Her shoulders rose and fell w
ith the deep breath she took and then let out slowly. “The equipment we have is getting older. We’ve been plagued by failures, among other things. We’re not in a position to invest a lot of money to make updates, but then almost as much ends up going into repairs.”
For the first time since she arrived this afternoon, I noticed how tired she looked. There was no spark in her eyes as she spoke about something I knew she loved.
“Are you giving up?”
“Giving up? No. Considering the offer Georgio brought to me? Perhaps.”
How could a winemaker afford to buy her out? “Where is he getting his capital?”
“Georgio wouldn’t buy Valentini. His investors would.”
“Where would you go?”
“I don’t know.”
“This is more than a winery, Pia. This is your birthright.”
“Sì,” she said again. “Perhaps I don’t deserve it.”
I hoped she was exaggerating, but I wouldn’t assume anything at this point. “If you had an influx of cash, would you be able to recover?”
Pia leaned back and closed her eyes. “Maybe. I’m not certain.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Come here,” I said, pulling her into my arms when I saw a tear run down her face.
She rested her cheek against my heart. “It’s one thing after another, Mylos. I’m exhausted from it. What made me think I could do this?”
She turned in my arms so her body was pressed against mine and then looked up at me. I knew what her eyes were asking: she wanted comfort, but I couldn’t give it to her. Not this way.
When she leaned up and brought her mouth to mine, I turned my head. When she rested her hand on my trousers, I moved it away. When she tried to stand, I held her in my arms. I hated rejecting her, but I had no choice. “I’m sorry. It isn’t you, Pia.”
She jerked out of my arms and turned her back to me.
I spun her around and looked into her eyes. “It isn’t you,” I repeated, pulling her body into mine. Having her this close, made me so hard it hurt. It had been true when I held her in my arms as we danced. It was true now. I couldn’t stop my body’s reaction to her.
When she stiffened, I released her. She rushed into the bedroom and closed the door.
I should leave. Accept this for what it was—the end for Pia and me. The odds were against us. They always had been. Our attraction was undeniable, but I wasn’t the same man I had been, nor would I ever be again. It would be best for both of us if I left now and never looked back.
I had my hand on the door, ready to walk out, when I heard her soft sobs. I remembered earlier when she commented on Edge and how hard what had happened to me must have been on him. It occurred to me that I spent so much time thinking about myself, I didn’t consider the pain of others. Wasn’t that what I was doing now? Pia, already in a vulnerable state, had reached out to me, and I rejected her because of my own fear. I’d even said the words myself. It isn’t you, Pia.
Instead of leaving, I walked over and checked the handle; the door to the bedroom wasn’t locked, so I went inside. I could see Pia’s fragile form on the bed. I joined her and tried to pull her toward me, but she resisted. Instead, I shifted closer and wrapped my body around hers.
I moved her hair from her neck and kissed her soft skin. I trailed my lips down and heard her whimper, “Don’t pity me, Mylos.”
“I would never. There’s nothing to pity. You’re the strongest, most courageous woman I know.” Her body shook and I held on tight.
“I’m sorry,” I murmured as my lips scattered kisses on her shoulder.
“Why are you sorry? You did nothing.”
That was exactly right. I’d done nothing. Nothing for anyone but myself. “I want to help you.”
“There isn’t anything you can do,” she said with a heavy sigh.
There was, but there’d be time for us to talk about that later.