page13 (1/2)

lprit here

‘Sit down, Mattia’ She refused to go on while he was hovering over her ‘You’reme uncomfortable’

He ht the better of it ‘Fine’ The bench shook as he dropped down beside her

‘I’d never have prevented even a minute of that time for Danielle with Aimee’

She gave hiet past me’

‘There is that’ He returned the sh ‘You’d have been a hellcat’

‘Agreed So, where do we go from here? We’ve dealt with the past, now there’s the future to sort out One thing you need to understand—I will never walk away from Aimee’

‘I already figured that out’ Mattia stared out across the bay for a long ti to know each other’

Not what she’d expected Relief soared, then plu as required for hiainst her ribs Thinking like that ht not be fair but she had to face facts If Mattia wanted his daughter entirely for hiht back hard, but her resources werehow you want this to work’

Mattia pulled her hand free, covered it with his war underhand You will know every step I take, what I’d like to do, and I expect the sahter She’s inher hand, he continued ‘I think we’ve covered enough ground tonight We’re still talking, not arguing, which is a good way to finish All I ask is that you trust me’

Big ask when there was so ree So far he hadn’t left her in the lurch over anything Being naïve again? Or learning to trust her instincts with this h already’

They’d nearly reached his car when Mattia asked quietly, ‘One thing So far I’ve only heard about Danielle and what she wanted for our daughter What do you want from me? For yourself,’ he added ‘Money? A home here? What?’

‘Nothing,’ she gasped, her blood running cold, her face feeling as though he’d physically slapped her ‘Absolutely nothing,’ she cried through clenched teeth He wanted her to trust hi the favour?

She was good, Mattia conceded But good actor or genuinely honest person, he had yet to deter, Elene Because I won’t be played for a fool again He didn’t like what he’d done, but the need to knoas a juggernaut that wouldn’t be stopped Not after Sandy stealing froet hi used came with the territory for his faratiate theh life But Sandy? When she’d wanted for nothing? Even years down the track he didn’t understand herto come out of it see the wo distance between theht past his car

Acting as though he’d hurt her by his question? He shook his head No acting about it Her fury was all-consu If Elene wasn’t interested in gaining anything froy—once she calet his head knocked off with one of those shoes swinging furiously from her hand But hoas he to be sure? ‘Elene, stop Get in the car’

A finger aved at hiht of that suggestion

‘It’s not safe to walk alone this late at night’

Another wave, no friendlier than the first

Fine He’d follow her, all the way ho the door, he started the car to roll along behind her Of course Elene wasn’t going to give in and get in the vehicle after what he’d asked Did thatmore than to be Aimee’s madre? Another can of worree on so so tricky? She had dropped into his life without warning To catch him on the hop?

Pulling up alongside Elene, he lowered theand asked, ‘What did you hope to gain by turning up here unannounced?’

She didn’t stop, didn’t even falter in those long, angry strides, the soles of her feet slapping on the pavement with each step ‘Only to keep my promise to Danielle,’ she shot over her shoulder

What ga? Surely she didn’t think he and Elene could get together as a couple? As far as he knew, she’d never learned about that moment in the tea room—how it had rocked hi it