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He sighed. “Shakarri, it is your responsibility to be at my side when I entertain.”
“I didn’t know your daughter was considered a guest!” She plunked her glass down and held up both hands in dismissal. “You know what? Forget it. I don’t have the energy tonight.”
Ezio reached across the table and took one of her hands in his. Shakarri didn’t fight him.
“Catarina and I get along very well. We always have, and her mother doesn’t like it. Perhaps she’s jealous. I always make time for Catarina no matter what I have scheduled. I didn’t tell you of my plans because I didn’t see the need. No, before you get upset, I mean you said you like the water during our first conversation.”
His words surprised her. “I told you I love to swim. You remembered that?”
“I did.”
She tried not to be impressed because Ezio was detail-oriented in business. He would remember the little things not because he cared but because they gave him an advantage.
“I intended to arrange everything and then bring you and Catarina on the trip. I assumed it would be something you would enjoy. Was I wrong?”
She pursed her lips. “I bet you don’t think so.”
“I’m not sure what you’re trying to say.”
“Never mind.” Shakarri decided he was right. She would enjoy a boat ride, especially since she had never been on one. “Thanks. It will be fun.”
He nodded and took her hand in his. When he raised her fingers to his lips, Shakarri stilled. She schooled her features and held herself rigid so he wouldn’t discover how she melted at his touch.
Ezio turned her palm over and kissed the center. She tried to pull out of his grasp, but he held on. In slow deliberate movements his fingers grazed her skin. He moved halfway up her arm and gently massaged the sensitive area in the crook of her arm. She caught his hand to stop him.
“Are you very hungry?” he said in a deep tone. “We could cut this short and go home.”
One of his hands landed on her thigh, and she tried to get away. He gave her leg a quick squeeze and moved her around again so that their thighs touched. If she tried to escape, something told her Ezio would put a stop to it. If she let it be known that she was nervous or embarrassed, that was asking for trouble.
“Ezio,” she said. “Did you marry Catarina’s mom for love, or was it an arrangement as well?”
“There was a prenup.”
“I know, but I mean, did you love her?” Shakarri didn’t know why she was asking. It didn’t matter. Their marriage wasn’t about love, so nothing else made any difference.
“At one time I cared for her.”
His words were so flat, as he hesitated to admit any feelings at all. She couldn’t be sure if he didn’t want her to know he was weak enough to fall in love or if he just didn’t want to tell her his personal business. She was his wife, for good or bad, and she liked to believe someone, if not her, could get beyond his harsh exterior. To think there was nothing beyond it was too much to accept.
Maybe if she offered up an experience from her past, he might unbend enough to share. “I was almost married once.”
He focused on the menu. “Yes.”
She frowned. “Yes? What do you mean yes? You don’t know.”
Blue eyes met hers. “Would it make you feel better to think I don’t?”
“You’re just trying to make me think you know everything about me. I’m onto that trick. I wasn’t born yesterday.”
He shrugged and went back to the menu. Now she second-guessed herself. Did he or didn’t he know? He’d done a background check on her, but did his people go that far? Was there a written record somewhere that told of how she’d loved her ex-boyfriend enough to say yes when he asked her to marry him and then broke his heart when she faced the fact that he was almost as irresponsible as her dad?
Had she married him, she would have been miserable. He had no business sense and often lived paycheck to paycheck. He didn’t know what he’d done with all his money. The habit drove her insane, and she woke up to the truth just before their big day to realize love wouldn’t sustain a relationship with that kind of person.
Then I turned around and married another problem child.
Shakarri almost laughed out loud at her thoughts. Being called a “problem child” probably wouldn’t sit too well with Ezio. Especially since he was worlds away from being a kid. His hard thigh brushed hers, and she had to be extra vigilant not to climb onto his lap and enjoy herself.
A waiter stopped by, and Shakarri prepared to tell him what she wanted. Ezio spoke over her and ordered for the two of them. She gaped at him. “I didn’t ask for chicken. I wanted the beef. Don’t order for me.”
