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‘How am I going to tell Dad I let this happen?’
Her heart sank because the plaintive note in his voice was the only thing that could have brought her to her knees. For twelve years s
he hadn’t known she had a brother or a father, but then she’d turned up on their doorstep and they’d taken her in. They’d loved her, accepted her, and been the closest thing to a ‘normal’ family she’d ever known. What wouldn’t she do to repay them that kindness? What wouldn’t she do to protect them from this kind of grief and worry?
She soothed Carlo as best she could, placating him with hollow promises, and all the while her own future sharpened before her eyes.
When she disconnected the call some time later, Carlo was calmer but her own insides were quivering with emotion.
There was also a kernel of strength. She was resolute.
Because the answer to all her concerns was staring her in the face and she could—and would—be brave enough to admit that.
She could marry Antonio and she could give their child a family and a home, and the stability she’d never, ever had. She could give their baby the start in life she wanted, and that he or she deserved.
And she could solve Carlo’s worries for good. At least she thought she could.
She would marry Antonio, but only if he agreed to her rules. Because Amelia diSalvo wasn’t a fool, and Antonio was going to learn that the hard way...
CHAPTER SEVEN
‘TWICE IN ONE WEEK—lucky me,’ he murmured, crossing the marble floor of the foyer, his eyes fixed on Amelia diSalvo. As with the last time she’d come to his office in Madrid, she’d dressed to impress, this time in a pair of white trousers and a simple silk camisole top, pale blue in colour. Gold bangles covered one wrist, so many that they ran towards her elbows. Her skin had the hint of a tan and her face was sparingly made-up. He took his time studying her appearance, not least because he sensed her impatience and enjoyed provoking that reaction in her.
‘Antonio—’ her voice was clipped, her eyes cold with a silent warning ‘—can we speak?’
He tilted his head in silent agreement and gestured with his hand towards his office. She shot him one last look, a wary appraisal and a warning all wrapped into one, and then she walked ahead of him, just like the last time she’d been here.
As he passed his secretary he said, ‘Hold my calls. No interruptions.’
‘Yes, sir.’
Yes, sir. That was the response he was accustomed to. He spoke and people listened. His suggestions were universally obeyed because his suggestions made sense. Because he knew what he was doing. Because he was Antonio Herrera.
That seemed to hold little sway with Amelia, however. She didn’t wait on the threshold of his office this time. She pushed the door open and walked inside, so that when he joined her she was pouring two glasses of water.
‘I take it you’ve reconsidered my proposal,’ he murmured and she jerked her face towards his, her eyes zipping with resentment and anger.
‘I’ve reconsidered it and reconsidered it again a thousand times,’ she muttered. ‘In fact, right now I’m wondering what the hell I’m doing here.’
He waited. There were times for arguing and convincing, and there were times for simply being silent and letting a person explain their mindset. This was a time for the latter.
‘If we were to get married...’ she said
Something in his chest heaved with relief. No—not relief. It was a sense of victory that flared in his gut, because she was going to agree with his suggestion after all. This was her own version of Yes, sir.
‘I would have some rules.’
‘I see,’ he murmured, unconcerned. The war was about to be won—so what if there were final skirmishes? ‘Go on.’
She nodded, but there was anxiety in her features. ‘This wouldn’t be a normal marriage,’ she said, a small frown creasing her brow. ‘We don’t like each other. We don’t even know each other. But if the whole purpose of it is to give our child a family, we’d have to...redress that.’
He was silent.
‘I mean, we would need to get to know one another—make an effort to be civil.’
That was simple enough. He nodded his agreement.
Her eyes narrowed, and he saw something beyond her anxiety. A steeliness that he hadn’t expected.
