page27 (1/1)
‘You can’t seriously be suggesting that we carry this !’ Poppy exclaimed with a look of disbelief
‘Rodolfo likes you He’s really excited and happy about our relationship,’ Gaetano breathed grimly ‘In fact it’sor anyone I would like to give hih it can’t last’
‘You love your grandfather I understand that you don’t want to disappoint him, but—’
‘We could get married for a couple of years while I continue to pay for your mother’s care’
Poppy leant forward to say sharply, ‘If Mum does well, she will probably be released from the clinic next month’
Gaetano shook his handsome dark head slowly as if in wonder at her naivety ‘Poppy Jas-term rehabilitation project To stay off alcohol for the foreseeable future she’s going to need regular ongoing professional support’
It was true, Poppy conceded painfully What Gaetano was saying was true, horribly true, but until that ht that far ahead Indeed she had dreamt only of the day when she hoped and prayed that her newly sober parent would walk out of the clinic and back into the real world Sadly, however, the real world offered challenges Jasle to handle And Poppy already knew that she did not have the power to stop herbecause she had already tried that and had failed abysmally
‘If you agree to marry me I will faithfully pro it takes for her to regain her health and sobriety,’ Gaetano swore ‘At the same time I will make it possible for you to return to further education That would mean that by the time we divorce you would be in a position to pursue any career you chose’
Poppy sucked in a steadying breath because he was offering to deliver momentous benefits and security But she still didn’t want to sell herself out for the money that would eive them both the best possible chance of a decent future ‘I can’t take your edly ‘Stop trying to te’
‘I’ht’ Gaetano shifted an expressive bronzed hand in the air with the fluid arrogance that ca on the role of being my ould be an unusual job but it’s not a job you want, so why shouldn’t you be paid for sacrificing your freedo up your freedo to be my wife’
‘Fooling your grandfather, faking and pretending It wouldn’t be right,’ Poppy protested vehemently
‘If it ?’ Gaetano fired back at her in challenge ‘It’s the best I’ve got to offer hiive hi you, a woood as it’s likely to get from his point of view’
Poppy was pale and troubled ‘You’re good in an argu to win a trophy forskills’
‘You don’t need to act Rodolfo likes you as you are Think about what I’ a carefree student,’ Gaetano pointed out, his persuasion insidious ‘No ain, nodrinks’
‘Shut up!’ Poppy told hi to her feet to walk restively round the roo possibilities he had placed in front of her
Gaetano studied her from below heavily lashed eyelids She would surrender, of course she would She had had a very tough ti with her mother over the past couple of years and it had stolen her youthful freedoer she had been awithin her
‘And how long would this fake e have to last to be hile?’ she de
Gaetano alrinned and punched the air because that hen he knew for sure that he had won ‘I esti the absolute er to reclais would already have begun’