‘Oh,’ Halina said again, helplessly. ‘That must have been... What did he do?’
‘He kept me, to his credit.’ Rico flicked his gaze away for a second before he turned resolutely back to face her, his face bland. ‘Raised me himself, with help from some kindly neighbours who looked after me when I was small.’ His lips thinned. ‘It could have been worse.’
‘So you never knew your mother at all? You grew up with your father?’
‘Until I was nine.’ Rico shrugged, as if to dismiss the matter. ‘Then I ended up in an orphanage in Salerno. A convent, run by nuns who didn’t like children very much, as far as I could tell. That’s where I really grew up. I left when I was sixteen and never looked back.’
Sadness clutched at Halina’s heart. It sounded like a truly miserable childhood—not a childhood at all. ‘Oh, Rico, that sounds horrible. So lonely—’
‘I’ve never been lonely.’ He cut across her. ‘I’ve never needed to feel lonely, because long ago I learned to depend only on myself.’ He paused, adding a certain emphasis to the words, making her realise that he wasn’t just talking about his childhood. He was talking about now, about not needing anyone now. Not needing her.
‘But the real reason I told you all this,’ Rico resumed, ‘is to explain that I do know how you feel when you say you’re trapped and want freedom.’
Halina flushed and looked down. It sounded as if Rico’s life had been far more restricted than hers had ever been. She felt ashamed, a spoilt princess whingeing for even more than she already had. ‘I’m sorry for doubting you. I never would have guessed... How did you get to where you are now?’
‘Determination, hard work and a little bit of luck. Perhaps more than a little bit.’ His eyes flashed with fire. ‘I bought my first property when I was nineteen, a rundown warehouse near the docks, and turned it into a gym. I sold it for twenty times what I paid for it when I was twenty-one and then never looked back.’
Halina shook her head slowly. ‘That is truly amazing, Rico. You’re an inspiration.’
He gave a nod of acknowledgement and thanks. ‘So, now I shall ask you again. What would you like to do this afternoon?’
Halina stared at him thoughtfully, wondering what she could suggest that Rico would agree to, that could be fun for them both. Because now that he’d shared something of his life, that surprising insight into a difficult childhood, she realised she wanted to spend time with him. To get to know him, to crack open the door into his mind, if not his heart, and gain another tantalising glimpse.
If they were going to be married, she needed to know this man. Understand him and hopefully even like him.
‘What do you recommend?’ she asked. ‘I spent all my secondary schooling in Italy, but I’ve never actually seen any sights.’
‘That’s tragic.’
‘Have you?’ she challenged and his lips twitched.
‘I’m too busy to sightsee.’
‘Of course you are. But today...?’
He glanced out of the window, his expression as thoughtful as her own. ‘We could see the Colosseum. That’s something I’ve always wanted to visit.’
Halina’s heart leapt with excitement and a strange hope. This was new, doing something together just for fun. Not sex, not squabbling, just simple pleasure, spending time with each other. ‘All right,’ she said. ‘Let’s see that.’
Rico insisted on lunch first, so they ate in the private garden of an elegant bistro only steps from the Colosseum. The food was fresh and delicious, a refreshing breeze ruffling the leaves of the plane trees that offered some much-needed shade.
Halina sat back as they waited for their food, feeling surprisingly happy for the first time in months. Maybe even longer. Her heart was light, anticipation burgeoning inside her.
‘You’re smiling,’ Rico noted as he twirled his wine glass between long, lean fingers.
‘I am, actually,’ she admitted as her smile widened. ‘This is very nice, Rico. Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome.’ He tilted his head, his silvery, heavy-lidded gaze sweeping over her in assessment, considering. ‘You’re quite easily pleased, you know.’
‘Do you really think so?’ Halina took a sip of her sparkling water. ‘I suppose, after the last few months, I am.’
Rico’s eyes narrowed. ‘What does that mean exactly?’
Halina bit her lip and looked away. ‘It doesn’t really matter.’ She didn’t want to drag up all those painful memories, only to have Rico question and doubt her and definitely spoil the fun but fragile mood that had begun to develop between them.
‘And I think it does.’ He leaned forward, as intent as a predator on its prey, and just as lethal. ‘You have never told me about the time between your visits to Rome. Why you didn’t see a doctor. How you ended up in that remote palace.’
‘I thought you believed I’d gone there to escape from you,’ Halina retu