“We can arrange to have someone available for her to talk with, or you can talk to someone who can give you some guidance about how to help her cope. It can be the same person. Let me know when you’re ready, but don’t wait too long.”
Unlike my father, I don’t care what secrets she spills. I want her to have all the help she needs.
“I think it’s a good idea, not just for Valentina, but for me too. I don’t want her to bury her grief, but I don’t know how hard to push.”
“Rafa and I worked with a child psychologist, Dr. Lima. She doesn’t pull any punches. You’ll like her.”
“You worked with a psychologist?”
“Don’t sound so surprised.” He smirks—his trademark panty-melting one. “Rafael had been through a lot. Even I’m not arrogant enough to believe I can fix childhood trauma without a little guidance.”
Antonio Huntsman, you never cease to amaze me.You have one foot in an old world with misogynist customs, and the other in the modern world where therapy is an acceptable practice and little boys are allowed to have feelings.
As I gaze at him through the screen, my heart is filled with hope for him—for us.We can work on the misogyny.
“A cake? That’s very sweet,” he says, gauging me carefully.
“I didn’t put her up to it. When we were in Fall River, we always baked cakes for special occasions—and for special people,” I add in a whisper.
“You’d never use Valentina to manipulate me. That’s not who you are.”
Sometimes I’m surprised by how well he knows me, how he can see into my heart. It’s what makes him so dangerous.
“She’ll be disappointed if you don’t show up on Thursday.” I feel as though I need to say it, even if it breaks the mood. She’s a child, and she’s been through a lot.
“I’ll be there. For cake,” he clarifies quickly.
For cake. Not for you.He doesn’t have to say it. I hear the message loud and clear, and despite my quivering stomach, I won’t ignore it.
“You’ll fill a barn, a whole life with things you know I love, but sharing my bed repulses you.”
He blinks a few times. “Nothing about you repulses me.Nothing.Put that idea right out of your head,Princesa.”
Cristiano’s words come careening back.I’m not sure he’s ever been open to the idea of a woman’s love—or to loving a woman.
Perhaps it’s that simple—not simple, exactly, and it certainly won’t be easy to sway a man like Antonio.
If you want a marriage, you’ll need to fight for it. Don’t let pride get in the way.
“If you want me to beg, I will. I want this marriage to be more than a sham—for all of our sakes. And I believe it can be. Spend the night on Thursday.”
As he gazes at me, I see the turmoil eating at him. “I can’t.”
Not letting this go, Antonio.“Can’t, or won’t?”
“I’ll be there for cake. Then Thiago will take me back to the city.”
Not if I have anything to say about it.
35
ANTONIO
It’s been the better part of a week, and we still haven’t heard a word from our guy inside my uncle’s house. It could be nothing more than he has no news and doesn’t want to risk making contact. But too many days have passed and we can’t sit on our hands for much longer.
We swept every inch of Huntsman real estate thoroughly, for recording devices. It’s something we do regularly, especially my offices, the villa, and any car where we discuss business, but we spared no quarter this time.
There was nothing. That leaves us searching for a leak.A traitor.