‘My God, Emmeline! If this was about obligation do you think I would have slept with you? I tried so hard to fight that, to not want you as I did, and yet you became my obsession. Think about it, cara. You had given me carte blanche with other women. But I didn’t want them. I wanted you. I have wanted you from the moment we married. Hell, probably from that moment in my office when you were laying down the ground rules for our marriage.’
She rejected his assertion with a skyward flicker of her eyes. ‘Sure. You thought I was so sexy you told me I had to change how I looked.’
He nodded angrily. ‘Yes! Because you were so obviously trying to make yourself as uninteresting as possible. And I was right about that. Because even then I knew you. I don’t care what you look like, for heaven’s sake. I care about how you feel. I want you to be happy. I want you to be happy with me. But if you want to be here at Annersty alone, or—God—with another man eventually, just tell me. Say it and I’ll sign these.’
‘I can’t... I told you. I can’t... This marriage...’
He made a sound of frustration, and before she knew what he was doing—perhaps before even Pietro knew himself—he was sliding into the pool beside her, fully dressed. He kicked his shoes off as he wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her to him. And then he kissed her, the surprised ‘O’ of her mouth giving him the perfect opportunity. He kissed her and she kissed him back.
At least she did for a moment, before her hands lifted to his chest and she sobbed. ‘I’ll never trust you.’
‘Yes, you will.’ He stared down at her earnestly. ‘I think you already do. I think you hate what happened, and I think you’re mad as hell, but I think you love me and you want to find a way to make this work. Do you think that divorcing me will make you happy?’
She stared at him, her expression one of abject fear. And then she shook her head slowly. ‘But I need to know you’re not trapped. That you’re not with me because of him.’
‘I’m not.’ He arched a brow and pulled her closer, dropping his mouth so that his lips were just a millimetre from hers. ‘You gave me a perfect escape clause. You sent me the divorce papers. If I didn’t want to be with you do you think I would have flown halfway around the world the second I got them? No. I would have signed them, posted them and heaved a sigh of relief.’
He watched her face, watched it carefully, so that he saw the play of emotions in her features and particularly the moment comprehension seemed to overcome doubt.
‘I am yours, Emmeline Morelli, for the rest of your life. Married or not, I will never not love you. I will never be with another woman. I will never marry again or have a family. Nothing. Because all that I am...all that I will ever be...is tied up in you.’
Her breath was held in her throat. But still he wasn’t sure she understood. So he kissed her again. He kissed her and he whispered into her mouth, over and over and over, like a spell being cast just for her. ‘Ti amo, mi amore. Ti amo.’
In response Emmeline reached up, out of the pool, sliding her fingers across the tiles until they reached the divorce papers. She pulled at them and then, without breaking their kiss, dropped them into the water.
‘I love you too.’
‘Per sempre?’ he groaned.
She nodded. ‘Yes. Forever.’
EPILOGUE
Three years later
EMMELINE STOOD IN her graduation robe, clutching her degree, a beaming smile on her face. In the front row sat Pietro, so handsome, so beautiful, and beside him Rafe, Ria and Sophie. Emmeline smiled down at them, waving her fingers as Pietro snapped a photograph, then moved off-stage.
Three blissful years, a university degree, and now she was on the cusp of a life that was about to change forever.
There was a swirling sense of celebration and she took part in all of it—smiling through the after-party, making polite conversation with the university professors who had been so helpful to her.
Finally, though, she was alone with her husband.
‘I have something for you,’ he said, with obvious pride.
‘I have something for you,’ Emmeline repeated. ‘Let me go first?’
‘Certo.’ He grinned. ‘Though it hardly seems fair. You are the one who graduated with distinction today. Surely the gifts should all be for you?’
‘My gift is a present to me, too.’
She reached into her bag and pulled out an envelope, handing it to him. She watched as he lifted the flap and then looked at the front of the card. It was just a generic I love you gift card she’d picked up at the pharmacist. Nothing special.
But when he opened it to read the contents inside, and lifted his eyes to her face, she saw his shock and surprise and she laughed.
‘This says we are going to be parents.’
‘I know. I wrote it.’
His jaw dropped and he read the card again, his eyes scanning it over and over just to be sure.
‘Are you serious?’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘But...when?’
Emmeline laughed. ‘I think we’ve given ourselves plenty of opportunities, don’t you?’
‘We’re going to be parents.’
He closed his eyes, and when he opened them they were swimming with emotion. He dragged her against his chest and kissed her, and she kissed him back, her heart soaring with love and optimism.
What they were—who they’d become—had taken a leap of faith, a mountain of trust and all the courage Emmeline possessed. And it had been worth it.
She stood in the arms of the man she adored, knowing without doubt that they would live happily. Per sempre.
* * * * *
Coming soon
CLAIMING HIS HIDDEN HEIR
Carol Marinelli
‘We were so hot, Cecelia, and we
