Uncovering the Silveri Secret - By Melanie Milburne Page 0,35

Had anyone?

For all these years she had thought of him as a rebel who didn't fit in anywhere, who didn't want to fit in anywhere. But what if his childhood had made him that way? What would it take to unlock the guard he had on his heart?

Would he ever come to a point in his life where possessions and financial security were no longer enough? Would he crave the connection he had been pushing away for most of his life?

Bella went downstairs in search of a hot drink and was waiting for the milk to heat in the microwave when Edoardo came in. He was still dressed in the clothes he'd had on earlier and there were snowflakes in his hair.

'Waiting up for me, Bella?' he asked as he shrugged off his coat.

She gave him a scornful look. 'You must be joking.'

'Rebecca sends her regards,' he said and dusted the snow out of his hair with one hand.

Bella glared at him. 'You talked about me while you were...in bed together?'

'We weren't anywhere near a bed.'

'Please spare me the lurid details,' she said with a roll of her eyes.

'I was helping her with a horse that had injured itself on a neighbouring property,' he said. 'Do you remember the Atkinsons' place? The new owner has thoroughbreds. One of the brood mares cut her foreleg on some wire. Rebecca needed an extra pair of hands.'

'Oh...' She chewed at her lip for a moment.

'Rob Handley is the new owner,' he said. 'He's a bit shy but he's fine once you get to know him.'

Bella frowned at him. 'Why are you telling me this?'

He gave a shrug. 'Just thought you might like to let Rebecca know some time if you're talking to her. Rob got off to a bad start with her. She thinks he's arrogant. It's a shame, because he really likes her. They'd make a great couple.'

Bella cocked her head at him. 'Don't tell me you're a romantic at heart?'

'Not at all,' he said. 'A blind man could see those two belong together. They just need a little nudge in the right direction. You want to make me one of those?' He indicated the hot chocolate she had on the counter.

Bella made the drink and handed it to him. Her fingers touched his and a shockwave of heat ran up her arm. She quickly put her hand back down by her side. 'While we're on the subject of perfect couples, I'd like to firm up some plans for my wedding,' she said.

His eyes collided with hers. 'No.'

Her brows snapped together. 'Will you at least listen to me?'

'You're making a big mistake, Bella,' he said. 'Can't you see how foolish this is? Look at what's been going on between us. How can you think you'll be happy settling down with a man who you can go for weeks or months without making love to you?'

Bella glared at him. 'Not every man is a slave to his desires,' she said. 'Some men have self-control.'

'Yeah, well, let's see how much self-control he has after a year,' he said.

'I'm not waiting a year,' she said. 'I told you. I want to get married in June.'

'What is a year in terms of your whole life?' he said. 'Rushing into marriage can be disastrous for women, even in this enlightened day and age.'

'I'll sign a pre-nuptial agreement if that will ease your concern,' she said. 'I'm sure Julian won't mind. In fact he'll probably insist on it.'

'It's not just about the money,' he said. 'I don't believe you're in love with this guy. How can you be? Look at how you respond to me.'

Bella glared at him. 'That's your fault.'

'How is it my fault?'

'Because you've done nothing but try it on with me from the moment I arrived,' she said. 'You haven't touched me in years, not since that night when I was sixteen. Why now? Why now when I'm about to marry someone else?'

His jaw clenched tight as he put his mug down on the counter. 'You think I haven't wanted to touch you over the years?' he said. 'God damn it, Bella, are you blind? Of course I wanted to touch you. You were too young back then and you were half-tanked with alcohol. By the time I felt you were old enough, your father got sick. And then he died, and when he made me your guardian, that complicated things.' He raked a hand through his hair. 'If I'd known what your father had