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She watched in astonishment as he settled the bill and made his way out. Pushing away her plate, she collected her coat and went out into the parking lot where he was standing by the car and onhis phone. Without a word, he opened her door and went around to the driver’s side.
“Look…”
“No.” He told her tightly. “Anything you say to me now, is going to make things worse. I proposed and you told me to go to hell.”
“I did not say…” She sighed at the look he flashed at her. “I just think we should wait…”
“Until you are sure, I am not the bastard who let you down. How long do you think it will take you? A week? A month? A year? Several years?” He drove into the mad Italian traffic with an ease that had her admiring his driving skills.
“I know you don’t understand,” she tried for calm as she sought to make him see her point. “I have been hurt. The humiliation and pain was so much that I wanted to die. I thought I had a good guy, and he fooled me. Right up to the point of his accident, he had me fooled and I blame myself for that.”
“Why the hell would you?”
“Because I was supposed to be smart and alert. I was so consumed with my baking, with proving to myself and others that I am the best, that I could meet any challenge, I neglected my relationship.”
She folded her hands in her lap. “I want to think things through this time. The stakes are much higher because of who you are and I…” Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes. “I need time.”
“Take all the time you need,” he told her coldly, unreasonably angry that she could not see what was in front of her.
“Leo…”
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore.” They arrived at the hotel just then. Handing the key fob to the valet who rushed forward, he started for the entrance.
They remained silent on the quick ascent to their suite. As soon as they were inside, he went into one of the other bedrooms and slammed the door shut behind him. Standing in the middle of the luxurious room, she stared at the closed door, her anger kindling.
If he wanted to be that way about it, then fine. To hell with him. To hell with all men. She did not need this in her life. Stomping away towards the bathroom, she slammed the door shut, but somehow there was no satisfaction in it. Not one bit.
*****
He stayed away from her on the long journey home, burying himself in the briefcase of documents he had before him on the table. And in between he was on the phone, effortlessly switching from Italian to French.
Determined not to let him nettle her, she pretended to sleep for almost all of the plane ride.
A car picked them up from the airfield and even then, he continued to concentrate on work, not easing up until they were gliding into the parking lot of his townhouse.
“Take the bags upstairs Jonathan.” He instructed the driver. “And you’re off duty for the rest of the night.”
They made their way into the building and were whizzed up by the super-fast elevator.
He headed straight to upstairs and to his office, barely giving her a glance. Sherrian sat on the sofa and heaved a sigh to try and get rid of the tightness inside her chest. A frown touched her brow as she stared at the number of suitcases the driver had placed just inside the large closet.
She was certain they had left with only three suitcases, now there were more than a dozen. She had been so miserable, she had not noticed that the driver had made several trips so that he could take the bags upstairs.
Pushing off the sofa, she went inside the closet and picked the first case to open. There were clothing, women’s clothing, in various colors and fabrics, expensive clothing with the tags removed.
Even though she was not an expert on fashion, she knew that they cost the earth and were from Romano’s, Cartier, Dolce & Gabbana, and several other high-end stores. She pawed through the rest of the luggage and discovered that most of the stuff was hers.
She had no idea he was shopping for her, or she would have objected. She sat on the carpeted floor and stared at the colors strewn around her.
“Oh crap.” She whispered, dragging her fingers through her hair. She had been with two men and none of them had ever been the least bit interested in her needs or wants.
All Leo had ever done was to be there for her. He was an important man. She had heard snatches of conversations while he was on the phone and had seen him with business associates.
She knew he had a lot of responsibilities. But he had taken the time out to be her guide, to indulge her when she wanted to go to the various restaurants. He had given her so much and what had she given him? Nothing except to throw his proposal in his face.
Bending her head, she dragged her fingers through her hair and prepared to do some groveling.
He was not working of course. The anger had built until he was fairly bursting from it. He had been the fool who had thought she was leaning towards wanting a relationship.