Her face grew hot with embarrassment. Did she imagine it? The brief moment when she felt them connecting was now gone. Mira couldn’t hide how much his rejection hurt. She felt her entire body seize with the threat of an emotional break. It was as if her touch repulsed him. She loved him so much, and he could barely stand the sight of her. Maybe he never truly loved her. She felt like a fool for trying so hard to connect to him. Sadly she rose and returned to the room her daughter slept in. Eve was trapped in the middle of the bed with pillows on either side of her to keep from rolling off the high raised mattress. She lay on her back with her arms and legs flung open. Mira stood near her bed staring down at her. She wiped both hands down her face and let go another sad sigh. Mentally she was done. There wasn’t much left to do or say tonight.
She walked over to her suitcase and found a pair of panties and nightshirt to sleep in. The bathroom was as tiny as the closet, with just a toilet, shower and sink. Mira turned on the water, and began to undress. As soon as she stepped in the shower she felt relaxed. The tepid water washed over her and the day’s strain drained from her bones and washed away.
Giovanni returned with a blanket. Mira of course had gone to bed. He was such a coward for running from her. There was no way in hell he could pretend that the last two years didn’t happen. He lived his life by a code, and she had broken more than one of them by her actions. And then came the questions that haunted him since he first heard the news she was alive. The answers he knew she’d give scared him too much to ask. Exhausted he readied to stretch out on the sofa but paused at the sound of running water. His gaze went to the hall that led to the back room and kitchen. Was she showering?
In the room he found his daughter asleep. He smiled down at her. When did they create a baby? Was it the first night in Bellagio or the last night they made love in Sorrento? Whenever it happened it was evident that their daughter possessed all of the good they shared during their short time together. Now it seemed that they disagreed on the very nature and meaning of love. And that was his fault.
The shower stopped.
His gaze shifted to the door. Mira probably thought the worst of him. He owed her some kind of explanation. When he went to the door and opened it a haze of warm steamy damp air drew him in. The rich creamy vanilla soap mixed with a hint of lavender she’d brought with her to bathe with overwhelmed him. Mira had a thick white towel patting her skin dry. Deep in thought she barely noticed him, but when her eyes lifted to his, their gazes locked. She didn’t cover her nudity from him. Instead the look of frustration in her eyes from his sudden appearance expressed how Giovanni felt. One look at her and the beast in him didn’t want to talk it over. He wanted to fuck her, claim her, and recapture all of what he’d lost the day she disappeared from his life.
“What now? I’m tired, Giovanni. I’m not arguing with you anymore.”
“I want to talk.”
“Too bad. I don’t!” She wrapped the towel around her curves and his chest tightened with disappointment. Did she not know how absolutely ravishing she was to him now? The steam had frizzed her hair making it thicker, untamed with wild curls.
“I understand. I only want you to listen.”
Mira crossed her arms and glared at him. Giovanni exhaled a deep breath. He shook his head smiling. “There’s so little that scares me, Bella. This? Us? I’m out my head.”
When she didn’t respond he tried again. “I lied to you about your boutique. I had it closed twice. I manipulated you because, I don’t know, it’s what I do. What I’m saying is I fucked up, and I have not forgiven myself for it since.”
He closed the door.
The hurt look in her lovely eyes made him feel like shit. He was doing and saying all the wrong things.