Keira moistened the arid surface of her lips. ‘Yes…’ she said. ‘Very much so.’
Bruno’s tone was full of contempt. ‘You said you’d never take her back, not after what she did. I wouldn’t either. She’s a filthy little—’
‘Shut up, you idiot,’ Jamie said.
Keira felt close to tears. ‘Please, boys…don’t do this…’
Patrizio glanced at her and, with a muttered curse, turned the car into the kerb. He took her into his arms and held her close. ‘It is all right, tesoro mio,’ he said, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. ‘You are not to take any notice of my nephew. He does not yet realise the depth of our love.’
She gave him a tremulous smile and took the handkerchief he offered, wishing with all her heart that he wasn’t acting. ‘I’m sorry…’
‘No, you are not the one who should be apologising,’ he said and, turning to his nephew, commanded, ‘Bruno, you will apologise
for insulting your aunt.’
‘She’s not my aunt,’ Bruno said with another scowl.
‘She is married to me and therefore is considered to be so,’ Patrizio said.
‘Yeah, well, how long is your marriage going to last?’ Bruno said with another curl of his lip. ‘You hardly made it to the first anniversary before she was—’
Patrizio let fly with a string of Italian that made Bruno clamp his lips together, but the look he sent Keira was still full of contempt.
The restaurant was thankfully close by, which meant the tension in the car lessened slightly with the change of scene.
Jamie came to Keira’s side as they were led to their table, his expression concerned. ‘Are you OK?’
She gave him a reassuring smile. ‘I’m fine, Jamie. It’s just all been a bit of an emotional roller coaster…you know…getting back together and all. I never thought it would happen.’
‘Yeah, well, neither did I,’ he said. ‘But thank God it has. I’ve been so worried about you. Everyone has.’
Everyone apart from Patrizio, Keira thought. He would have been happier never to set eyes on her again but here he was, acting as if she were the love of his life.
‘Cara, come and sit by me,’ Patrizio said, taking her hand and leading her to the chair next to his.
Keira sat down and buried her head in the menu rather than meet the surly dark brown gaze of Patrizio’s nephew across the table.
The meal was more of an ordeal than she could have ever imagined. The boys were like two snarling dogs circling each other, waiting to see who would lash out first.
It didn’t help having Patrizio sitting so close to her that she could feel every contraction of his thigh muscles when he moved. Her belly quivered at the thought of how his body had felt inside her just an hour ago, her body still clamouring for the release she had not been able to achieve in that moment of madness.
She sucked in a breath when Patrizio ran his hand up her thigh beneath the table, his fingers so close to where she still pulsed and ached for him that she was sure he would be able to feel it.
‘You are not eating, cara,’ he said with a glint in his eyes. ‘Or is it something else you are craving, mmm?’
‘Oh, please,’ Bruno groaned theatrically. ‘You’re turning me off my food.’
Patrizio eyeballed his nephew. ‘You are nearly eighteen years old, Bruno. You are surely adult enough to understand how intimate relationships work. Keira and I have been separated for two months. It is to be expected that we will want to spend every moment together we can.’
‘Well, don’t let us keep you,’ Jamie said affably. ‘Unlike some people, I think it’s great you’ve finally sorted things out. Keira has been miserable the whole time you’ve been apart, haven’t you, Keira?’
‘Yes…yes, I have,’ Keira answered. ‘Absolutely miserable.’
‘Serves her right,’ Bruno put in with another look of contempt.
Keira decided to stand up for herself and fixed him with a level stare. ‘I hope that you get through life, Bruno, without making any mistakes you will later regret, but the reality is you probably won’t. I made a stupid error of judgement and I’ve been paying for it ever since. I know it’s hard for you to understand and in a way I can’t help admiring you for being so loyal to your uncle, but I truly am sorry. I…I love your uncle…I have never stopped loving him.’
‘Funny way of showing it, having it off with some other guy,’ Bruno muttered darkly.