Read Online His Love by M. O. Kenyan - Free Book Online Page B

your face with cake and cry all you want. Then maybe your mommy can hold you and if that’s not enough get another one of Alessandria’s hugs they can do miracles on a broken heart.”
    The room fell silent for a second. Rayne pulled her sleeves down and was just about to walk out of the room when Jacqueline asked, “Where is your mother now?”
    “She died two weeks before I came here.”
    “And the baby?” this time it was Antonio who asked.
    “She was still-born.” She forced a smile. “I know a thing or two about loss.”

Chapter Seven
    Antonio reached out for Rayne, but Alessandria saved her from collapsing into Antonio’s arms and crying her eyes out. After giving Jacqueline the flowers, Alessandria climbed into Rayne’s arms.
    “My tummy feels funny,” she whined.
    “That’s my fault; I shouldn’t have let you eat all that cake. Let’s get you cleaned up.” Rayne held the little girl in her arms and jogged away from the stares of sympathy. Rayne didn’t believe in sympathy, everything bad that had happened to her she warranted it. Now she had to live with it.
    Rayne sat on Alessandria’s bed holding a cold towel on the sleeping little girl’s forehead trying to cool down her fever. She had done everything she could to avoid Antonio and after his third failed attempt at talking to her, she thought he had gotten the message, but then Alessandria’s door opened and in walked Antonio.
    “How is she doing?”
    “A little better,” Rayne said. Alessandria’s room was massive but Antonio’s presence made her feel like she was trapped in a matchbox.
    “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked.
    “About Alessandria’s fever?” She knew what he was asking, but Rayne wasn’t sure she wanted to rehash the past, not for her sake, but his.
    “Come with me,” he said and grabbed her arm.
    “I’d rather stay here.” Rayne pulled her arm back.
    The tick in Antonio’s jaw was back and a look of mild irritation appeared on his face. He didn’t say another word. Instead he pulled Rayne to her feet and hauled her over his shoulder. “Make too much noise and she will wake up. Then you will have to explain to her what we are doing.”
    The fear of having to explain to Alessandria the sexual tension between Antonio and her put enough fear in her to go without making a sound. He closed the door and set her down on her feet once they were in his room.
    “Why didn’t you tell me?” Irritation was replaced by compassion.
    “You don’t handle loss very well.” Rayne sank down on the sofa. She wasn’t feeling too good and thought she had caught whatever Alessandria had.
    “And you do.” It wasn’t a question, but a realization. “Is that why you gave up on us so easily?”
    “There wasn’t an ‘us’ to begin with,” she whispered.
    “I love you and I know you love me.” Antonio sat next to her, a pitch of desperation in his voice.
    “You love Maria and I know you would give anything to have her back.”
    “Wouldn’t you?” But why would she want Maria back? “Wouldn’t you give anything to have your father, brother, mother, and daughter back?”
    “My father and brother were killed by a drunk driver and my mother died of cancer, there wasn’t much I could do there. Besides I don’t blame myself for their deaths.” Rayne stood up and walked away from him. The scent of his cologne was intoxicating. She needed to get away especially since a high emotional climate always seemed to end up with them having sex.
    “What about your daughter?”
    “I know what part I played in that. I drowned her in so much booze and drugs that her little body couldn’t handle it, but I accepted that and I moved on.” Antonio’s arms wrapped around her. That was her undoing. She turned to face him, her hands resting on his chest. “No matter how much I loved my family I can’t get them back. You can’t get Maria back either.”
    “I know,” he whispered. Her body trembled in his arms. “You made me