She shifted and instantly his hand dropped.
‘You’renot responsible, Cesare.’
‘No?’ His lips curled. ‘If you felt you could trust me, you’d have come to me instead of going to him when he demanded it. I thought youknewI’d protect you. Hadn’t I made that clear?’
He didn’t wait for an answer. ‘It’s my fault you don’t trust me. It’s because of how I treated you before, isn’t it? Because of my prejudice.’ He yanked his tie lower, dragging his collar undone as if it were too tight. ‘I failed you.’
Agog, Ida digested Cesare’s words. He wasn’t berating her for being in league with her grandfather. He blamed himself for her leaving!
‘What hold did he have over you, Ida? How did he force you to go without even telling me?’
Ida stared, still unable to believe what she’d heard. When she spoke her voice seemed to come from far away. ‘You don’t think I was working with him?’
Cesare’s head jerked back. ‘Working with him? You were terrified of him.’
Ida’s heart galloped and she felt light-headed. She licked suddenly dry lips. ‘You believe I was a victim?’
He looked down at the bandages on her hands, his expression truly ferocious. ‘Believe? I know it.’ Then his eyes held hers, his gaze searching. ‘What did he threaten, Ida? How did he get you there?’
It was so unexpected, to have this powerful man who’d once lived and breathed mistrust, believing her without question. As if their early history and his prejudices meant nothing.
Because he believes in you.
Could it be true?
A squall of emotions tumbled through her. Amazement, joy and disbelief so strong she felt like crying and laughing at once. Her shoulders shook but her eyes were dry and staring.
Now she saw something in his dark gaze that hijacked the breath from her lungs. Something strong and tender. Something like the yearning she felt.
Cesare’s hands were gentle on her upper arms. ‘You’re safe now. He can’t hurt you, truly. With the evidence against him across two countries there’s no way he’ll be bailed. I suspect he’ll spend the rest of his life behind bars.’
Ida swallowed, trying to find words as her heart swelled. ‘Cesare.’ It was a whisper, barely louder than her pulse, and he leaned closer. ‘You...trust me?’
For so long she’d been entangled in a world of duplicity and sham, of threats, fear and mistrust. She’d told herself again and again that Cesare’s attentions were the fleeting product of lust. But this feltreal.
‘Absolutely.’ He lifted one bandaged hand and carefully pressed his lips to a patch of bare skin. ‘When I heard you’d gone I died a thousand deaths, imagining what might happen to you.’
Ida hung on his words yet still couldn’t quite take them in. Almost as if she wanted him to recant and admit he’d doubted her. ‘But I wasn’t kidnapped. I walked straight out.’
‘I saw the film and it almost broke my heart.’ Another kiss to her fingers, more fervent than the last, sending a shaft of heat through her chilled body. ‘Everything I’d learned about manipulation told me you’d played me for a fool.’
His hand tightened as she made to draw back. ‘But my heart knew better. It told me the only way you’d go to him was because you’d been forced. What was it? Did he threaten your cousin in Scotland?’
Ida looked into that proud, concerned, dear face and wondered how she’d doubted him. What she saw there overwhelmed her. This time when she blinked back tears, they were tears of joy.
‘It’s okay. We can talk later. You need rest.’
‘No! What I need is you, Cesare. Only you.’ She turned her hand to grip his and lift it to her mouth, inhaling that unique scent of cedar, citrus and hot, delectable male that she’d become addicted to. She kissed his hand, tasting the salty essence of him.
Long fingers threaded through her hair, gently massaging her scalp and drawing her closer. She wanted to sink against him but he was right. They needed to talk.
‘He threatened to harm you. Either a car accident on the drive into Florence or an explosion at the office.’ Ida felt Cesare stiffen. ‘He told me I was being watched and that if I made an attempt to talk to anyone, or send a message, you’d pay. I believed him.’
Silence but for Cesare’s ragged breathing. Finally he spoke, his voice hoarse. ‘You walked into danger formysake?’
She lifted her shoulders. ‘I couldn’t bear the thought of him harming you.’
Cesare drew their joined hands against his wide chest, so she felt his drumming heart. ‘You’re the bravest woman I know.’