“Oh, my god. It was a pitch, and I wasn’t the one who set it up! My partner did.”
I raised my hands in the air, splashing drips of gelato onto the ground. “Fine. You wouldn’t have gone to my brother with a pitch if you had had any money left.”
She stared straight ahead. “I never got a lick. My father spent it all.”
“Really?” I found that hard to believe. “Not even for your tuition?”
“I put myself through college all on my own. Dad thought that now I was married to you, it was your responsibility to take care of me. That was the deal, remember?”
Yeah, her father had mentioned something about that, but I was too angry to care. “So, how did you do it? Did modeling pay that much?” She hadn’t been a supermodel or anything close to it, but maybe she had gotten endorsement deals. Or a sugar daddy willing to bankroll her. It wasn’t uncommon for women in her career, especially a woman from a transactional family such as hers. But the thought of Saffron in another man’s arms made me want to punch a wall.
“Not really. I had to take a few loans and live more frugally than my fellow counterparts.”
“Why didn’t you contact me? I could have—”
She raised her eyebrows, rendering me silent. She knew I would have laughed in her face. What I did not understand was why her father would let a child fend for herself when she was the key to helping him get the money he desperately needed.Then I remembered my own father and how selfish he was when he was alive, and I understood.
Chapter 14
Saffron
The sun was setting, giving the sky and the city a golden hue that made it romantic. Too bad I was with an asshole and not a dutiful husband who was in love with me. We were now back on the Arno and strolling in silence after that earlier confrontation. He at least seemed to have shifted his attitude and was no longer throwing barbs, but I did not take that as conciliatory. He still hated me. He was just being on his best behavior, probably because he realized we had to work together.
That was the rational part of me. My wayward feelings, on the other hand, had a motion of their own. Whenever our hands grazed, my pulse raced no matter how many times I told myself not to react to every touch.
“Wanna go on a boat ride?” Tyler said when we reached a port where tourists were getting on boat rides. I wanted to. It might be tacky and all, but I loved doing stupid tourist stuff even if it was with Tyler the Asshole. The long queue, however, made me second-guess it. There were fewer boats than I expected.
“I don’t know,” I said, pointing at the line. “We might be here all night if we try.”
Tyler snorted. “That’s nothing,” and went to theRenioli. A few minutes later, he came back and took my hand. “Come on.”I ignored the thrill that ran down my spine as he led me into a boat.
“How did you do it?” I said as the boat was sailing down the river.
“Nothing a few hundred euros can’t do.”
“Of course you threw your money,” I said in a low voice, afraid theReniolowould hear us, but he didn’t.
“What use would it be if I didn’t now and then?” he said.
I rolled my eyes.
He smirked. “Say thank you, Tyler.”
“How did you know I wanted to get on one?”
“I saw you looking at the boats. You’re not as subtle as you think you are.”
“Thanks.” The word wasn’t as difficult to say as I thought. The rest of the boat ride was in silence, which I liked a lot. I took in the sights and momentarily forgot who I was with until it was time to get back on land again. Tyler helped me out of the boat, and I stumbled as my foot caught on the pier. But instead of falling into the river, Tyler drew me into his arms, my hands splayed on his hard chest. My stomach somersaulted as his arms enveloped me while he raised me until my feet were touching the ground.
“Are you okay?” he asked. Everything happened in a matter of seconds, but it felt as though hours had passed. My brain was still stuck on the feel of his hands around me. The way they had wrapped around my body and held me steady while also holding me gently. His scent filling my nostrils. I was anything but okay.
“I’m fine,” I said, letting go of him before I did something I would regret. We were on our way back to the hotel when we passed a jewelry shop. I stopped, startling Tyler, who had strolled a few paces away and had to return to me. “What is it?” he said. I pointed to the diamond and sapphire tennis bracelet on display.
“That’s aCeleste. It’s one of the few pieces in their collection that were made by Emilia Harris. It’s a rare beauty,” I said, admiring the bracelet. It was part of the Celeste and Steel Cute collaboration they did years ago. She made only fifty bracelets, and most are already sold. I had no idea some were still available for purchase.
“Celeste? Isn’t that the company accused of selling blood diamonds?”
“Blood emeralds, actually. That was the old management. The company has been using ethically sourced minerals since KMVH took over.”
