, true, but hate…” He shook his head. “I never hated you.”
“Oh.” She lowered her gaze and swallowed hard.
“For the record, I never knew your father’s views on you taking control of the company. Or maybe I didn’t see it because I was busy worrying about my own goals. Not only because I wanted to be successful and better than that boy from Caracas who came to America and shined shoes and washed dishes and worked construction. Yes, I wanted him gone.” He paused as emotion churned in his chest. He had thought she understood, but she blindsided him when she left. “But I also wanted to be worthy of a woman like you.”
The tug of war of emotions inside him was a nightmare. For so long, he had squashed his feelings for Annabelle whenever they saw each other around town and handled each encounter with ironclad control. For years, he had wanted to punish herandmake love to her. He had wanted to rip her apartandhold her soft body against his.
Yet in a matter of months, she had run through his defenses and forced him to make a decision. He wanted her like he’d never wanted another woman, and the truth was, he’d never gotten over her. Annabelle Buchanan was his greatest weakness and the love of his life.
“You were never not worthy,” Annabelle said in a soft voice.
Dante wished they didn’t have the table between them. He wanted to touch her. He was helpless in the face of his need for her.
Immaturity had taken a wrecking ball to their first marriage, but he firmly believed they could rebuild with thicker walls on a sturdier foundation. They’d come far already.
They had put each other through hell, and for what? Pride. Selfishness.
They had both changed in a short period, and he believed only better days lay ahead.
27
Annabelle pushed open the master bedroom door with her elbow, carrying a tray with crackers, almond butter, and two types of jam. She loved to snack late at night, something Dante had found appalling. However, when she brought food to the bedroom, he indulged, despite his judgmental attitude.
Their first date night several weeks ago had changed the dynamics of their relationship even more. They were closer than ever. They hadn’t established a dating routine yet, but they had gone out on one other date, this time flying to Vegas for dinner and a show. Dante took her to the casino he was going to invest in, and as they walked the property, he explained all the changes the contractors were going to make.
With their renewed closeness, it was like being in a real marriage, like during the first six months of their first marriage. She saw glimpses of the old Dante. The laughter, the sense of humor without the biting sarcasm or cynicism. The dirty jokes and double entendres that at times made her blush and other times made her horny as hell.
They were explosive together—not just two fiery tempers—but two fiery desires. So hot for each other they damn near burned the bed when their bodies joined.
She participated in his weekly video calls to his family, and he joined her whenever she went to have dinner with her father. In between, they worked hard at their respective jobs and attended the usual social events together—galas, charity balls, nonprofit auctions, and parties.
Dante looked up from the book he was reading in bed—a nonfiction title about time optimization.
He groaned. “What is that?”
“Don’t act like you don’t want any.” Annabelle climbed onto the bed and straddled him.
Sitting back on her haunches, she placed the small tray on his thighs. With a resigned sigh, Dante set aside his book.
“Tell me which one of these tastes better.” Annabelle spread almond butter and mango jam on one cracker and almond butter and raspberry jam on the other.
She placed the one with mango jam in his mouth. He chewed, frowning.
“Well?” she prompted.
“Good.”
“A man of many words,” she said sarcastically.
He arched his eyebrow at her. “Do you want my opinion or not?”
“Of course I do, darling.” She smiled sweetly at him.
She placed the other cracker in his mouth. He did the same, chewing while he frowned, deeply concentrating to give a good answer.
She waited patiently until he finished.
“The mango is better,” he said.
