‘Don’t mock me, Raf. I know Faye, and I know you.’
‘Is that right?’
‘I see the way she looks at you, and I know this can only ever be a bit of fun for you. But for her... She wants it all. She’ll fall for you and then what? You’ll pass her up, like you have done every woman before, and I’ll be left with the guilt of her heartbreak and all at the hands of my brother. Don’t shake your head at me.’
I don’t even realise I’m still doing it, but I don’t want to listen to her opinion any more. Or the way it resonates with what Faye has told me. Her dreams of a future, of children and settling down, all things I could never offer her. All things that her ex promised and took away.
But I haven’t promised her more. I haven’t promised her anything.
‘She’s a grown woman, Dani, more than capable of looking out for herself. You don’t need to fight her corner.’
‘I do if it means protecting her from you.’ She places a hand on my arm to soften the blow of her words. ‘Ti voglio bene, fratellone. But Faye...leave her alone. You are the stuff of dreams, the Italian billionaire from the romance novels she adores. Handsome, honourable, lovable, though you try hard not to be...’
I swallow down the wedge forming in my throat. The wedge of guilt, realisation and a need to refute it all.
‘You will break her heart. You won’t mean to, but...’ She wets her lips and attempts a smile. ‘There are just a few more days left. Surely you can resist her for a little longer?’
Resist.
She’s right to ask it of me. Diavolo, I should be telling myself to resist with all that I’ve learned. But to never kiss Faye again, to avoid...
‘Please, fratellone.’
I focus on Dani’s imploring gaze and feel myself nod. ‘You have no need to worry.’
Because ultimately, Faye knows this is temporary. Just a hot fling. That’s been clear between us, hasn’t it?
And though I believe it—I do—it still leaves a bitter taste on my tongue.
‘Bene.’ She pats my arm and pulls me into a tight embrace. ‘Grazie, Rafael. Grazie.’
I barely move, as her gratitude makes me feel like a fraud, a liar, a brother who cannot be trusted. And I am none of those things. I’m not.
Only, Faye... She makes me forget myself.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Danielle and Tyler’s Wedding Week
Thursday: Seafood and Sailing.
‘COME ON, FAYE! It’s no good having a yacht for the day if we’re going to spend most of our time docked in port.’
Dani’s hanging over the side rail, her bikini-clad body a bronze vision against the vivid blue sky above, her brown eyes dancing as brightly as her teasing grin.
‘I’m coming! I’m coming!’ I rush out over the stab of guilt that they’re all waiting for me. But then, I’d hardly been thinking clearly when we set off from the castle this morning, hence why I had to go back for the swimsuit I left behind...for a day of swimming and sailing. Yeah, I’m that distracted.
I look to the gangway beneath my feet, careful not to lose my footing and end up in the water. Because that would really top the day off, even the last forty-eight hours.
I’m not missing him. I’m not.
How can I when we’re virtually always within talking distance? Granted, there are always people between us too, something which feels very much orchestrated by him. And I should be grateful, really, really grateful, that Rafael’s preventing the temptation of anything else happening between us. But my body’s less inclined to agree.
Yes, it’s just your body, not something more...something more real.
But opening up to him as I did only made the connection between us run deeper, stronger...and I’d foolishly started to hope, to dream, that he could change. That he could want more from this too.
Instead, he’s reaffirmed his bachelor status, and it’s left me reeling. And it’s not even his fault. He never promised me more. I was properly warned. I wasn’t supposed to fall for him.
‘All okay?’ Dani descends the stairs in front of me and I swear she’s glowing, her happiness radiating.
‘Absolutely.’
She beams at me. ‘You’ll be wanting to change, then?’
She eyes my maxi dress, which is neither sailing-worthy nor swim-worthy. ‘Please.’
‘You brought the red bikini, right?’
I roll my eyes. ‘Yes. And will you let up? I think Dante and I have established a nice, platonic relationship. I don’t need any more meddling from you.’
‘Let me be the judge of that. It’s been too long, Faye.’ She hooks her arm through mine and leads me deeper into the yacht. ‘It’s time you buried Bobby under a stack of adventurous fun, and Dante is just the man.’
My cheeks flush and I pray my sunglasses help to hide my discomfort, my guilt. If only she knew...
‘You can change in the master suite. Nothing less for my awesome maid of honour.’
I follow her up a set of stairs, taking in the impressive yacht as we go. I’ve been on yachts before, mainly for corporate functions, but this is on another level.
Does Rafael own this as well? I stop myself. It’s none of my business. None at all.
The engine noise changes, and I hear what must be the gangway being stowed away.
‘And we’re off!’ Dani declares, sending me a smile over her shoulder as she leads us up another floor. ‘This is the owner’s deck. Everyone else is downstairs. Just follow the steps back down two levels and head towards the front when you’re done. In the meantime, you have this to yourself.’
She waves a hand at the hot tub, with its outer ring of cushions to lounge on, the mini-bar complete with stools, and then backs up towards the double glass doors that lead inside. She pushes one open.
‘Off you go, and don’t be too long!’
I laugh as I bat her away. ‘Yes, Bridezilla!’
‘Hey, I’m milking the bride status for all
