“Stop,” I growl. “Don’t say another word.” I brush my hand through my hair, and my fingers snag in a bunch of knots. I don’t need a mirror to tell me I’m a mess. “Let’s start again. What day is it?”
“Tuesday,” he says slowly, like he’s speaking to a child.
My sleep-fuzzy brain struggles to compute how I’ve lost so many hours. “So I’ve been asleep for fourteen hours.” I cover my yawn with a hand to my mouth. “Huh, it felt like only one.”
Ant shrugs before placing a bag on the kitchen counter. I step closer and lean in to sniff it. My grumpy mood lifts instantly at the delicious smells emanating from the brown paper.
“Can you give me a few minutes to freshen up, and then you can show me what’s in that bag.”
His chuckle follows me down the hallway as I dash to the bathroom. By the time I’m done, the smell of freshly brewed coffee teases my senses, drawing me back to the kitchen. A feast of almond croissants and pain au chocolat fills a tray in the center of the counter.
All of my favorites, and Ant’s noisy wake-up call is instantly forgiven. Choosing a croissant off the top of the pile, I plop onto the stool beside him and take a big bite. A shower of flaky pastry, sugar, and almonds falls around my hand. Honestly, there’s no easy way to eat one without making a mess.
He places a steaming mug of coffee in front of me, and I sigh at the rich aroma wafting up. It’s almost enough to make me forget about the difficult conversation I know is coming.
“Grazie. You’ve saved me from certain starvation.” A bit of an exaggeration, but it has been at least twenty-four hours since I last ate. I take another bite into the buttery sweetness, and my tummy gurgles in appreciation.
A smile teases the corner of his lips. Normally, I’d be embarrassed in front of anyone else, but not Ant. He’s seen me at my worst and best, my weakest and my strongest.
After a couple sips of the delicious brew to wash it all down, I’m ready to talk. I place the cup back on the counter, then turn to face him. “Okay, you said you needed to talk. But first, does Gio know you’re here?”
Gio and I have shared a few calls over the last couple of weeks, trying to make sense of the contract. He’s been great at keeping me updated of his discussions with lawyers, and I don’t want Ant’s visit to widen the rift between the brothers.
His head droops as he stares down at the plate in front of him. “No. Well, not really,” he finally admits, bending forward and leaning his elbows on the slab of marble.
I wait for him to expand on that, my fingers curling around the handle of my mug but not bringing it to my lips this time.
He tilts his head to give me a sideways glance. “I came to ask you to marry me instead of Gio.”
What?Thank goodness I hadn’t taken a sip of coffee, or it would have sprayed all over him. My mouth opens, closes, then opens again.
“Can you say that again? But more slowly this time,” I manage to wheeze out, like one of the almonds I just ate is lodged in my throat.
He releases a heavy sigh. “Come on, Luce, this is hard enough to get out. You heard right. I’m asking you to marry me.”
“I can’t marry you. I’m engaged to your brother.” My voice is a high-pitched screech, and he jolts back from me as if I slapped him.
“You’d rather marry Gio?” His tone is harsh like he’s forcing the words up from the pit of his gut.
Blue-gray eyes stare into mine, searching for answers. But seemingly not finding what he’s looking for, he turns his gaze down again.
I place my hand on his arm, but he doesn’t look up. “No, Ant,” I soothe. “I’d rather marry no one and die a lonely, childless woman than marry a man I don’t love. But my father doesn’t agree.” Closing my eyes, I block out his hurt expression.
He draws in a deep breath. “I know that’s what you’ve always wanted. But in Capri, you said you wanted to find a man like me. Well, I’m here and asking you to marry me.”
“But then I’d be screwing up both our lives and probably losing my best friend in the process.”
“You wouldn’t be screwing up our lives. And you’re never going to lose me, I promise.” He finally looks up, and our gazes lock, the truth behind his words shining back at me.
“You’d do that? Marry me so your brother didn’t have to.”
“Yes. But I’d do it for you so you could still live your life on your terms.” He swallows deeply. “Gio is a good guy, but you barely know him. You know me. Better than anyone else.”
I push my half-eaten croissant away, suddenly no longer hungry. “I don’t see how this would work with you or Gio.”
“We could make it work. I really think we could both be happy. You’d be free from your father’s control and able to choose the life you want. And I’d get to hang out with my friend more.” The grin accompanying his words is the same one he’s always used to coerce me into doing things when my head warned me against a bad idea. But this time, I’m not falling for his charm. The stakes are too high.
“But you don’t love me,” I whisper.
