Page 10 of The Temptation

By the time Lucia begins to lay out our breakfast feast on the table, I’ve calmed down somewhat. She’s baked a loaf of Brioche that she’s serving with butter and jam, a crostata tart filled with fruit, and has also added a platter of fresh-cut fruit and yogurt to the mix.

“This looks amazing,” I say, scooting my chair closer to the table.

“Thank you,” she replies, giving me another one of those damn smiles.

I wait until she takes her seat, and follow her lead as she starts to fill her plate.

“I was actually dreading spending time here with you,” I admit with a light laugh. “But if you keep feeding me like this, I may never want to leave.”

“Wow,” she says quietly, the word heavy with disbelief as she pushes back her chair.

She stands, grabs her plate, and walks to the sink, each movement stiff with unspoken hurt.

Here we go again. She’s misconstrued what I said. Or more specifically, what I meant.

“Lucia.” I push back my chair and stalk in her direction. I hesitate for a moment before I place my hand on her shoulder and turn her to face me. When I see the tears pooling in her eyes, I instinctively reach up to cup her face. “That came out wrong.”

“I get it. You like my cooking, but you can’t stand me.”

I rear back slightly. “Is that what you think?”

“It doesn’t take a genius to work that one out.”

I scrub my hand down my face. “I was dreading spending time here with you, not because I don’t like you, Lucia. It’s because I like you more than I should.”

Her eyes widen, and that look of despair that waspresent a few seconds ago is quickly replaced with what I can best describe as hope.

She sucks in a sharp breath before her plump lips curve slightly at the corners.

Goddamnit.I want to kick myself for making that stupid confession.

Filling her with unrealistic expectations is wrong. This woman can never be mine, whether I want her to be or not. I swore an oath to Dante … to theFamiglia, one that I’m not prepared to break. Not for her, not for anyone.

“Youlike me, like me?” she asks.

I clear my throat, trying to think of a response that’s not going to upset her further. “Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

When her entire body deflates, I tilt my head back and groan. I need to learn to keep my mouth shut. I’m not good at this kind of shit. I don’t usually do people for this very reason.

“Right,” she says, swiftly turning and giving me her back again.

“Lucia,” I reply through a shaky breath.

“It’s okay. You don’t need to placate me, Romeo. I get it. I thought coming to Australia was a dream come true, but I’m quickly realising I should’ve stayed in Italy.”

“Why would you even say that?”

“So many reasons.”

“Give me one?”

“I spoke with Arabella on the phone this morning. She and Dante are fighting because he won’t tell her where I am, and then there’s … you.”

“Me?”

“I’m inconveniencing your life by being here.” She blows out a puff of air, like she’s already accepted the inevitable. “Maybe I should just take Giuseppe up on hisoffer of marriage and be done with it. At least then everyone’s lives can get back to normal.”

Those words hit me like a punch to the gut, setting off a wave of panic. The kind of terror I experienced as a child. One I never wanted to feel again.