Dante's Honor-Bound Husband by Day Leclaire Page B

where our relationship has been heading. There was never any doubt about that.”
    â€œ What relationship?” she shot back. “We felt a few sparks. Exchanged a few kisses. But we don’t know anything about each other. Certainly not enough for marriage.”
    â€œYou have felt The Inferno with this man?” Primo broke into the conversation.
    She’d never been able to lie to her grandfather. She doubted she’d be able to this time, either. She came as close as she could manage. “Maybe.”
    Constantine held out his right hand, palm up. “Definitely. We felt it the first time we touched.” At Primo’s lifted brow, he added, “Ariana’s wedding.”
    â€œSo many months ago?” her grandfather marveled. “And you have not acted in all this time? How is this possible?”
    Gianna stabbed a finger in Constantine’s direction. “My point exactly. How can it be The Inferno? If it were, he never could have stayed away. Certainly not this long.”
    A hint of anger sparked in Constantine’s gaze and he slowly climbed to his feet, towering over her. “You know damn well why I stayed away.” It was a darn good thing she could speak Italian considering he used it every time he got angry. Which, it would seem, was often. “I had no choice.”
    â€œYou did have a choice. You chose to stay away,” she retorted, folding her arms across her chest. She didn’t care if it made her look defensive. She felt defensive.
    â€œChose?” Anger flashed, caught fire. “I had nothing to offer but my name.”
    â€œThat would have been more than enough for me,” she retorted.
    â€œIt would have dishonored me to live off my wife’s money and provide nothing in return,” he shot back. “For the past nineteen months I have worked day and night to build a business. And I succeeded. I succeeded well enough to move here. Did I ask you to come to me in Italy? No. Because I know how much your family means to you. Instead I opened my business in San Francisco so we would have each other and your family. And what do you tell me when I arrive?” Fury ripped through his voice. “You tell me you’ve moved on. Moved on! ”
    â€œIt had been nearly two years,” she protested. “Was I supposed to wait forever?”
    He kept going as though she’d never interrupted. “You had moved on to that bastard d’Angelo. A man without scruples, without honor. A man who tried to drug you in order to force you into marriage.”
    â€œIf he’d succeeded—” and just the thought had her breaking out in a cold sweat “—I would have told him the same thing I’m telling you. I won’t be forced into marriage. Not by anyone, for any reason.”
    â€œI don’t understand. If you don’t want marriage, thenwhat the hell do you want from me, Gianna?” Constantine demanded. “Why am I here? Or have these past nineteen months been a waste of my time?”
    Good question. She planted her hands on her hips and spared her grandfather a swift glance. He continued to drink his coffee, watching the drama unfolding with an expression of utter delight. Honestly. There were times her family drove her crazy. She looked at Constantine uncertainly. “Are you interested in marriage?”
    He swore. “Why do you think I returned? Why do you think I’m listening to this craziness instead of carting you off to bed and spending the next week compromising you so thoroughly you’ll have no choice but to marry me?”
    Color darkened her cheeks. This time she didn’t dare look at her grandfather, though she heard his soft, choked laughter. She held up her hands. “Enough, already. If you’re serious about a relationship, then you’ll have to go about it the normal way. The old-fashioned way.”
    That stopped him. “What are you talking