Page 17 of Unveiled As The Italian's Bride
‘Suits you,’ he murmured. ‘Subtle but elegant.’ Yes, it was the first thing he had noticed when she and Angelina had hurried in, because it was the first time he’d seen her in anything other than the sort of background gear she seemed so fond of wearing.
But had he intended to say anything? He just hadn’t been able to help himself in the face of her elegance...the slight gracefulness of her body... She might not have the careless, flamboyant confidence of a lot of the women he’d known, including his ex-wife, but there was a certain understated elegance about her that was equallysexy.More so, if anything. He dropped his gaze and felt his breathing quicken.
Kate fiddled nervously with the stem of her wine glass and sneaked a glance at Dante from under her lashes.
A white loose shirt emphasised the burnished tone of his skin and she was fascinated by the whorls of hair curling around the dull chrome metal band of his watch.
From this angle, she was offered a tantalising glimpse of muscular thighs spread apart encased in casual dark trousers that managed to look coolly elegant and wildly sexy at the same time.
Why was her focus suddenly drifting—because he’d made some offhand remark about the clothes she happened to be wearing?
‘I’m surprised he wasn’t more inquisitive,’ she said, reverting to safer waters. ‘But I suppose that’s all for the good. One thing we haven’t discussed is the actual business of the wedding. I realise you’re a very important person over here and—’
‘No need to worry on that score,’ Dante interrupted. When she arched her eyebrows, he continued neutrally, ‘I had the big deal when I married Angelina’s mother. I have no intention of a repeat performance, whatever happens to be expected of me.’
‘Oh. Good.’
‘Any other questions or concerns?’
‘I—I felt awful about deceiving your uncle,’ she said quietly. ‘I know this is a done deal, but I suppose being here...watching his face light up...’
Dante tilted his head to one side and gazed at her in silence for such a long time that she began to fidget.
‘You’re very sentimental, aren’t you?’
‘I—I’ve never really thought about it, to be honest.’
‘When you’re with Angelina, when you talk about her, your face is transformed and the same just then—you looked damp-eyed, imagining that we are in the process of committing a heinous crime by entering into this contract.’
Kate shrugged. ‘I—I don’t think I’m out of the ordinary in feeling a twinge of guilt. It’s just that you—you’re—’
‘What? What am I?’
‘I wouldn’t want to offend you.’
‘I wouldn’t worry on that score,’ Dante said gently. ‘I don’t offend easily.’
‘Well, then, I guess you’re so...cold.Do you ever reallylaugh? Have you ever let your hair down?’ She shot him a helpless look from under her lashes. ‘You—you’re like a robot!’ She instantly wished she could take those hurtful words back as a dark flush delineated his sharp cheekbones.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said in a rush.
‘Why?’ He shrugged. ‘We’re just very different people.’
‘And, yet when you came back into the kitchen, I could see you really enjoyed that bedtime ritual with Angelina.’
Dante shifted and went to pour himself some more champagne, only to discover that they had finished the bottle, so drank some water instead. His flush deepened and he glanced at her.
‘I... It was, yes... I enjoyed it. Doesn’t happen often. My fault. I should...’ He raked his fingers through his hair and frowned. He could hear the stiffness in his voice but knew he couldn’t fight it. It was just who he was, for better or for worse, and yet, next to her open, transparent spontaneity, that stiffness made him feel a thousand years old.
‘Should what?’
‘Nothing. It is... Life’s far too short for regrets.’
‘But never too short for new beginnings,’ Kate returned gently. ‘We’re here tomorrow. Why don’t you take Angelina somewhere—out for the day? Not just an expensive meal somewhere.’
‘I...’
‘Is that a yes?’
