AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jillian’s throat ached, remembering. She’d been devastated by Katie’s death. The phone call from her mother giving her the news had been the most horrific phone call of her life. Even now, Jillian still felt shattered.
Jillian had been the big sister. It had been her job to protect Katie.
She hadn’t, though.
And now Jillian had Joe, only this time Jillian would not fail. She would do the right thing. She would protect Joe with her life.
“Jill. Your glass.”
Jillian jerked her head around to see the flight attendant standing before her with a flute of champagne. Vittorio already had his. Ruthlessly she smothered the memories of Katie and her family, killing the emotion inside her, smashing down the grief. She couldn’t change the past. She could only move forward.
Her eyes felt hot and gritty. She blinked hard, blinking away unshed tears as she took the champagne flute. “Thank you.”
The flight attendant disappeared, leaving them alone and Vittorio lifted his glass, dark eyes gleaming above high, bronzed cheekbones, the stiff, formal collar of his black suit contrasting the devastating sensuality of his mouth. “I propose a toast.”
She lifted her glass, heavy, so heavy at heart, and waited for him to finish the toast.
He let her wait, too, making her hold her glass high, making her wonder what he’d say.
The jet’s engines came to life. Jillian tensed, realizing soon they’d be airborne. Soon she’d never be able to escape.
And then smiling without smiling, Vittorio touched his glass to the rim of hers. “To the future,” he said, “and our lives together.”
Her heart fell, crashing into her ribs. Was he jesting? What kind of life would there be when there was no love, trust or respect between them?
Again her eyes burned, but once more she squashed the pain with a cool, hard smile. “To Joe,” she said instead, changing the toast, her voice as brittle as her smile.
“To Joseph,” he agreed. “The son we made together.”
They drank.
She swallowed, the cold, slightly sweet, slightly tart champagne fizzing and warming all the way down.
She glanced down into her glass, watching tiny bubbles rise to the surface, admiring the champagne’s pale gold color against the cut crystal stemware. Champagne in crystal was almost magical. She’d once loved how a glass of fine champagne could make her feel elegant. Beautiful.
She’d confessed that to Vitt, too, and for one week he’d ordered her champagne every night before dinner.
Did he remember? Is that why he’d ordered champagne now?
Her head jerked up and she looked into his eyes. His expression was shuttered. She could see nothing there.
But once, even briefly, there had been something between them. Once they’d made love to each other as if their hearts had mattered.
“Feel beautiful now?” Vittorio asked lazily, watching her with those dark inscrutable eyes of his.
So he did remember. “Like a princess,” she answered.
“And we’re living a fairy tale,” he replied mockingly.
She looked away, focused on a point across the cabin. How could she not have seen who he was? How could she not have realized that behind his charm and his stunning good looks was a man of stunning power?
“Can I please go get Joe?” she said, fighting to keep her tone neutral. “We’re about to take off and I’d be more comfortable flying if he were here with me.”
“But he’s fine where he is. Maria is taking good care of him.”
Jillian drew a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. Had she heard Vitt right? Was he making decisions for her? Was he deciding how and when she was to see her own son?
She fought the wave of nausea rolling through her. “I miss him, Vitt. I haven’t spent much time with him today—”
