Read Online No Regrets: Jani Kay (Firebird Trilogy Book 2) by Jani Kay - Free Book Online

something to say about that too. “That’s such a waste. This is a house that should be filled with love and laughter, and bambinos running around.”
    He was right. That was why my parents had bought the house in the first place, but after years of unsuccessfully trying to have a family, they decided to adopt instead. Lucky for me. Yet, they never gave up on their dream to have a lot of kids running around the place, asking me at every visit when I was going to give them grandchildren. I’d always laugh and deflect their question with a lighthearted joke because I didn’t want to break their hearts by telling them I never wanted children of my own. Until Rebecca.
    I grabbed hold of the cold bottle of wine and steered Rebecca toward the dining room. As much as I enjoyed Giovanni, I wanted her to myself.
    “You never said this was your house. I should’ve guessed,” Becca said as she sat down. Her eyes glistened. “What else don’t I know about you, Max?”
    I smiled at her. “That, my lovely Rebecca, is exactly the point of tonight’s dinner. There are things you should know about me. But first, let’s eat.”
    Giovanni walked in as if on cue. He placed a plate piled high with pasta in front of each of us. Steam rose from the plate and I watched as Rebecca closed her eyes and sniffed. God, she is adorable.
    I poured wine into a glass, swirling and tasting before filling both glasses.
    A minute later, Giovanni was back with a bottle of olive oil that he drizzled over each plate with fanfare. Then he piled shaved parmesan cheese on top of that before cracking fresh pepper over each.
    “I say goodnight. The dessert is in the refrigerator. You will love it—my mamma’s Tiramisu.”
    “Goodnight, Giovanni, and thanks,” I said, happy we’d be alone at last. Placing her napkin on her lap, Rebecca echoed my words.
    “A toast,” I said as I raised my glass. She picked hers up and held it to mine. “To the best company I could ever wish for.”
    She smiled, a rosy tint spreading over her cheeks that she couldn’t hide even in the candlelight. “Thank you. Salute,” she said softly.
    I wanted change—our relationship to grow.
    Our glasses clinked and we sipped the wine, neither of us taking our eyes off the other. I'd waited for this night for so long and now that it was happening, I wanted to savor it, take my time and enjoy every moment. So far Rebecca wasn’t resisting or challenging me. As many times as I’d tried to have this conversation with her in the past, it felt right to talk and get it out in the open. Her mood was relaxed and she appeared more at ease and receptive than ever. I felt confident she’d hear me out and give me a fighting chance. She has to. The redhead was tenacious, fiery and intense—everything I loved about this woman who was my equal, but fuck, she never made it easy.
    Tonight, Rebecca would be mine.
    After I explained everything, nothing would stand between us any longer.
    The time had come.

Chapter 10 – Rebecca
    I took another sip of wine. “What do you mean she...she’s not your wife?” My head jerked up and my gaze collided with sapphire pools of darkness.
    “I’ve never been married. Not to Natasha, not to anyone.” The tick in his jaw jumped.
    I stared into his eyes, looking for traces of humor. This must be a joke . A joke on me.
    “I-I don’t understand.” It was nearly impossible to formulate coherent sentences when my mind was spinning.
    “I’m not married. Natasha is not my wife,” he repeated, his tone measured out as if explaining to a child. He filled his glass and drank half of it.
    “You’ve been, what, living a lie?”
    What about seeing her in his arms with my own eyes? What about all those tabloids pictures of them together? Pictures don’t lie, do they?
    He shook his head. “It's all a ruse. A façade. A well-orchestrated business deal.” His face softened ever so slightly.
    “But why?”
    His voice was flat. “To keep the media happy.