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‘No, no,’ Dante said, and blew out a breath. ‘Mia, the man’s a sleaze, though.’
‘He seemed perfectly polite.’
‘Trust me on this.’
Mia didn’t answer.
The truth was, despite her brusque, matter-of-fact voice, Mia was sitting in her little lounge with silent tears streaming down her cheeks at the impossibility of it all. It wasn’t even the prospect of telling him about the baby that overwhelmed her; she still hadn’t decided if she would or, if she did, how or when.
No, it was hearing his voice as she tried to haul herself out of the vortex of Dante that had her silently weeping—wanting him so, and not just his exquisite touch but more of him, all of him; the sudden smile he gave to others, which he had but once given to her; the passion and energy of him, a man who, despite their rows, never made her feel unsafe, even on the edge of unleashed passion.
‘Mia?’ he said to the silence.
‘I have to go.’
‘Before you do, there is one other thing...’ His husky tone warned her about the danger of the subject matter. ‘You haven’t RSVP’d about the ball...’
‘No.’ Mia croaked.
‘Well?’ he said, and his voice had a thick edge to it. ‘Are you coming?’
‘I don’t know,’ she said. She Did Not Know. It wasn’t just that she was pregnant that mired her, more it was the craving to see him. Tears were streaming down her face and she had to force an affronted tone even as she dreamed of his kiss. ‘Why would I put myself in that snake pit?’
‘For the sick children, perhaps?’
‘Dante!’ She actually gave a soft laugh at the glimmer of humour, because they both knew the ball would be a success with or without her there, but that tiny joke had her tummy flip for it told Mia that he wanted her to come, and he did, for he then moved in to persuade her.
‘My mother won’t be there.’
‘I’m not worried about your mother, Dante.’
‘If you need a gown—’
‘I already have a gown. I couldn’t attend last year, remember?’
Oh, he remembered.
Because, though his father had been too ill to attend, which had been a cause for concern, for Dante there had been a sigh of relief that he would not have to see Mia in finery and on his father’s arm. ‘Roberto would escort you to your table and I can assure you there shall be no animosity. I will have a word with Ariana...’
‘Dante, she’s the least of my concerns.’
‘Okay.’ Dante took a breath and attempted to address the elephant in the room. ‘Well, if you’re worried that there might be a repeat—’ He halted, because right now heshouldbe promising Mia that there would be no repeat of their forbidden night; he should be assuring her that it had been a mistake and would never happen again. Yet Dante never lied. ‘Mia—’ his voice was back to controlled and brisk ‘—I shall leave it up to you. Naturally there will be a suite reserved for you. If you choose to attend you just have to call Sarah, and she will arrange your flights.’
But he could not leave it there. ‘Are you sure everything’s okay, Mia?’
She was quite positive that he wasn’t asking how she was holding up after the death of Rafael. He was asking again if there had been any fallout from that night.
Mia took a breath to consider her response and knew she was simply not ready to tell him yet. She was just starting to get her own head around things, and certainly she did not want to tell him over the phone. ‘I’m fine.’ And it wasn’t a lie; she felt better aboutthingstoday than she had since she’d found out, and did not want to disturb that fragile ground.
‘That’s good,’ Dante said, except when the call had ended he was left unsure about whether he believed her.
Dante told himself he had no reason to be concerned. Mia had surely taken the emergency contraception.
Yet, despite her assurance, he had heard her brief hesitation prior to answering him and Dante had been left with that feeling he knew only too well: that he was being lied to.
No!
For once Dante tried to quash his eternally suspicious nature and believe the words that had been said. After all, Mia had not contested the will. In fact, she had left Luctano when she could have stayed on for three months. There had been no interviews given to the press, no demands made. If there were consequences to that night, he was more than certain either he or his legal team would have been informed by now.
