Dante's Unexpected Legacy by Catherine George

Author:Catherine George
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-10-15T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

IT WAS A relief to spend most of the following Sunday at Tom’s house. Bea enjoyed her day so much she protested loudly when it was time to go home. She even refused to wave bye-bye to Gramma and Tom and sobbed when she was secured into her car seat for the drive home, but, much to Rose’s relief, fell asleep once the car was in motion.

‘Wake up, Bea. We’re home now,’ said Rose as she turned into the drive, then swallowed, her heart thumping, as she saw a familiar male figure standing on her front porch.

Dante strode forward to help, arms outstretched, as Rose unstrapped Bea. ‘I will take her.’

Exhausted after a day spent trying to fool her mother and Tom that she was perfectly happy, Rose yielded his daughter to him without protest.

‘This is a surprise,’ she said coldly.

‘We need to talk; you will not take my telephone calls, so I came,’ he informed her, then looked down tenderly as Bea woke up with a smile of delight when she realised who was holding her.

‘Dante! Read stories?’

He chuckled. ‘Of course, piccola.’

Rose unlocked the door and switched on lights. Now Dante was here, he might as well make himself useful. ‘Would you take her straight upstairs, please?’

Once Bea was in bed later, flanked by Pinocchio and Bear, Rose handed Dante a selection of books for Bea to choose from, kissed her daughter good-night and, after a moment’s indecision, left them to it.

The sitting room seemed small and chilly after the space and comfort of Tom’s house. Shivering with nerves as much as cold, Rose switched on the electric fire and drew the curtains, then went to the kitchen to make coffee and took a tray into the sitting room.

Dante joined her soon afterwards. ‘Bea is fast asleep,’ he said and crossed to the fire to hold out his hands. ‘It is cold tonight.’

‘Would you care for some coffee?’

His lips curved wryly. ‘Yes, Rose. Grazie.’

‘Why the smile?’ she asked as she poured.

‘You are so polite.’

She set the pot down with a clatter. ‘Only to hide how worried I feel about the reason for your sudden appearance.’

He lifted a shoulder. ‘It is nothing to cause distress, Rose. Because my first proposal did not meet with your approval, I came to make a different proposition.’

Rose sat down suddenly. ‘What do you have in mind?’ If he had some idea about taking Bea away from her to stay in Italy for weeks at a time he could think again.

Dante joined her on the old velvet settee, careful, she noted, to leave a space between them. ‘Ascolta—listen to me, Rose. I feel much guilt that in the heat of passion after the Vilari wedding I took from you something impossible to replace.’

She raised an eyebrow. ‘I wasn’t a virgin, Dante! I’d had a steady boyfriend in college.’

Dante’s lips tightened. ‘I meant that by leaving you with child I robbed you of your youthful freedom.’

Rose nodded as she thought it over. ‘I suppose you could say that.

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