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"You want me to kiss Scooty?" Seb asks.
When she nods, he does just that, then offers the toy back to her. Avery takes it from him, then grabs another, a toy airplane, and begins to make a humming sound as she weaves it through the air.
"That should keep her busy for a while. I hope."
"Good." He turns to me. "I’m still waiting for an answer."
"And I’m not ready to give you one."
"I'm not leaving you alone until you do." Those golden-brown eyes of his hold mine. Heat from his body surrounds me and sinks into my blood. My heart rate ratchets up and my pulse skitters. I lick my lips and his gaze falls to my mouth. His nostrils flare and I wonder if he’s thinking of kissing me.
He weaves his fingers through mine and guides me out of the room.
"Wait." I grab the baby monitor on the way out.
He leaves the door to her bedroom open, then leads me into the living room. Once there, he takes the baby monitor from me and places it on the coffee table. I tug on my hand, and he releases it. Thank god.
It had felt so right to have my hand in his, to follow him, to not have to think, or make decisions, or do anything but allow him to direct my actions. I shake my head.What the hell is wrong with me?I’ve come so far. I have a steady job, friends who have my back, and I’m doing everything possible to get more time with my daughter.And how is that going for you?
Fabio will never allow me more time with Avery. He’s convinced that I’m a bad mother. He has the money and the influence in this city, and access to the best legal help. Also, he’s Italian and I’m English, which means the courts in this country will always favor him. I’m fighting a losing battle and I know it.
"What do you get out of it?" I tip up my chin. "You could marry anyone you want. Why me?"
"Nonna was very clear that I should get married within the coming month. As you know, it was her... dying wish." He pushes out the last couple of words, and I swear, I hear his voice crack. He glances away, then drags his thumb under his eye.
Was that a tear he wiped away? Or is he doing it just to get my sympathy? But there was that change in his voice, and he was genuinely shattered when he heard the news from the doctor at the hospital, wasn’t he?
He turns back to me. "As to why you?" He raises a shoulder. "You’re as good as anyone else. Only, you need this marriage more than I do."
"And you want to marry someone who is beholden to you? Someone who would be dependent on you so you could control her?"
"Someone who would benefit greatly from this arrangement, too," he points out.
But it’s only an arrangement; this is not a real marriage, is it? "And what about…" I shuffle my feet. "You know what I mean."
He frowns. "Afraid I have no idea what you’re referring to."
"We’ll have different rooms, won’t we?"
He still seems puzzled.
"You know, bedrooms, sleeping at night—"
"We’ll be sharing the same bed."
"Excuse me?" My cheeks heat. "The same bed?"
"Once we’re married, yes."
"B-but…"
He arches an eyebrow.
"I don’t know you at all," I burst out.
"I don’t need to know you to fuck you."
I firm my lips. "If you think this is going to convince me to marry you—"
