AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She scrubbed her cheeks with the back of her hand. 'Rico—'
'Perhaps you need to understand something more about me. I'm not used to being around women who want to be part of the decision-making process. I'm used to women leaning on me. You didn't lean. Ever since my father died I have been making decisions for all the women in my family. They don't breathe without checking with me first. If I expected you to fit the same mould then it is just because I have had no experience at all of what you are describing. But I can learn.'
She gave another sniff. 'Why would you want to—'
'Because I want our marriage to work and I'm prepared to work very hard at understanding you, even if that will mean a steep learning curve. For both of us.'
'B—but I'm not what you want in a woman—' She was stammering now and she just hated herself for being so gauche when she should have been cool and sophisticated. But it was time they were honest with each other. Time to stop pretending and playing games.
He gave a wry smile. 'You are exactly what I want in a woman.'
She coloured. 'I'm not talking about the bed bit.'
'Neither am I. Believe it or not, I actually like the fact that I never know where I am with you. I like the fact that I can buy you a house and you metaphorically throw it back in my face.'
She bit her lip. suddenly contrite. 'It's a beautiful house—'
'I will sell it and we will choose one together.'
She glanced at the mansion and then back at him. 'I like this one. I choose this one.'
An exasperated look flashed across his handsome features and he reached out and grabbed her dragging her to her feet. 'Have I ever told you that you are the most contrary, infuriating woman I have ever met?'
She stared at him her heart suddenly racing in her chest. 'You instructed your lawyers—'
He ran a hand over the back of his neck. 'I think we could both do with being less volatile—that is another part of the learning curve.'
She swallowed. 'I looked hurt about the studio because I thought you did it for Chiara's benefit.'
'By that point I had ceased to think about my sister,' he confessed, tension visible in every angle of his powerful frame. 'I was thinking only of you. And me. And somehow getting back into your good books.'
Good books? Her eyes filled again and he swore under his breath.
'I have never seen you cry until recently and suddenly you are doing it all the time—'
'Because you're just trying so hard and it's all useless,' she muttered, wondering why she was suddenly turning into a watering can.
'What now? Why is it useless?' He stabbed long fingers through his dark hair, a man at the end of his tether. 'Tell me what I have to do to make this work.'
She gave a hiccough, looking every bit like a miserable child as she brushed the tears away. 'Love me. You have to love me.'
There was a throbbing silence and he looked at her with disbelief. 'I have to love you?'
r />
'That's right.' Her voice shaking, she waved a hand towards the magnificent house. 'This is lovely, the studio is lovely, and 1 know you're trying so hard, but the truth is that I would live in a shack with you, Rico. The one thing I want is your love. And that's the one thing you've never understood. The one thing you've never been able to give.'
'Wait a minute—' He shook his head slightly as if he needed to clear it. as if he was afraid there might be a language problem. 'Are you saying that you think I don't love you?'
'I know you don't.'
One dark eyebrow swooped upwards and it took him a moment to respond. 'I spent an indecent sum of money on a house in a country with a dubious transport system and an outrageous quantity of rainfall,' he drawled. 'I give up my favourite room in the villa and
allow it to be covered in paint, even though you seem less than pleased by the gesture. Why would you think I don't love you?'
'Because you've never said it?' Her voice was a whisper and he sucked in a breath.
'I gave you everything. That should have told you that I loved you.'
