The Vows He Must Keep

She turned back, swallowing hard past the lump in her throat and pasting on another bright smile. ‘Yes?’

‘I...I just wanted to say that I don’t regret this weekend,’ he said stiffly, his expression hard and intense. ‘I don’t regret whatever this was between us.’

‘Neither do I.’ She smiled—as though her heart wasn’t breaking into a thousand tiny pieces at his use of the past tense. ‘It was...exactly what I needed. Thank you.’

She turned away again before she completely lost her composure and moved to close the door softly behind her. She wasn’t prepared for him to barge through it, bearing down on her in the hallway.

‘“Thank you”?’ he growled quietly, eyes glinting like sapphires in the evening light.

‘What do you want me to say?’ She felt her head shaking, her insides trembling dangerously. She needed to get away from him—get some breathing room before she totally embarrassed herself.

‘I didn’t do this as some sort of service, if that’s what you’re telling yourself.’ His voice was low and gravelly, his eyes refusing to leave hers. ‘The marriage is one thing, but let there be no misunderstanding that this...whatever this energy is between you and I...was just for us.’

‘Valerio...’ She bit her lip as he moved towards her and flattened his hands against the wall on either side of her head.

‘Tell me you don’t want me,’ he whispered. ‘Even just one more time.’

‘Why don’t you tell me what it is that you want, Valerio?’

She heard the longing in her voice. Felt the choking fear of this coming to an end and the foolish desire for him to offer her everything she dreamed of. She didn’t just want one more time. She couldn’t bear the idea of accepting whatever little offering he wanted to give to get her out of his system and move on to someone else. She wanted it all and it terrified her.

‘Right now? I just want you to kiss me,’ he murmured huskily.

She reached up, her lips seeking his. Her hands dug into his hair and pulled him close. The growl he let out in his throat sent heat flooding straight to her groin. God, would he ever stop setting her off like this?

But he had never given any indication that he thought of this as anything more. He remained rooted firmly in the present, refusing to think ahead, to see the risks. She couldn’t ignore the red flags any longer—she couldn’t place all her faith in blind hope. She was no longer just falling into dangerous territory with this powerful, fierce warrior of a man. She had plummeted right into the unknown.

She was in love with him.

She broke the kiss, closing her eyes tight against the realisation, her throat convulsing wildly as his breath fanned her cheek. His delicious scent was everywhere, his warm body so close, and she could feel his eyes on her. But she had a feeling that even if he wasn’t right there she would still feel him. He had climbed his way into her chest, folding himself around her heart.

What had she got herself into?

‘Are you crying?’ He held her chin, tilting up her face with a deep frown.

She swiped the tears from her face, forcing herself to meet his eyes even as she felt her heart break. ‘Valerio...let’s not make this harder than it needs to be. I don’t think either of us are ready for the fallout. I think...this needs to end now. While we can still go back to being friends and partners in this arrangement.’

Footsteps sounded in the hallway, and without warning, Valerio’s mother advanced on them, a phone hooked in between her ear and her shoulder. Dani scrambled to rub the moisture from her eyes and regain some composure.

‘Daniela, I just wanted to check if you prefer white roses or...’ Renata paused, taking in the sight of the two of them standing stiffly side by side.

Dani groaned inwardly, knowing her nose was likely bright pink and her feelings complete

ly obvious. She prayed that the smile she forced would be convincing and mumbled something about adoring white roses before quickly excusing herself and going back into the bathroom.

She slid the lock closed before moving to the mirror and grabbing a wet flannel to scrub at the slightly smeared mascara under her eyes. Mortification crept up her chest and heated her cheeks.

Closing her eyes, she scrambled for her phone and hit the button to call Hermione, but was greeted by her friend’s voicemail. She compensated by sending a single text, all in capital letters, asking what on earth she’d been thinking to tell Nicole about their elopement. No reply came.

Eventually she was going to have to leave this bathroom and face her fiancé. It was no big deal, she told herself, and straightened her shoulders and took a few deep breaths. She was in the business of presenting an image of what people wanted to see. She could do this—she could pretend to be his adoring fiancée for the rest of this trip. She could stand by Valerio’s side and vow to love and cherish him as his wife without falling to pieces, couldn’t she?

She sucked in a sharp breath. No big deal... No big deal at all.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THERE WAS NO opportunity for Valerio to continue their conversation, as they weren’t given any more time alone together. At the insistence of Renata, the men were hurried away to stay in one of the new yachts on the marina for the night, while the women stayed at the villa.

Valerio had explained the heightened security presence as his own need for protection, which his family had accepted with a slight look of worry. In the short time since Dani had come crashing back into his life, he had almost forgotten that the world still presumed him mad with paranoia.