‘Adoni!’ Alice swung her legs out of the pool and knelt before him, putting her arms around him and squeezing tight. But he held himself rigid. There was no softening. No acceptance of the comfort she offered.
‘Isn’t it worthtrying?’
Adoni captured her wrists and unwound her arms, distancing her as he held her hands before him. His eyes were hard as diamonds. ‘The past is over. What’s important is our child. Our life together. When you sign the contract—’
‘I’m not saying you can change the past. Just that it’s better not to hold hate in your heart.’ And distrust. She wanted to tell Adoni she was fighting forhim—for them, and their child. For she wasn’t sure she could commit to a family where her partner was better at grudges and distrust than loving.
Especially now she knew it was love she wanted from this man. She’d finally worked out what all her feelings for him meant. Trust, desire, frustration, pride, tenderness and hope—so much hope.
Together they added up to love.
She’d been falling in love with Adoni from the night she’d barged into him and looked up into those amazing blue-green eyes that shimmered with amusement and tenderness. She’d fallen further the more she knew him. These last weeks, living and laughing with him, had simply set the seal on her emotions.
She was in love with Adoni Petrakis.
She wanted him with all her heart and soul.
But she wasn’t prepared to settle for less than love. She needed more.
Even thehopeof love in the future would do to begin with.
But was he capable of that? Could he weather the inevitable ups and downs of a close personal relationship with positivity and a willingness to meet her halfway?
‘You ask too much.’
Maybe she did. Maybe this was crazy, none of her business. But it felt vital she try.
‘I know I’m asking a lot.’ Alice pressed close, willing him to understand. ‘I don’t ask you to forgive and forget. But just listen, that’s all. He said his sons—’ just in time she stopped herself from sayingyour brothers‘—miss you. They want to contact you but feel it would be disloyal while there’s a breach between you and Vassili.’
Surely Adoni would relent if it meant reuniting with the young men with whom he’d shared his youth?
‘You’re not listening, Alice. The past is the past. I want to move on.’
Alice sat back on her heels, drawing her hands from his. Despite the warm air and the heat of the flagstones, a chill enveloped her.
It was tempting to say nothing, to sign his precious contract and hope for the best. But everything inside her screamed that was wrong. It wasn’t the way things were supposed to be between two people who truly cared—
‘Alice? This has nothing to do withus.’
‘How can you say that? The past isn’t over for you, Adoni. It’s driving the present and it’s shadowing your future,myfuture. Ourchild’sfuture.’
She hefted a sustaining breath. ‘It’s not just about you and Vassili. It’s deeper than that. You’re asking me to sign my life away in a legal contract.’ Before he could speak she raised her palm. ‘I understand you’re wealthy and need to protect that wealth. But—’ Alice shook her head ‘—I want us to be about more than that.’
‘What are you saying? That you’ll agree to my plan only if I talk to that man?’ Adoni looked strained, the flesh tight across the strong bones of his face. ‘Or that you’re offended by me wanting to protect us all with a written contract? You want to live with me but not accept my terms?’
Alice tried to read his expression. Was that anger there? Scorn? She couldn’t tell. Something about the hollow timbre of his voice spoke of disappointment, but maybe she projected her own feelings.
She shook her head. ‘I don’t know. I’m sorry, I honestly don’t know.’
She lifted her knees and wrapped her arms tight round her legs, trying to protect herself from the onslaught of fierce emotions that charged the atmosphere. Her nape prickled as if from static electricity and she wouldn’t have been surprised to hear the hiss and crackle of something combusting.
‘Icarefor you, Adoni.’ She wasn’t brave enough to tell him the truth, that she loved him.
‘But...?’ One of those sleek winged eyebrows that she found so appealing flicked high, making his expression simultaneously superior and disappointed.
‘I’ve been thinking about your contract. I was going to tell you I’m ready to sign—’
Instantly his demeanour changed. Adoni leaned forward, his knuckles gently brushing her cheek. His smile made him a different man. The man she loved. ‘That’s wonderful!’