genetically programmed to do—to protect you and the baby. You should have seen his father when I was pregnant. Each time the man became an over-attentive lunatic. But it was his way of showing he loved me.”
Ava nodded. She closed her mouth over the words, “But Joel doesn’t love me.” If Joel did love her, there would be no question of whether she’d accept his proposal. If Joel loved her, she’d marry him, end of story.
Because if he loved her, he’d include her in his life, and he wouldn’t keep secrets. But that wasn’t the case.
At least she wasn’t the only one being shut out. It sounded like after the accident, Joel had done his damnedest to exclude everyone in his family.
Joel took her hand in his and helped her up. His fingers were searing and awareness zapped over her. Every time he touched her, her skin burned. No man had ever made her so aware of her own body. But no man had ever kept her at such a distance either. She had to remember that.
“Tomorrow we’ll have a picnic on the beach, and I’ll show you where I grew up,” Joel said.
She nodded. “Okay, show me your beach. But I’m onto your game.”
“What game? I’m not playing with you.”
“The game is: show me your wonderful mother, make me like her. Then show me your stunning beach and all the while try to coerce me into marrying you.” She laid a hand over her heart.
He shrugged and didn’t have the decency to express any shame. “You need to get to know me, so you can see I’ll give you what you need.” He lifted her hand, pressed it to his mouth, running his warm tongue over her fingertip then with gentle teeth, he nipped until she shivered.
God the man had such power over her. Just one nip, and her breasts were aching, her nipples pebbling. Her deluded body didn’t care that he didn’t love her. It wanted the physical closeness. The out-of-control pleasure he’d given her.
But she needed to resist Joel. She had a life-altering decision to make, and she wanted to keep sex and chemistry out of it so she could decide whether Joel would be a good husband and a loving father for her child.
Yes, Ava had told him she wanted love. And she still did. But could she reach Joel enough to make him love her? Enough for her to hope that in time he’d fall for her?
If not, should she still marry him?
The moment Ava read the plus sign, things had changed, and it wasn’t just about what she wanted anymore. She needed to make the most informed decision in order to create the best life for her child. And her child deserved a father devoted to him or her.
But she didn’t want to give her baby a life of bitter hatred, one that came from divorce. She wouldn’t allow her child to suffer like she had, growing up in a family void of love and affection.
She followed Joel up a winding staircase, still thinking how this journey could prove to be the most important trip of her life. She’d come to Sicily with Joel to learn all she could so she could make a decision. That’s why she was being drawn into his family and uncovering small hints of his painful past.
Joel stopped and opened the door to an elegant, pastel suite. The room was pure luxury, but she missed the details because her gaze locked with his as he towered in the doorway. The room, the house, everything disappeared. Everything but his searing eyes.
“Until we’re married, you’ll have your own room. But the adjoining door remains unlocked. If you find yourself… awake tonight.”
She leaned back. “I’ll sleep like the dead.”
He smiled. Another actual emotion displayed. Progress? She could only hope.
He cupped her face with both hands and pulled her in close. She absorbed the warmth of his hard body, her curves pressed against his lean muscle, his scent intoxicating her. He leaned down, as she arched onto her toes, deciding to allow him only one kiss. Then she’d pull free.
He kissed her like she was made from spun sugar, and she’d crumble under the
Ava nodded. She closed her mouth over the words, “But Joel doesn’t love me.” If Joel did love her, there would be no question of whether she’d accept his proposal. If Joel loved her, she’d marry him, end of story.
Because if he loved her, he’d include her in his life, and he wouldn’t keep secrets. But that wasn’t the case.
At least she wasn’t the only one being shut out. It sounded like after the accident, Joel had done his damnedest to exclude everyone in his family.
Joel took her hand in his and helped her up. His fingers were searing and awareness zapped over her. Every time he touched her, her skin burned. No man had ever made her so aware of her own body. But no man had ever kept her at such a distance either. She had to remember that.
“Tomorrow we’ll have a picnic on the beach, and I’ll show you where I grew up,” Joel said.
She nodded. “Okay, show me your beach. But I’m onto your game.”
“What game? I’m not playing with you.”
“The game is: show me your wonderful mother, make me like her. Then show me your stunning beach and all the while try to coerce me into marrying you.” She laid a hand over her heart.
He shrugged and didn’t have the decency to express any shame. “You need to get to know me, so you can see I’ll give you what you need.” He lifted her hand, pressed it to his mouth, running his warm tongue over her fingertip then with gentle teeth, he nipped until she shivered.
God the man had such power over her. Just one nip, and her breasts were aching, her nipples pebbling. Her deluded body didn’t care that he didn’t love her. It wanted the physical closeness. The out-of-control pleasure he’d given her.
But she needed to resist Joel. She had a life-altering decision to make, and she wanted to keep sex and chemistry out of it so she could decide whether Joel would be a good husband and a loving father for her child.
Yes, Ava had told him she wanted love. And she still did. But could she reach Joel enough to make him love her? Enough for her to hope that in time he’d fall for her?
If not, should she still marry him?
The moment Ava read the plus sign, things had changed, and it wasn’t just about what she wanted anymore. She needed to make the most informed decision in order to create the best life for her child. And her child deserved a father devoted to him or her.
But she didn’t want to give her baby a life of bitter hatred, one that came from divorce. She wouldn’t allow her child to suffer like she had, growing up in a family void of love and affection.
She followed Joel up a winding staircase, still thinking how this journey could prove to be the most important trip of her life. She’d come to Sicily with Joel to learn all she could so she could make a decision. That’s why she was being drawn into his family and uncovering small hints of his painful past.
Joel stopped and opened the door to an elegant, pastel suite. The room was pure luxury, but she missed the details because her gaze locked with his as he towered in the doorway. The room, the house, everything disappeared. Everything but his searing eyes.
“Until we’re married, you’ll have your own room. But the adjoining door remains unlocked. If you find yourself… awake tonight.”
She leaned back. “I’ll sleep like the dead.”
He smiled. Another actual emotion displayed. Progress? She could only hope.
He cupped her face with both hands and pulled her in close. She absorbed the warmth of his hard body, her curves pressed against his lean muscle, his scent intoxicating her. He leaned down, as she arched onto her toes, deciding to allow him only one kiss. Then she’d pull free.
He kissed her like she was made from spun sugar, and she’d crumble under the
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