“I’m not even sure I ever truly loved her.” Rome shrugged. “I guess I was just taking the easy way out. It was what our families wanted. It was expected that we would be together. I was too complacent, too lazy to bother to rock the boat.”
"But what if you’d met someone else? Fallen in love?”
He shook his head. “Never happened.” Then he paused as he stared down at her. “It never happened until I met you.”
For a moment Arie just sat there, silent, seeming to ponder his words. Then she cocked her head to one side and gave him a solemn look. “That was pretty convenient, wasn’t it? Daniela moves on and you meet me then all of a sudden you’re in love. Why should I believe any of this?”
“Because it’s true. No matter how it sounds, that’s the way it happened and I’m not going to apologize for it.”
“Oh, really? And what happened just now, what was that all about?” Arie gave a snort of disgust. “You certainly didn’t act like a man who was in love with me. You had your hands all over her.”
“No, I didn’t. For some strange reason Daniela wanted it to look that way.” Rome let his breath out in a hiss of frustration. “Since we parted I haven’t kept in touch with her. You asked what that was about? I’m asking myself the same thing.”
Arie grimaced, seeming deep in thought, then she let out a soft sigh and when she looked at him again the worried wrinkle in her brow was beginning to smooth. “So there’s nothing between the two of you?”
“Absolutely nothing,” he said, his tone emphatic. “You are the one and only woman in my life.”
On hearing his declaration Arie’s brows smoothed just a little bit more and it was only then that Rome began to breathe easier. “You have to believe me,” he said as he watched the emotions play across her face. “I’m telling you the truth.”
She folded her hands on her lap and looked up at him, her face earnest. “I want to believe you,” she said, “but can I really? I mean, it’s your word against…her actions,” she dropped her eyes, “and all that stuff your father told me.”
“Damn what he told you.” Rome spat the words out, he was so pissed. “My dad had his own agenda. I can see that now. My mother and my father, both of them do. They set me up.” He balled his hands into fists. “I can’t believe they would stoop so low.”
Arie bit her bottom lip and when she released it, it began to tremble. “I told you they’d hate me. Why didn’t you listen?”
The dejected look on her face pulled at his heart. He dropped to his knees in front of her and took her hands in his. “No, Arie. It’s not that they hate you. It’s that they’re holding on to an illusion. They can’t let go of the dream of Daniela.”
Arie shook her head and gave him a sad smile. “Wishful thinking, Rome. And what you said about Daniela being over you? You’re wrong. She still wants you. I can see it even if you can’t.”
“What can I do to make you believe-”
“Enough.” Arie put up a hand, silencing him. “I’ve had enough of talking. It’s good that you didn’t take my things from the car. Please take me back to the hotel. I don’t want to stay here a minute longer.”
The look on her face told him her mind was made up. There was nothing he could say that would make her stay. And it was all the fault of his family. They’d messed things up…royally. Then again, maybe he should lay the blame squarely at his own feet. How could he have been so naïve as to think they would accept Arie, no questions asked, with open arms?
Releasing her hands he stood up. “I’ll take you back to the hotel,” he said, “but there’s something I have to do first. Wait here until I get back. Please.”
Arie’s mouth was set in a stubborn pout but she folded her arms across her chest and settled back in the seat. She looked like she would stay put.
Grateful that she hadn't put up a fight, Rome turned on his heel and strode out the door. Even if he couldn’t repair the damage already done there was one thing he was determined to set straight before he left.
He had to tackle this problem that had reared its ugly head – the new and confusing and dangerously seductive element of Daniela Scalise.
CHAPTER NINE
Rome found Daniela relaxing in the solarium, having tea with his mother. After stirring up so much trouble the woman sat there looking as comfortable as could be.
He didn’t bother with pleasantries. “Daniela, we need to talk.” His voice was grim as he walked into the room. “Mama, can you excuse us for a minute?”
Lily looked from Rome to Daniela then back to Rome. “What did you want to talk about?” she asked, her voice uncertain. In fact, she looked darned nervous right at that moment and she had every reason to be.
“This is between Daniela and me, Mama,” he replied, his tone curt. After the way she'd conspired to mess up his life he owed his mother no explanation. “Could I have a minute with Daniela?” he asked again. “Alone.”
To her credit, despite her look of doubt his mother did not question him again. Resting the teacup on its saucer she got up from around the table, whispered her excuse to Daniela and walked out of the room.
Rome waited a full three seconds after she’d gone then he walked over to close the door firmly behind her. Then he turned to the object of his anger.
“Tell me something,” he said, his voice deceptively soft, “do you take pleasure in screwing up other people’s lives? What the hell is this game you’re playing?”
Looking totally unperturbed, Daniela didn’t answer. Instead, she raised her teacup to her lips and took a leisurely sip. After savoring the liquid she swallowed and only then did she turn her dark eyes on Rome. “Game?” she asked, her tone cool. “Who says I’m playing a game?”
Rome’s gaze narrowed as he watched her. She was trying to tick him off, he could see that much. The question was, why?
Instead of flaring up in fury as he guessed Daniela was expecting, he decided to take it cool and calm just like she was. Two could play that game quite well.
He could see she was surprised when he walked over and sat down next to her, taking the chair his mother had just vacated. “Daniela,” he said as he picked up a spoon and began to toy with it, “if you’re not playing a game, what exactly are you doing?”