fast, I would end up just like him. In a loveless marriage, without many true friends, always wondering which piece of me somebody wanted. And that was the last thing I wanted to happen."
I saw the pain on his face, and it melted something inside me.
"So, in a way, he was a great benefactor. He taught me a lesson I might not have learned in any other way, or that I might've learned too late. And he was a great example to me—of exactly how I didn't want to be."
"Antonio, I don't know what to say. Our families were so different. Maria and I, we never had a lot of money, but my parents were always warm and loving. And, until my mother died in the car accident, we were very close knit."
"That's obvious, I've seen the way you and Maria take care of each other. You're very supportive, looking out for one another. I'm even kind of envious."
I smiled, thinking of Maria. Here. Tonight. Being the center of attention.
"I can't tell you how much I appreciate what you've done for us, especially for Maria. And especially tonight. It was truly magical seeing her get the recognition she deserves."
"You both deserve a lot more than you've gotten so far. I'm glad I was able to help Maria, that's one of the advantages of having the right contacts. I'd like to see her spread her wings a little more. Just because she's stuck in a wheelchair—for now—doesn't mean she has to let it be a cage."
I shook my head, smiling up at him as I handed back his handkerchief. I watched him slip it into his pocket while I admired the line of his jaw, and the way the light glinted in his eyes. "I don't know what it is, but I just can't stay angry with you. Even when I'm hurt, when I'm mad as blazes, you surprise me by doing something generous."
"You surprise me too, Angela." He laughed. "Especially tonight. You should've seen Naomi's face when you spilled the wine on her 'accidentally'. It was priceless."
I felt my face flush, remembering the childish glee I'd felt earlier in the evening.
"You're not mad at me?" I asked hopefully.
"Angela, how could I ever be mad at you? Don't you know that by now?"
I pressed my lips together and shook my head. Seriously? Before tonight, and the confessions he'd just made, I'd have found it impossible to believe. "Antonio, I don't know what to think. I can't seem to figure you out."
"My dear, I really am a simple man. I know you may find that hard to believe, especially since I don't flaunt my emotions or wear my heart on my sleeve."
"So then, where do you wear it? I keep trying, but I certainly haven't figured that out yet, either."
He pulled my hand toward him, drawing me closer also. Then he placed my hand on his chest, and covered it with both of his. I felt the steady beating of his heart under my hand. "It's here," he said, staring into my eyes. "Just waiting for you."
For a moment, I couldn't breathe. Then my heart started pounding wildly as a flush of uncertain pleasure washed over me. How long had I waited for this, just hoping he would show me a sign that he felt the same way about me, even if just a little bit?
"But I am here, Antonio," I said, placing my other hand on his cheek. "And I always have been."
He pulled me closer, sliding his arm around my back, grasping my waist as he pressed his chest to mine. He smoothed back my hair with a small flip of his hand, bending his head to nuzzle my neck. The warmth of his lips sent chills down me, electric spikes of pleasure that danced down my spine.
"Oh!" I shivered in anticipation, combing my fingers through his soft, gorgeous hair, excitement shooting from my center as I pressed myself against him.
"Cara mia, it's been too long," he whispered into my neck. "I need you."
Chapter Thirty-Five
ANTONIO
I pulled her toward me, aching to hold her in my arms again. We both knew the time for talking was over. I brushed aside her silky hair, and leaned in to nibble her neck. That sweet, delicious neck of hers that always excited me with
I saw the pain on his face, and it melted something inside me.
"So, in a way, he was a great benefactor. He taught me a lesson I might not have learned in any other way, or that I might've learned too late. And he was a great example to me—of exactly how I didn't want to be."
"Antonio, I don't know what to say. Our families were so different. Maria and I, we never had a lot of money, but my parents were always warm and loving. And, until my mother died in the car accident, we were very close knit."
"That's obvious, I've seen the way you and Maria take care of each other. You're very supportive, looking out for one another. I'm even kind of envious."
I smiled, thinking of Maria. Here. Tonight. Being the center of attention.
"I can't tell you how much I appreciate what you've done for us, especially for Maria. And especially tonight. It was truly magical seeing her get the recognition she deserves."
"You both deserve a lot more than you've gotten so far. I'm glad I was able to help Maria, that's one of the advantages of having the right contacts. I'd like to see her spread her wings a little more. Just because she's stuck in a wheelchair—for now—doesn't mean she has to let it be a cage."
I shook my head, smiling up at him as I handed back his handkerchief. I watched him slip it into his pocket while I admired the line of his jaw, and the way the light glinted in his eyes. "I don't know what it is, but I just can't stay angry with you. Even when I'm hurt, when I'm mad as blazes, you surprise me by doing something generous."
"You surprise me too, Angela." He laughed. "Especially tonight. You should've seen Naomi's face when you spilled the wine on her 'accidentally'. It was priceless."
I felt my face flush, remembering the childish glee I'd felt earlier in the evening.
"You're not mad at me?" I asked hopefully.
"Angela, how could I ever be mad at you? Don't you know that by now?"
I pressed my lips together and shook my head. Seriously? Before tonight, and the confessions he'd just made, I'd have found it impossible to believe. "Antonio, I don't know what to think. I can't seem to figure you out."
"My dear, I really am a simple man. I know you may find that hard to believe, especially since I don't flaunt my emotions or wear my heart on my sleeve."
"So then, where do you wear it? I keep trying, but I certainly haven't figured that out yet, either."
He pulled my hand toward him, drawing me closer also. Then he placed my hand on his chest, and covered it with both of his. I felt the steady beating of his heart under my hand. "It's here," he said, staring into my eyes. "Just waiting for you."
For a moment, I couldn't breathe. Then my heart started pounding wildly as a flush of uncertain pleasure washed over me. How long had I waited for this, just hoping he would show me a sign that he felt the same way about me, even if just a little bit?
"But I am here, Antonio," I said, placing my other hand on his cheek. "And I always have been."
He pulled me closer, sliding his arm around my back, grasping my waist as he pressed his chest to mine. He smoothed back my hair with a small flip of his hand, bending his head to nuzzle my neck. The warmth of his lips sent chills down me, electric spikes of pleasure that danced down my spine.
"Oh!" I shivered in anticipation, combing my fingers through his soft, gorgeous hair, excitement shooting from my center as I pressed myself against him.
"Cara mia, it's been too long," he whispered into my neck. "I need you."
Chapter Thirty-Five
ANTONIO
I pulled her toward me, aching to hold her in my arms again. We both knew the time for talking was over. I brushed aside her silky hair, and leaned in to nibble her neck. That sweet, delicious neck of hers that always excited me with
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