She flinched and stiffened. “Fine. You now have proof of what I told you long ago.”
“Part of me always believed it,” he admitted. “But there’s more. There was a written note from your mother to your father dated mere days before he acquired my grandparents’ vineyard. She told him about my nonna’s failing health. Of my concern. Your mother was the one to betray your trust.”
“I’d already come to that chilling conclusion, but I’m glad you know that as well, not that it makes any difference. Now if you’ll excuse me—” She turned to leave.
He muttered a curse. So much for thinking the truth would free them of their pasts. That she would greet him with open arms. That she would be as glad to see him as he was to be near her again.
His old fears rushed forward with the warning he’d heeded all of his adult life. Fool! Trust a woman with your heart and you will end up hurt.
But he already was hurting, his heart aching, his blood pounding so hard his head spun. All his life he’d believed his father’s words had kept him from making a mistake with countless women. Then he’d blamed Delanie’s betrayal—or what he’d believed was her betrayal—when that wasn’t the case at all.
What kept him from committing to any woman was his lack of feeling for those women whose names were long forgotten. All but Delanie. She broke through his defenses. Touched him, even though he’d denied it years ago.
Up until an hour ago he’d still denied it.
Never again. He no longer doubted her word. No longer doubted the feelings surging through his blood. No longer could stand to be apart from her.
Now he knew what was in his heart. He only had to convince her that he was telling the truth.
He stepped in front of her, blocking her way. “If you have nothing to say to me, then you will at least grant me the courtesy of listening while I talk.”
Why was he doing this, ripping her heart apart more just by being here? “Sorry, I have a plane to catch.”
She grabbed her bag and darted around him, starting toward the shrinking boarding line. He let her take all of two steps before he grabbed her arm and turned her around.
“The damned plane can wait.”
Her jaw dropped open, then snapped shut. “It won’t wait, even for your arrogance. I’m not about to miss this flight and have to wait another two hours.”
The anger he’d wielded like a shield cracked, falling away. His frown deepened as he read the tiredness in her eyes.
“You can’t go, Delanie. You can’t leave me.”
Her shoulders slumped, her fingers clutching her bag when what she really wanted to cling to was him. Stupid, but true. That’s how badly she had it for him still. That’s why she couldn’t miss this plane.
“I won’t stay,” she said, staring into his eyes that seemed darker. More intense. More pained. “I won’t be your lover.”
His big hands cupped her upper arms and did that slow glide down and back up, setting her skin on fire and threatening to melt her fast-fading resistance. “But that is just what you are, cara mia.”
She shook her head and found the strength to push him away. “Past tense. What we had is over. I can’t go through that again. Goodbye.”
She whirled and ran to the check-in, fumbling to pull her boarding pass from her bag. Just a few more seconds and she would board the plane. A few more would carry her away from Marco before her composure deserted her.
“I love you, Delanie Tate,” he shouted.
An arctic blast couldn’t have froze her in place any quicker. All thoughts of continuing out the door onto the tarmac and the waiting plane were over.
“What?” she asked, turning to face him.
“I love you, cara.”
She swallowed, pulse trembling wildly. “You can’t be serious.”
“Oh, but I am.” He nudged her chin up and dropped a kiss on her lips, fleetingly, yet she burned for more. “I loved you ten years ago but was too damned afraid of becoming the same obsessed man as my father. I clung to that belief the past two weeks when all I could think of doing was spending every day and night with you for as long as I lived.”
Her gaze probed his and he let her in, let her see the naked soul before her. The barest smile trembled on her lips.
“You aren’t just saying the words. You really do love me as I love you,” she said, wonder in her eyes, in her smile.
“With all my heart and soul,” he said, his lips finding hers again for a long lingering kiss that chased away her doubts, that freed the man she’d fallen in love with years ago.
“Marry me,” he said when they finally came up for air. “Stay in Italy with me and run your company. Be my wife. Mother to my children. Balm to my soul.”
Her lips trembled and tears sprang to her eyes. This was no joke. No ploy.
This was the declaration she’d waited a lifetime to hear.
She dropped her bag and threw her arms around his neck. “Yes. God, yes!”
His arms banded around her, molding her to his length, oblivious of the stragglers watching. He had Delanie in his arms, in his heart, right where she belonged.
He kissed her forehead, her nose, her inviting lips. “I will make you happy, cara mia. I’ll make your dreams come true.”
She smiled and cupped his face, tears of joy swimming in her eyes. “You already have, Marco. You already have.”
* * * * *
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All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.
All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
® and TM are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.
First published in Great Britain 2012
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited.
Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road,
Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR
© Janette Kenny 2012
eISBN: 978-1-408-97465-0
Table of Contents
Cover
Excerpt
About the Author
Title Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Copyright
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Innocent of His Claim Page 18
