His jaw clenched.
‘I employed private detectives to find her. The trail led to Mexico, where her lover came from, but they were never found. I’d given up hope of seeing my son again when Karin contacted me four years later and said I could visit Nicky.’
Leah put her coffee cup down and waited tensely for Marco to continue.
‘They were living on a rundown ranch,’ he said. ‘Her lover had turned out not to be a hotshot film producer after all, and Karin had spent all her divorce settlement. She told me that I could have custody of Nicky, and take him to live in Italy, but only if I paid her ten million dollars.’
He grimaced when Leah gasped.
‘I was incensed that Karin was prepared to sell Nicky to me.’ Marco stared at the fire and when he spoke again his voice was strained. ‘I lost my temper and told her I was going to fight her for custody of my son and she could rot in hell. I refused to give her any more money.’
He raked his hand through his hair.
‘I went outside and walked around the ranch while I tried to bring my temper under control. When I returned to the house I discovered that Karin had driven away with Nicky. I couldn’t bear to lose him again. I jumped into my car, praying I would be able to catch up with her so we could have a reasonable discussion about Nicky’s future.’
A haunted look crossed his face.
‘I drove round a sharp bend and saw Karin’s car on its roof at the side of the road. She must have taken the corner too fast. There was a strong smell of fuel...’ He swallowed. ‘All I could think of was getting Nicky out of the car before it caught fire. I didn’t make it back in time for Karin.’
‘Marco!’ Leah jumped up and went over to him, her soft heart aching at the agony in his eyes. ‘You were not to blame.’
‘I know—but I didn’t know it then. It was only later that an inquest confirmed that Karin had died on impact. I hated Karin for depriving me of my son, but she was Nicky’s mother and I still wish I’d been able to save her.’
Leah touched the scar on his cheek. ‘You risked your life to save Nicky from that burning car.’
He captured her hand and linked his fingers through hers. ‘I keep those pictures of Karin to show Nicky. I tell him that his mother was wonderful and she loved him. He must never know that she was willing to give him up for money.’
His eyes narrowed and Leah attempted to ease her hand out of his.
‘I had no intention of marrying a second time. Yes, I wanted to take you to bed, but I had no need of a wife—especially one who seemed as money-orientated as my ex.’
‘No wonder you were so furious when I proposed a marriage deal,’ Leah mumbled.
‘But I quickly realised that you are kind and caring, and you established a connection with my son that I had been unable to do.’
‘You were right when you guessed that I love Nicky,’ she said in a choked voice. ‘But even for him I can’t accept a loveless marriage.’
‘I didn’t want to fall in love with you.’
Marco slid his hand beneath her chin and gently forced her to look at him. The expression blazing in his eyes robbed her of her breath.
‘I don’t have much experience of love,’ he said huskily.
Leah’s heart shattered into a thousand pieces.
‘Even when I suggested making our marriage permanent I was arrogant enough to believe that you were no threat to my barren heart. But then you left.’
‘I had to,’ she whispered. ‘You offered me everything except the one thing I truly wanted. Living with you, knowing that you would never love me, seemed worse than leaving and hoping that I’d get over you.’ Her mouth crumpled.
‘Ah, Leah, my love,’ Marco said quietly. ‘When I read your note I realised what a fool I had been. I’d kidded myself that I was in control of my feelings, but you had gone, and the truth hit me. I wanted you to be my wife for ever because I will love you for eternity.’
He brushed away her tears with fingers that shook, and Leah’s heart turned over when she saw that his eyelashes were damp.
‘You have my heart and my soul, tesoro mia. All I ask in return is that you promise to love me and stay with me for the rest of time.’
‘I will,’ she said simply.
‘Why are you crying, amore? I intend to spend every day of my life making you happy.’
‘I am happy. But I’m scared this won’t last.’
Marco nodded, and there was a wealth of understanding in his tender expression. ‘It will. We have it all, my angel. Passion, friendship, trust and love. Always love.’
He drew her down onto the rug and they undressed each other with trembling hands. When he took possession of her mouth there was such beauty and promise in his kiss that the last of Leah’s doubts disappeared. And when he made love to her it felt new and wondrous, because there was honesty in every caress and love beyond measure.
‘Tu sei la mia amata rosa,’ Marco whispered as he held her against his heart. ‘You are my beloved rose. Ti amo.’
EPILOGUE
‘IT WAS A lovely christening,’ Leah said as she climbed out of the helicopter and Marco slid his arm around her waist, walking with her across the garden at Villa Rosa. ‘James and Davina looked so proud of baby Sophie—and your mother is obviously smitten with her new granddaughter.’
Marco nodded. ‘And Nicky seemed to enjoy spending time with his English relatives. It was James’s idea to have the baby christened in Nancarrow Hall’s chapel.’ He looked down at Leah and his tender smile stole her breath. ‘I’m glad we went to Cornwall to meet the newest addition to the family, but it’s good to be home.’
Home. It had a wonderful sound, Leah thought as they strolled into the villa. It was early summer and the roses around the front door were starting to open, filling the warm air with their exquisite perfume.
‘Papà, you promised we could go swimming!’ Nicky ran up to his father, his big brown eyes shining. ‘And Mamma too.’ The little boy grinned at Leah. ‘Will my baby brother like swimming when he’s born?’
‘I’m sure he will,’ she said softly. ‘When he’s big enough you will be able to teach him.’
‘Cool. He can have my armbands, because I don’t need them any more.’ Nicky tore up the stairs and paused to hang over the bannister. ‘I’m going to get my swim-shorts. Hurry up, Mamma and Papà.’
‘I don’t know where our eldest son gets his energy from,’ Marco murmured.
‘Our younger son is pretty energetic too.’ Leah captured her husband’s hand and held it against the swell of her stomach. ‘Can you feel him moving?’
Marco’s features softened as he spread his fingers over her bump and the baby kicked. They both smiled at this sign of the new life they had created.
‘Tesoro...’ he said huskily, before claiming her mouth in a lingering kiss. ‘In a couple of months we will be a family of four.’
‘I can’t wait for Matteo to arrive.’
‘Have I told you how happy you make me?’
‘Many times.’ She linked her arms around Marco’s neck as he scooped her up and held her against his chest, as though she and the child that she carried were infinitely precious. ‘You make me the happiest woman in the world. I love you.’
His grey eyes gleamed. ‘And I love you.’
Coming next month
ITALY’S MOST SCANDALOUS VIRGIN
Carol Marinelli
Dante’s want for her was perpetual, a lit fuse he was constantly stamping out, but it was getting harder and harder to keep it up. His breathing was ragged; there was a shift in the air and he desperately fought to throw petrol on the row, for his resistance was fast fading. ‘What did you think, Mia, that we were going to walk into the church together? A family united? Don’t make me laugh…’
No one was laughing.
‘Take your tea and go to bed.�
�� Dante dismissed her with an angry wave of his hand, but even as he did so he halted, for it was not his place to send her to bed. ‘I didn’t mean that. Do what you will. I will leave.’
‘It’s fine. I’m going up.’ She retrieved the tray.
‘We leave tomorrow at eleven,’ he said again as they headed through to the entrance.
‘Yes.’
She turned then and gave him a tight smile, and saw his black eyes meet hers, and there was that look again between them, the one they had shared at the dining table. It was a look that she dared not decipher.
His lips, which were usually plump and red, the only splash of colour in his black and white features, were for once pale. There was a muscle leaping in his cheek, and she was almost sure it was pure contempt, except her body was misreading it as something else.
She had always been aware of his potent sexuality, but now Mia was suddenly aware of her own.
Conscious that she was naked beneath the gown, her breasts felt full and heavy, aware of the lust that danced inappropriately in the air between them. The prison gates were parting further and she was terrified to step out. ‘Goodnight,’ she croaked, and climbed the stairs, almost tipping the tray and only able to breathe when she heard the door slam.
Tea forgotten, she lay on the bed, frantic and unsettled. So much for the Ice Queen! She was burning for him in a way she had never known until she’d met Dante.
Mia had thought for a long time that there was something wrong with her, something missing in her make-up, for she’d had little to no interest in sex. Even back at school she would listen in on her peers, quietly bemused by their obsessive talking about boys and the things they did that to Mia sounded filthy. Her mother’s awkward talk about the facts of life had left Mia revolted. The fact of Mia’s life: it was something she didn’t want! There was no reason she could find. There had been no trauma, nothing she could pin it to. Just for her, those feelings simply did not exist. Mia had tried to ignite the absent fire and had been on a couple of dates, but had found she couldn’t even tolerate kisses, and tongues positively revolted her. She couldn’t bear to consider anything else.
And while this marriage had given her a unique chance to heal from the appalling disaster that had befallen her family, the deeper truth was that it had given her a chance to hide from something she perhaps ought to address.
A no-sex marriage had felt like a blessing when she and Rafael had agreed to it.
Yet the ink had barely dried on the contract when she had found out that though those feelings might be buried deep, they were there after all.
Mia had been just a few days into the pretend position of Rafael’s PA, and the carefully engineered rumours had just started to fly, when Dante Romano had walked in. A mere moment with him had helped her understand all she had been missing, for with just a look she found herself reacting in a way she never had before.
His dark eyes had transfixed her, the deep growl of his voice had elicited a shiver low in her stomach, and even his scent, as it reached her, went straight to form a perfect memory. When Dante had asked who she was, his voice and his presence had alerted, startled and awoken her. So much so that she had half expected him to snap his fingers like a genie right before her scalding face.
Three wishes?
You.
You.
You.
Continue reading
ITALY’S MOST SCANDALOUS VIRGIN
Carol Marinelli
Available next month
Copyright ©2020 by Carol Marinelli
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
http://www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Canada
Bay Adelaide Centre, East Tower
22 Adelaide Street West, 41st Floor
Toronto, ON, M5H 4E3, Canada
http://www.harpercollins.ca
India
HarperCollins India
A 75, Sector 57
Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201 301, India
http://www.harpercollins.co.in
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers (New Zealand) Limited
P.O. Box 1
Auckland, New Zealand
http://www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF
http://www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
195 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
http://www.harpercollins.com
Her Wedding Night Negotiation (Mills & Boon Modern) Page 17
