Page 18 of The Don's Secret Heir

I swallow hard again, feeling like there’s a knot in my throat I can barely speak around.

“Thank you. For... for everything, Dario.”

“So then it’s settled? We’ll get married?” It’s not exactly hope in his voice. More like... resignation.

“No. Of course not. Like I said, it’s crazy. Especially given who you are.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You have an entire penthouse dedicated to having one-night-stands, Dario.”

“Well, it’s not like that would have to change.”

I peer up at him, narrowing my eyes. “What?”

He shrugs. “I can live my life, still. We’d be married in name only.”

A rush of breath comes out of my throat. So hedoesn’twant to get back together. That shouldn’t sting, especially since I had no intention of taking him back, but it does.

“So what, it’d just be a marriage of convenience?”

“Exactly. I’d be free to do whatever I wanted.”

I hum. “And so would I.”

He blinks but then shrugs as if shaking it off. “Of course.”

“Sure. Tit for tat,” I say quietly, as if I’m not absolutely seething inside. I’m over Dario. I really am. But if I have to watch him with other women... “But you won’t have women over.”

“Of course not. Like I said, that’s what the penthouse is for.”

Uh-huh. The penthouse that he took me to. Goes to show I was never more to him than a fling.

Jealousy rushes over me when I think about it, but I tamp it down.

“I guess I’ll have my dates outside the house, too.”

He grits his teeth and I fight a grin, knowing I’ve gotten to him.

“What about Sonny?”

“I’m sure you’ll help me with a babysitter. Wouldn’t you?”

“Of course,” he says, his voice still strained.

“You should make some calls,” I warn him. “Might have a date soon.”

“Right.”

I climb into bed, exhausted, but I’m still fighting a grin. What Dario doesn’t know is that I haven’t dated anyone since I found out I was pregnant with Sonny. I’ve been completely celibate, only because I’ve been so focused on Sonny.

But he doesn’t know that, and plus, it might change soon, anyway. If there was ever a time to get back out there, it’s now.

Maybe I’ll find someone else, plan my life all over again. Get the marriage to Dario annulled. Maybe I’ll find someone who won’t cheat on me like he did.

A girl can dream, can’t she?

Dario walks to the doorway.