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“I want you to have them,” Nicolo said.
A pronouncement, not a suggestion. That was how her husband faced the world, with authority and determination.
How he had now faced her grandfather because he wanted her, not Stafford-Coleridge-Black.
It seemed impossible. Nicolo’s trips to the States. His meetings with James. He’d wanted the bank that same way, with authority and determination.
Not enough to marry her, of course…
But he had married her, because it was, he’d said, the right thing to do, once he knew she carried his heir.
In other words, he’d met James’s conditions of sale.
Why insist on turning his back on the deal now?
For her. Only for her, Aimee thought, and something wonderful and just a little bit terrifying stirred in her heart.
At Bulgari, they looked at platinum wedding bands. For men as well as women because, Nicolo said, a husband should wear a ring as well as a wife.
Such a simple statement but it filled Aimee with joy.
Was it really only yesterday she’d stood before a judge, her heart cold as she took vows that bound her to this man?
Her heart was anything but cold now.
“Aimee?”
She looked up. Nicolo was watching her, a little smile on his face.
“What are you thinking, cara?” he said softly.
That I was wrong about you, my husband. That you are a kind, generous, wonderful man….
Not even she was foolish enough to bare her soul so quickly.
“I was thinking that—that it’s going to be hard to choose rings when they’re all so beautiful.”
“Then let me simplify things and—”
“Nicolo,” she said quickly, “are you sure you don’t want the bank?”
He looked at her as if she’d gone crazy. “Didn’t you ask me that a little while ago?”
“But—”
“But what? I gave you my answer. There are other banks.” His smile tilted. “Besides, this particular bank should only have gone to you.”
“It couldn’t. My grandfather—”
Nicolo silenced her with a kiss.
“Now,” he said softly, leaning his forehead against hers, “as to selecting rings…It’s a warm day. You have been on your feet too long.”
“I haven’t. I sat in the car, sat at those shops, sat here—”
“There’s a little café just down the street. Giorgio will drive you there.”
“Giorgio will not drive me just down the street!”
