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Santo was on the terrace drinking with Cristiano and Raimondo, Dani’s husband, so Fia was able to take her time getting ready.
The blue silk dress skimmed her curves and showed off her legs. Maybe she wasn’t as toned as Laurel, she thought as she looked in the mirror, but she ate well and ran around all day so her figure wasn’t bad.
Sliding her feet into stilettos, she picked up her purse and drew in a deep breath.
Not once so far in their relationship had she actually tried to seduce Santo. This was going to be a first.
There was a brief tap and then the door opened and Laurel and Dani stood there.
Dani tipped her head to one side and studied her. ‘Oh, my poor unsuspecting brother. He doesn’t stand a chance.’
With that confidence-boosting comment ringing in her ears, Fia joined them and the three women walked down to the terrace.
Santo had his back to her and nerves fluttered in her stomach as she stared at those broad shoulders.
Cristiano saw them first and immediately broke off the conversation to greet them. Although he was complimentary to all, his eyes were on his wife and Fia felt a stab of envy at the obvious depth of their love.
From the little Santo had told her, that love had held them together through dark times.
Doubt slithered its way into her happiness. What did she and Santo have? Their marriage wasn’t based on anything so powerful, was it? What was going to save them if trouble came their way?
As Dani planted herself in front of Raimondo and waited for him to say the right thing, Santo turned towards Fia.
He was gorgeous, the physical attraction so powerful that Fia caught her breath. And then she noticed that those dark, sexy eyes looked tired.
He wasn’t sleeping either.
‘Hey—’ Dani punched her brother on the arm. ‘Doesn’t Fia look stunning? She is Fia the fantastic. Fia the fabulous. If you don’t say something nice she might just turn into Fia the ferocious so you’d better say the right thing fast. Here’s a hint—something like “let’s forget dinner and just go straight upstairs” would probably go down well.’
Santo rounded on her. ‘You talk too much,’ he snapped and Dani took a step backwards, visibly hurt by the unexpected attack.
Cristiano observed that exchange with narrowed eyes, looking first at his brother and then at Fia, who wanted to do nothing more than just go and join the cosy heap of children upstairs and hide under the covers.
So much for seducing him.
It was clear he just wasn’t interested.
‘We ought to go,’ Laurel said quickly. ‘The limo is waiting. And Fia, I want you to tell me how to cook arancine. Cristiano loves it and every time I try, it’s a dismal failure. I swear his mother still can’t work out why he married me.’
Because he loved her, Fia thought bleakly. And love filled in all the other cracks, like rain on parched earth. She had nothing like that and the cracks in her own marriage were widening. The shaky foundations were splitting apart and soon the entire thing would collapse.
Dani slipped her arm into hers as they walked. ‘I have no idea what’s wrong with Santo,’ she grumbled. ‘I apologise for my brother. Ugh. Men! This is why a woman has to have girlfriends. Let’s talk about something important. I have a party to go to next week. I’m wondering whether to try some of that magnetic nail varnish.’ She chattered away and Fia was grateful for the change of subject and for the nonstop talk that didn’t require her input.
The evening was a success because of the efforts of the others, but somehow those efforts made Fia all the more aware of those widening cracks.
Despite the time she’d taken to look her best, Santo barely glanced at her, instead choosing to talk business with his brother and brother-in-law while Fia felt invisible.
If she still didn’t attract his interest then that was it, wasn’t it?
And if that part of their relationship was over, then the rest of it was over, too.
Whatever he said about marriage being for ever, there was no way a physical guy like Santo would want to stay with a woman he was no longer attracted to.
She was going to be the first Ferrara in history to be granted a divorce.
CHAPTER NINE
‘I’M sorry if you found the weekend overwhelming.’ Santo was formal and polite as they arrived home the following day.
