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A bright spot in this mess. “I’m fond of them, too. Your niece and nephew are adorable, and they clearly idolize you.”
“They’re a handful. I’ve loved every minute I’ve been with them.” She sighed. “But we’re not here to talk about the kids.”
“No,” he agreed. “You don’t want a divorce. What do you want?”
“What do you want? When you left last night?—”
“I was angry, too.” A tight grin tugged at his lips. “I don’t often lose control of my temper.”
“Do you want these last eight days with me?” Gia looked like she held her breath. “You don’t have to coerce me. I’m more than willing to give them to you.”
Jason couldn’t find her words anything other than endearing. “Why do you ask? Because you want to spend those days with me or because you need money?”
“Both,” she admitted quietly.
He watched her closely, trying to puzzle her out, but her normally expressive face didn’t give a lot away. “We can negotiate the time together. The money…” He reached into his pocket and pulled free a piece of paper he’d folded and placed there earlier after picking it up off the fax machine at his office, then he handed it to Gia.
She scanned it. “What’s this?”
“Read it,” he encouraged with a bob of his head.
With a frown, she did. Her expression changed from impatience to confusion. Finally surprise overtook her face, complete with a gasp. “You didn’t!”
“What?” he asked with mock innocence.
“You paid off my sister-in-law’s house?” she screeched.
“I’m not trying to buy you, if that’s what you think. I merely thought that since you always worry about Mila and the kids?—”
“Thank you!” Gia threw herself at him, arms encircling his neck, legs around his waist, squeezing tight.
Damn, the minute she touched him, he wanted to tear her clothes off, restrain her, and get as deep inside her as possible.
Not far away, he saw a few moms watching over their kids stare at them. Public scenes were nothing new…but definitely not with kids as witness.
Jason cleared his throat and gently eased Gia to her feet. “Baby, as much as I’d love to do every fabulously dirty thing to you I can think of, now isn’t the time.”
She sent him a little scolding glance, but she still laughed and blushed. “I know. I just… Wow, I know you paid off Mila’s mortgage for me, and I can’t think of anything that makes me happier.”
Relief wended its way through his bloodstream. “Thank God. I finally figured out this morning that you wanted the divorce settlement to help your family, so I took care of it. I know I didn’t consult you first.”
“It’s the most thoughtful thing you’ve ever done for me.” She grinned from ear to ear. “Mila is happiest being a stay-at-home mom, and even with my salary and the proceeds from the sale of my house, I could barely keep up financially. I didn’t want her worrying about affording the house or wondering how they’d find the money to eat. Now, without a mortgage, she’ll have enough left after Tony’s death benefits to take care of their necessities and save a little for the future. She’s going to be so incredibly happy.”
“If you’re happy, that’s what matters to me.”
“I’m thrilled. But…” She winced. “I still want the money from the settlement.”
“On top of paying Mila’s mortgage? All two hundred fifty thousand?”
“Yes. Today, if you can get it to me.”
Jason’s first reaction came from the cynic in him. She wanted money, and she still intended to let the divorce happen? Why? Had she decided that she couldn’t live without the swanky shopping? He stared down into those deep dark eyes of hers, the lush rosy lips, and paused. Did her reasons really matter? If all he had to do in order to keep Gia was take her to the mall and buy her a few things to line her closet…
He frowned and put the brakes on that thought altogether. Gia wasn’t Samantha. She’d been thrilled that he’d spent his money paying off a family member’s house, rather than try to bribe her with baubles.
“Who needs the money?”
She bit her lip. “It’s complicated. If you’ll at least consider it, take me to your bank, and I’ll show you what I’m thinking. Then…you can decide what you want to do about the money and about us.”
