The Sicilian's Bought Cinderella

‘No, I will be working with his son.’

‘But his feelings will be hurt.’

‘I will let him down gently. It was not my company they desired but yours.’

‘Honestly, Dante, I don’t mind staying a few extra days. It’s the least I can do for you.’

He grimaced. ‘I’m flying to Madrid tonight and have back-to-back meetings for the next two days.’

‘I’ve never been to Madrid.’

‘It’s a beautiful city and I recommend you visit it one day.’

One day?

‘Dante... Don’t you like the idea of us having a few more days together?’

‘It would be fun if I had the time, but I don’t.’

Fun?

‘Have I done something to upset you?’

‘No. You’ve played your part very well... Va bene.’ His tone lifted a notch. ‘The money has been transferred. I will charter a flight back to Ireland for you this afternoon. I would lend you my jet but I need it to get to Madrid. I’ll have a car waiting at the airport to drive you home.’ He finally looked up from his phone.

The blankness in the eyes, normally so full of expression and life, was enough to make her blood freeze.

‘Have you finished packing? We need to go.’

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

DANTE DROVE THE car out of the castle grounds and took the route straight to the airport.

He would drop Aislin there then go home and get himself organised for his flight to Madrid.

He stretched his mind to the coming week and the business he needed to take care of. Now that the deal with the D’Amores was back on, he would need to reschedule appointments and get systems up and running. There was a lot of work in the weeks and months ahead.

Aislin’s phone rang, cutting through the silence.

They hadn’t exchanged a word since getting into his car.

She’d been her usual bright, bubbly self when saying goodbye to everyone but he had sensed the melancholy beneath it and had the strangest feeling he had hurt her.

It had been good of her to offer to stay with him and attend the dinner with Riccardo but he had put her out enough.

It was time to say goodbye. Their job was done.

There was no reason for him to prolong their time together, something he had told himself with resolute firmness when he had showered that morning before breakfast.

He’d enjoyed some great times with her, but now it was over, exactly as had been agreed right at the very start of it all. His feelings on the matter had only hardened.

‘Are you not going to answer that?’ he asked when she ignored her phone.

‘It’ll be Orla.’

‘Then why not answer it?’

‘Because I know what she’s going to ask and I don’t have an answer for her.’