AllFreeNovel
Share Us
That’s the kind of man she wanted Joe to be one day. That’s the kind of man she’d thought Vitt was. Until she’d looked the d’Severanos up on Google and found out the truth.
Crouching next to a pink rosebush, Jillian held a soft open flower up for Joe to smell it. He pressed his face into the petals. “Mmm,” he said.
“Smells good, doesn’t it?” she said.
He smiled up at her, his eyes deeply blue, his expression trusting.
Her heart ached all over again. She owed Vittorio an apology. She needed to let him know she’d been wrong to say something so unkind, especially in front of their son. Hopefully she could talk to him before they met his family for dinner. She wouldn’t feel better until she apologized.
Footsteps sounded on the walk and Jillian looked up to see Maria approach.
“Is it time for dinner already?” Jillian asked.
Maria shook her head. “Signor sent me to tell you that he is not eating at home tonight. He said that he’ll have dinner sent to you and Joe in your suite, and that you’ll meet his family tomorrow.”
Jillian straightened. “Did he say when he’d be back?”
The nanny shook her head. “No. But he may not return tonight. It’s possible he’ll remain in Catania until tomorrow.”
Jillian’s heart fell. “What?”
“He has a big apartment there, not far from his office. I’ve never seen it but I’ve heard that it’s at the top of a building and very nice. In English I think you call it a penthouse.” Maria bobbed her head and then excused herself, returning to the house.
For a moment Jillian just watched Maria walk and then driven by some dark, murky emotion, Jillian scooped up Joe and chased after Maria. “Is Signor still here?” she asked, catching up with Maria just inside the door.
The castle felt cool and shadowy after the afternoon sun.
“I think so,” Maria answered. “He might even still be upstairs.”
Jillian left Joe with Maria and dashed up the stairs, her high heels tapping against the polished stone floor. She reached their bedroom just as Vittorio was turning off the light.
“Where are you going?” she asked breathlessly.
“To Catania. I have some business to take care of.”
“You’re going to your office?”
“Does it matter?”
She searched his dark eyes yet his expression was so completely shuttered she couldn’t see what he was thinking. “Yes.”
“I will be going to my office, yes, among other places.”
“Do you conduct most of your meetings at the office?”
“Not necessarily.” He gazed down at her, lips curling in a sardonic smile. “Worried that I’ll be conducting illicit business in dark alleys, Jill?”
“No.”
There was a moment of tense silence before Vittorio shook his head. “And you call me a liar.” His smile grew, his dark eyes glittering with anger. “But I don’t have time for this, as interesting as it is. Have a good night. Don’t wait up for me. I’m not sure when I’ll return.”
“You’re not coming back tonight?”
“I don’t know. Haven’t decided.”
“Vitt,” she protested, reaching out to touch his coat sleeve.
He glanced down at her hand resting on his dark coat and then into her face. “Don’t even try to pretend that you’ll miss me, Jill.”
