Kiss Me in the Dark Anthology - Monica James Page 0,96
really wanted me.
“So we’re okay?” I asked, still unable to believe that Fina wasn’t mad at me for taking her fiancé.
“Better than okay,” Fina said and left. I hesitated then decided to follow her to ask her for more information about Danilo. I didn’t know much about him. When I arrived on the gallery and peered down into the foyer, I spotted Fina and Danilo.
“Sofia is a girl. How could you agree to that bond, Danilo?”
My eyes widened at her rude tone. I thought she was okay with me marrying Danilo? She didn’t sound it.
Danilo looked furious. “She is a child. Too young for me. She’s my sister’s age for God’s sake. But you know what’s expected. And we won’t marry until she’s of age. I never touched you and I won’t touch her.”
“You should have chosen someone else. Not Sofia.”
“I didn’t choose her. I chose you. But you were taken from me, and now I have no choice but to marry your sister even though it’s you I want!”
He didn’t want me? I sucked in a sharp breath as my chest constricted with hurt. My eyes prickled with tears.
Danilo and Fina looked up.
I whirled around and stormed back to my room where I flung myself on my bed and began crying. Dad had lied to me. Danilo didn’t choose me. He still wanted Fina. Of course, he did. She was so pretty and blonde. People often mourned the fact that I didn’t inherit Mom’s blonde hair.
Someone knocked.
“Go away!” I buried my face deeper in the pillow.
“Sofia, can I talk to you?” Danilo said.
I froze. Danilo had never approached me. Slowly I sat up and wiped my eyes. I hopped off my bed and checked my face in the mirror. My eyes were puffy and my nose red. Fina was a pretty crier. I was not.
I tiptoed toward the door, my stomach twisting with nerves as I opened it. Danilo and Fina waited in the hallway.
Fina smiled at me but my eyes were drawn to Danilo. I had to crane my neck back because he was so tall. My cheeks heated but I could do nothing about my body’s reaction to Danilo.
“Can I talk to you for a moment?” he asked.
I tried to hide my shock and quickly looked at Fina to see if it was okay.
“Sure,” she said.
I walked toward my sofa, suddenly self-conscious about all the pink in my room. I doubted Danilo liked the color very much. I sank down on my sofa, curling my fingers into fists in my lap to hide their shaking. Danilo left the door open and came over to me. His eyes scanned my room and I cringed when they lingered on the array of stuffed animals on my bed. I didn’t cuddle with them anymore. I just had trouble throwing them away. Now I wished I had done it. Danilo must think of me as a silly, little girl now. He sat down beside me but with plenty of space between us. Waiting in the hallway, Fina gave me a faint smile then walked out of view but I knew she’d be close by.
I risked a glance at Danilo. His dark hair was styled back but slightly mussed up and he was dressed completely in black. I didn’t usually like black but on Danilo it looked very handsome.
He turned to me, his dark eyes locking on mine. My skin heated even more and I had to look down into my lap. He cleared his throat. “What you overheard in the lobby wasn’t meant for your ears.”
I nodded. “It’s okay. I knew you wanted Serafina.” My voice shook.
“Sofia,” Danilo said in a firm voice that made me look up. I wasn’t sure what his expression meant. He definitely didn’t look happy. “I chose you. Serafina and I can’t work out anymore after what happened. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings. That’s why I said what I said.”
I searched his face briefly but then looked away. He looked honest, but a hint of doubt remained in me. What I’d seen downstairs hadn’t appeared like a show for Fina. Danilo had looked honestly disappointed over losing her. Yet, I wanted to believe that he really chose me as his future bride, that Dad didn’t have to talk him into it.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
I forced a smile. “Yeah.”
“Good.” He stood and for a moment our eyes met again. His mouth tightened in a way I didn’t understand then he turned and left.