Public Marriage, Private Secrets - By Helen Bianchin Page 0,48

attempting to adopt a normal façade at a time when life itself had been the antithesis of normal.

Would the tragedy have righted itself, given time?

Perhaps, she admitted silently. If it hadn’t been for Sierra’s meddling. If her belief in Raúl’s fidelity hadn’t been shaken.

Instead she’d allowed doubt and confusion to reign, influenced by what? The innuendo and lies of a bitterly disappointed woman who hadn’t won what she considered to be the prize: Raúl Velez-Saldaña.

A shiver shook Gianna’s slender frame. The fact Sierra had almost succeeded acted as a fist crashing into her heart.

If it hadn’t been for Teresa’s illness…

Would Raúl have used his persuasive power not to mention a degree of emotional blackmail to bring Gianna to fulfil Teresa’s wish?

Gianna had refused once, too hurt and too stubborn to consider Raúl’s avowal of truth. If…if she’d filed for divorce, as she had thought to be the logical step to gain closure, would he have sought to dissuade her? Suggested a reconciliation? Maybe not.

The realisation of how close she’d come to losing him almost crushed her.

Tears welled up in her eyes and threatened to spill.

‘Don’t.’ It was a despairing groan dredged up from his soul, and he touched a gentle finger to her trembling lips. ‘Don’t…please.’

Oh, God. Where did they go from here?

Her eyes met his, and locked, silently begging him to understand. How did one compensate for the loss of three years? So many days…more than a thousand nights.

Had he lain awake aching for her as she had for him, only him? Examining every word, every action, in vivid detail…and longing to go back and change some of those words.

She should have fought for him…fought for what they’d shared. What she’d believed they had together.

Instead she’d run, escaping to the other side of the world, convinced it was the right move, the only move she could make.

Refusing, in mindless agony, to listen to or condone his truth, because…why? There had seemed so many legitimate reasons at the time. And she’d been so emotionally distraught she hadn’t listened to reason or thought it through…just acted in anger.

Had a similar degree of anger kept him away after he’d flown in to the Gold Coast to explain and attempt a reconciliation?

She had vivid recall of the words she’d flung at him in accusation.

‘I tried so hard to believe you.’ Her voice sounded husky, almost desperate.

‘Not an easy ask, given Sierra’s deliberate machinations.’

They’d come so far. Did she have the courage to take the next step and help bridge the gap?

It would mean baring her soul. Vulnerable, when she’d shored up her shattered heart and papered over the cracks.

Love was a four-letter word, but one of the hardest to say.

Yet hadn’t she shown him with her body, with every touch, each caress…dammit, everything…how much he meant to her?

It wasn’t merely intimacy, or just sex. Each time they made love it was lovemaking…the gift of body, heart, soul.

Tell him, an inner voice prompted.

Except she balked at voicing the words. For once she did the rest of her life, as she knew it, would change.

And she’d already made a new life for herself. One to which she’d sworn to return. Was committed to return. How could she renege on arrangements already in place?

Almost as if Raúl knew the passage of her thoughts, he cradled her head and closed his mouth over hers in a kiss that took hold of her heart and bound it to his own.

When at last he lifted his head, he traced light fingers over her full lips and smiled slightly as they trembled beneath his touch.

‘You’re not going anywhere, mi hermosa.’

She was willing to swear her heart tripped a beat. ‘What are you saying?’

‘I want you with me always. I believe it’s what you want, too.’

Gianna wanted to give an unequivocal yes, for that was how she felt with her heart.

‘I love you. I don’t want to let you out of my sight. What ever you need to tie up in Australia can be done from here.’

‘I can’t do that,’ she said slowly. ‘There’s Bellissima…’

‘Which is operating successfully without you. Appoint Annaliese as permanent manager. Assign her a percentage of the profits as an enticement.’

‘My apartment…’

‘Lease it out.’

‘Jazz,’ she offered in a strangled voice, and saw his eyes darken. ‘My cat. He’s currently in a boarding cattery.’

‘We’ll arrange to fly him here.’

Gianna sat upright. ‘Raúl…’ Whatever else she might have said trailed to a halt as she viewed him in silence. ‘What exactly are you proposing?’

‘Do you need to ask?’

‘Yes. Yes,