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Cruz sat down too. ‘How are the boys?’
Trinity fought against the blush she could feel spreading across her chest and up into her face. Sometimes she really hated her colouring.
‘They’re fine... They were asking for you, wondering where you were.’
An expression that was curiously vulnerable flashed across Cruz’s face. ‘I’ll go and see them later,’ he said. ‘How are you?’ he asked then.
Trinity fought not to squirm. ‘I’m fine.’
An altogether more carnal look came across his face now. ‘No...soreness?’
Trinity couldn’t stop the blush this time. ‘No.’
The carnal look faded and suddenly Cruz stood up again, running a hand through his hair. Trinity’s gaze drank him in, registering that he must have changed when he got back as he was wearing soft jeans and a polo shirt.
When he didn’t say anything for a moment she dragged her gaze up to his face and went still. He looked tortured.
She stood up, immediately concerned. ‘What is it?’
He looked at her. ‘I owe you an apology...on behalf of me and my brother.’
She went very still, almost afraid to say the words. ‘You believe me, then...?’
Cruz paced for a moment, and then stopped and faced her again. He looked angry, but she could recognise that it wasn’t with her.
‘Of course I do.’
She sat down again on the chair behind her, her legs suddenly feeling weak. She waited for a feeling of vindication but it didn’t come. She just felt a little numb.
Cruz shook his head. ‘After Rio died I took everything his solicitor told me for granted. The truth was that I was in shock...grieving. Based on what he’d told me, I believed you deserved to be the focus of my anger and resentment, so I didn’t do what I should have done—which was to investigate his finances with a fine-tooth comb. I’ve started to do that now,’ he said heavily, ‘and I had my own legal team haul in his solicitor for questioning yesterday. That’s why I stayed behind in Madrid.’
Trinity’s throat moved as she swallowed. ‘What did you find?’
‘Did you know he was a chronic gambler?’
She shook her head, shocked. ‘No, of course not... He was away a lot. And worked odd hours. He never really explained himself.’
Cruz was grim. ‘He hid it very well. It seems that as soon as he knew what was happening he spent even more money, and he started putting your name on things—like authorising the redecoration of the house, ordering credit cards in your name but using them himself...’
Trinity breathed in, feeling sick. ‘So that was the trail directly back to me?’
Cruz nodded. ‘He made sure you were seen out and about, at fashion shows and events, so if anyone ever questioned him he could point to you and say that you’d been instrumental in his downfall.’ Cruz continued, ‘You shouldn’t feel like he duped you too easily—he d
id it to countless others along the way. Including me. If I hadn’t been so blinkered where Rio was concerned, and had looked into his affairs before now—’
‘Then you wouldn’t have felt obliged to marry me because you’d have known I wasn’t a threat,’ Trinity said quickly.
She was avoiding his eye now and Cruz came over.
‘Look at me,’ he commanded.
After an infinitesimal moment she did, hoping her emotions weren’t showing.
‘I’m Matty and Sancho’s uncle, and I’m going to be in their lives. You are the only mother my nephews have known and I was always going to come back here. Marriage was the best option.’
Trinity felt herself flinch minutely. Marriage was the best option. Suddenly feeling exposed under that amber gaze, she stood up and stepped around the chair in a bid to put some space between them. He was too close.
‘We haven’t finished this conversation,’ he said warningly.
