AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She grabbed his shoulders, wriggling closer and fusing herself against him. How could she want him again so desperately? But like always, the moment their lips met, the passion sparked to a blaze that quickly became a conflagration.
Because she loved him. But according to him, he would never love her in return.
What was she supposed to do about that?
As he let go of her hand and gripped her wrist to bring her closer, someone jostled them and cleared her throat. Gia looked up to find an elderly woman silently scolding them as she passed.
Jason smothered a laugh. “Guess she doesn’t believe in PDA.”
“Public displays of affection weren’t big in her day. My parents don’t mind indulging, but I remember my grandparents. OMG, the moment my mom and dad would kiss, my granddad would bluster and rail.”
“That sounds nice, actually. I never knew my grandparents.” With a sad smile, he plucked the box from her palm and opened it. “Give me your hand.”
With her heart thumping, she did. When he removed the ring, he snapped the little case shut and pocketed it before sliding the gorgeous jewel on her finger. The moment hovered, breathless and profound as he settled the ring in place. It still fit perfectly, and the diamonds glittered in the light. Just like the first time she’d seen it, Gia fell speechless.
“I really will get you something else if you don’t like it.”
“Is that what you think?” She looked up at him, blinking in shock. “I love it. If I never told you that, I’m sorry. Wearing it terrifies me. Losing it would be crushing because it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
Jason breathed what looked like a sigh of relief. If he didn’t have deep feelings for her, if it—like her—was just a status symbol, would her opinion even matter?
“Tell me about your parents.” She squeezed his hand.
His smile looked tight and cynical as he squeezed back and let go, strolling deeper into the mall. “Well, my father married my mother, his assistant, after he got her pregnant. He was fifty-five. She was twenty-three. He divorced his first wife, leaving her and their three college-aged children. My mother wanted wealth, and he wanted an upgrade on his piece of ass.” He cocked his head and sent her a challenging glance. “Are you thinking, ‘poor little rich boy with the scarred psyche?’”
Actually, yes. She might have grown up knowing her family watched every penny, but she’d never had any doubt they loved one another.
“Were they happy at all? Ever?”
He shrugged. “Mom was happy when she was shopping. I think my father was happy when he was showing off his pretty, young wife so everyone could see what great taste in women he had. They ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ that he could afford her. To this day, she’s very expensive looking.”
“None of that is happiness,” she pointed out.
“I’m well aware of that.” He took her hand in his.
“So they weren’t affectionate?”
“The ‘affection’ my parents shared was outlined in their prenuptial agreement. If my father wanted more, it usually cost him at least a new Louis Vuitton bag.”
“So basically, he bought her?”
Jason paused, then nodded. “I suppose, but she wanted it that way. He didn’t object.”
That explained why he spent ridiculous amounts of money on her and why he didn’t believe in love. Why he’d been trying to buy his way into filling her womb with his children. He only understood what he’d seen.
“That’s not the way marriage should be,” she murmured.
“Forgive me if I don’t believe you.” He sent her a brittle smile. “Now, what do you need at the mall?”
Biting her lip, Gia vacillated. Tell him? Don’t tell him? If she spilled, he’d insist they go to her father’s party. The family would learn her secret…and there would be trouble. Besides, if she introduced Jason to everyone and they didn’t stay married, she’d shock her parents and break their hearts. Her mom and dad were fairly hip about lots of things, but they were still Catholic. They didn’t believe in divorce.
On the other hand, no one had ever shown Jason real love. Maybe he needed her far more than she knew. Or maybe she was inventing reasons to stay with him because she wanted to so badly.
She needed time to think.
“Just a little something for my dad,” she hedged. “It won’t take long.”
He said nothing, just led her through the mall. Gia had the vague sense that he was disappointed. Or maybe that was just her guilt talking…
