‘Come along,’ Francesca prompted, reaching for Kate’s hand, ‘We’re going to have ice cream. Gelato, ’ she added, pronouncing the new word proudly and distinctly.
‘Clever girl.’ Kate forced a smile, knowing this was the first of many new Italian words Francesca would soon be speaking.
‘You like ice cream, don’t you?’ Francesca pressed hopefully.
‘Yes … but Daddy wants to have some time alone with you,’ Kate explained as gently as she could. ‘You and I have lots of opportunities to eat ice cream together, Francesca.’ With every word Kate felt as if she were twisting a knife in her heart and Francesca’s tears of disappointment gave it an added twist. However hard she tried not to, she was in danger of spoiling Francesca’s day. She should have forgotten about putting on a brave show and stayed in the house out of the way.
‘There’s enough ice cream for everyone.’
Santino’s remark was to forestall any emotional blunder, Kate realised. He could always read her so accurately and knew she was on the brink. For once, she could only be grateful to him. The last thing she wanted to do was break down in front of Francesca.
It pierced Kate’s heart when Francesca smiled up at both of them, totally unaware of the deception they were playing out.
‘Don’t worry about me.’ Kate’s steady glance assured Santino that she was back under control. ‘I’ll have some ice cream with you another time, Francesca. I’ve got some things I must do.’ She turned to go and kept on smiling, but she hated it, she hated any form of deception where Francesca was concerned.
But Francesca wouldn’t take no for an answer and seized her hand. And then she took Santino’s hand so the three of them were linked.
She had to keep up the act, Kate told herself firmly. If Santino could do it, then so could she. But all the resolve in the world couldn’t ease the pain of a broken heart. She had wanted so much more than this.
Meredith was waiting for them on the raised patio. Standing beside an old-fashioned ice cream cart, she was waving a child-sized apron like a flag. Kate felt anger flood through her at the thought that this was how Francesca’s life was going to be from now on. What was wrong with a dish of ice cream, or an ice cream cornet, for goodness’ sake?
She had calmed down a little by the time Francesca had served them all beautifully, but Kate still couldn’t bring herself to meet Santino’s eyes. She couldn’t bear to see the adoration in his gaze when he stared at Francesca turn to cold contempt each time he looked at her.
There were heaters positioned on the patio to protect them from the slightest chill, but even so Kate shivered as she thought about her meeting with his lawyer and what it signified. Surely a child belonged with her mother? She had to believe that. She had to believe that any court would uphold that right.
‘Kate, a word, please …’
Kate jolted back to attention as Santino spoke to her and saw he was standing, waiting for her to go with him. What now? What demands, what threats, would he put in place? But even as she shrank from the prospect of more power play she yearned to be with him, to be close to him, to have the opportunity to try and reach beyond the coldness and find his heart.
Thanking Francesca for his ice cream, he promised to visit her stall again very soon, and then turned to make sure Kate was following him.
Kate was so eaten up by anxiety on her way back into the house that she almost stumbled. Santino was there to catch her. He steadied her, his touch on her arm a poignant reminder of the old intimacy between them.
Her heart was always ready to take him back, Kate realised, but she had to stop wasting time on hopeless daydreams and concentrate on securing the best possible outcome for Francesca.
‘Do you think Francesca is happy?’
They had taken up positions on opposite sides of Santino’s study and were facing each other.
‘Of course,’ Kate told him honestly. ‘Anyone can see how happy she is.’ Even as she spoke Kate was conscious that any innocent remark might work against her. Just by telling the truth she made it sound as if she were endorsing Santino’s desire to keep Francesca with him in Rome. She would have to be on guard every moment and watch every word she said.
‘And what do you think of my proposals regarding visitation rights? Do you think them fair?’
Fair … The word thundered in Kate’s head, taunting her with what might have been, reminding her that now it all came down to a balancing act between them as they ensured Francesca’s time was divided between them. ‘Yes,’ she said uncertainly, wishing now that she had stayed longer in the house to study the documents. The urge to be with Francesca had overwhelmed her and made her careless, and now she realised that it might have cost her dear. ‘They seemed fair.’
‘That’s good. We need to get everything organised as quickly as possible to lessen the impact on Francesca.’
Lessen the impact on Francesca? Kate couldn’t find any words in answer to that. Was Santino serious? How would a speedy decision lessen the impact on Francesca? Had he thought how this new regime would impact on her? How could it affect Francesca other than negatively when it took away from her everything she knew, everything she was comfortable with, everything in her innocence she believed would go on for ever? Santino might have convinced himself that a straightforward transaction could take place between them, but all the riches in the world couldn’t reassure a child who had been uprooted from her home.
She almost felt sad for him as she looked at him. There was such confidence in his gaze, he was so sure he was right, whereas she felt as if a deep, dark pit had opened up and was waiting to claim her. She had held herself aloof for so many years only to fall in love with a man who didn’t want her, a man whose arrant certainty threatened Francesca’s happiness and who appeared at this moment to despise Kate to the point where he wouldn’t be satisfied until he had destroyed her.
‘Do you think yourself a fit mother, Kate?’
‘Of course I do.’ What did he mean? What sort of confession was he waiting for her to make?
‘Really?’
Santino’s voice surprised her. It had turned soft and seductive, and took her off her guard. When he came across the room she wasn’t quick enough to evade him, or perhaps she didn’t want to. The yearning inside her was certainly too great to resist him and when he took hold of her arms she was pliant in his grasp.
The clock ticked as her head rolled back allowing him to drop a kiss on the exposed tender flesh on her neck. She wanted so much to believe that everything would be all right, and that he had taken pity on her. The touch of his lips quickly enflamed her senses, raising her nipples, and causing something heavy to twist deep inside her.
‘More?’ he murmured softly.
She could only sigh and then that sigh became a moan.
Taking his cue, Santino rasped the rough stubble on his cheeks against Kate’s tender neck.
‘Kiss me, Santino …’ The words came out on a breath and her eyes were barely focused. If only he would kiss her and hold her she knew that she had hope. She could see that his eyes were half shut and his lips were tugging up at one corner in a sexy, sardonic smile. The softening in his jaw was irresistible and he was gazing down at her in that sleepy, confident way he had …’Please …’ Her hands crept up the sleeves of his lightweight jacket, and, growing in confidence, she sought the hard, tanned flesh beneath the open buttons on his shirt. ‘Kiss me, Santino.’ Her voice had grown stronger and more confident, and her hands were more demanding as they moved behind his neck