“I do want to hear.” Gia dug into her purse and laid the cheerful blue box in her palm.
Jason’s big fingers curled around hers, her ring sandwiched between them. When they touched, the electric contact gave her a jolt. He curled his other hand around her neck and cradled her head. God, she always got so lost in his eyes…
During their year apart, she’d often had dreams about him. No matter what happened during those episodes, when she woke, it was his eyes that haunted her. But she loved so much more about Jason.
His sophisticated precision and the relentless way he attacked life had always fascinated her, yes. He cut through the BS and simply said what others only dared to think. Once he’d zeroed in on her, he’d quickly snagged her attention and conquered her heart. Since then, he hadn’t let go. Gia thought she had, but now she wasn’t so sure.
“Baby…” he murmured as he bent to brush a kiss over her lips.
Gia closed her eyes, soaked Jason in, and opened to him. With something between a sigh and a groan, he took her mouth, plunging deep, his grip tightening on her. He took her breath as he stole her heart all over again.
She grabbed his shoulders, wriggling closer and fusing herself against him. How could she want him again so desperately? But like always, the moment their lips met, the passion sparked to a blaze that quickly became a conflagration.
Because she loved him. But according to him, he would never love her in return.
Damn it, what was she supposed to do about that?
As he let go of her hand and gripped her wrist to bring her closer, someone jostled them and cleared her throat. Gia looked up to find an elderly woman silently scolding them as she passed.
Jason smothered a laugh. “Guess she doesn’t believe in PDA.”
“Public displays of affection weren’t big in her day. My parents don’t mind indulging, but I remember my grandparents. OMG, the moment my mom and dad would kiss, my granddad would bluster and rail.”
“That sounds nice, actually. I never knew my grandparents.” With a sad smile, he plucked the box from her palm and opened it. “Give me your hand.”
With her heart thumping, she did. When he removed the ring, he snapped the little case shut and pocketed it before sliding the gorgeous jewel on her finger. The moment hovered, breathless and profound as he settled the ring in place. It still fit perfectly, and the diamonds glittered in the light. Just like the first time she’d seen it, Gia fell speechless.
“I really will get you something else if you don’t like it.”
“Is that what you think?” She looked up at him, blinking in shock. “I love it. If I never told you that, I’m sorry. Wearing it terrifies me. Losing it would be crushing because it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
Jason breathed what looked like a sigh of relief. If he didn’t have deep feelings for her, if it—like her—was just a status symbol, would her opinion even matter?
“Tell me about your parents.” She squeezed his hand.
His smile looked tight and cynical as he squeezed back and let go, strolling deeper into the mall. “Well, my father married my mother, his assistant, after he got her pregnant. He was fifty-five. She was twenty-three. He divorced his first wife, leaving her and their three college-aged children. My mother wanted wealth, and he wanted an upgrade on his piece of ass.” He cocked his head and sent her a challenging glance. “Are you thinking, ‘poor little rich boy with the scarred psyche?’”
Actually, yes. She might have grown up knowing her family watched every penny, but she’d never had any doubt they loved one another.
“Were they happy at all? Ever?”
He shrugged. “Mom was happy when she was shopping. I think my father was happy when he was showing off his pretty, young wife so everyone could see what great taste in women he had. They ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ that he could afford her. To this day, she’s very expensive looking.”
“None of that is happiness,” she pointed out.
“I’m well aware of that.” He took her hand in his.
“So they weren’t affectionate?”
“The ‘affection’ my parents shared was outlined in their prenuptial agreement. If my father wanted more, it usually cost him at least a new Louis Vuitton bag.”
“So basically, he bought her?”
Jason paused, then nodded. “I suppose, but she wanted it that way. He didn’t object.”
That explained why he spent ridiculous amounts of money on her and why he didn’t believe in love. Why he’d been trying to buy his way into filling her womb with his children. He only understood what he’d seen.
“That’s not the way marriage should be,” she murmured.
“Forgive me if I don’t believe you.” He sent her a brittle smile. “Now, what do you need at the mall?”
Biting her lip, Gia vacillated. Tell him? Don’t tell him? If she spilled, he’d insist they go to her father’s party. The family would learn her secret…and there would be trouble. Besides, if she introduced Jason to everyone and they didn’t stay married, she’d shock her parents and break their hearts. Her mom and dad were fairly hip about lots of things, but they were still Catholic. They didn’t believe in divorce.
On the other hand, no one had ever shown Jason real love. Maybe he needed her far more than she knew. Or maybe she was inventing reasons to stay with him because she wanted to so badly.
She needed time to think.
“Just a little something for my dad,” she hedged. “It won’t take long.”
He said nothing, just led her through the mall. Gia had the vague sense that he was disappointed. Or maybe that was just her guilt talking…
It didn’t take too long before Gia found a nice pair of wool-lined leather gloves and a striking plaid scarf for her father. She protested their expense and moved on. Since pinching pennies in Neiman’s was counterintuitive, the second she sought the restroom, Jason went back and purchased the gift for her father. Marco Angelotti was his father-in-law, even if the man didn’t know it. Besides, Jason had an ulterior motive.
Bag in hand, he waited for Gia at the end of the hallway outside the restrooms. She came out with fresh lipstick and a smile.
“I was thinking, if we start heading toward my parents’ house, there’s a sporting goods store Dad likes to browse that—” She peered at the bag in his hand. “What did you buy?”
“The items you think your father will enjoy. And don’t say a word. He’s important to you, so he’s important to me. End of conversation.”
She pursed her lips together. “It’s not. There’s no way I can afford those, so he’ll know they didn’t come from me.”
“Take the price tags off and say you got a great deal.” He shrugged. “Of course, you could always tell him the gift is from his daughter and son-in-law.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. The first thing they’ll want to know is if you love their little girl. If you can’t say yes and mean it, they won’t be welcoming.”
If they had a drop of practical blood in their veins, they’d realize he could provide for her and any children they had in great style. They might not be thrilled that he’d joined the family, but he’d bet they’d be smart enough not to object.
“Leave that to me. I can be very convincing.” He took her by the elbow.
Gia tensed, and Jason had no doubt she was flustered. Time to take his pretty wife in hand and start persuading her that love was just another four-letter word. She mattered to him. They could enjoy one another and build a solid foundation on which to raise children. And he’d spend every moment they had left together proving it.