Read Online The Fall Of Jacob Del Garda by CC MacKenzie - Free Book Online
Authors: CC MacKenzie
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Alexander Ludlow runs The Ortiz Prince Philippe. My father is building a partnership with Nico Ferranti."
She simply stared into his eyes.
His cell phone rang.
The growl of irritation in his throat was a primordial thing as he took the call.
"Si?" he snapped the word. "Nico will sort it. I am dealing with a... complication and do not wish to be disturbed." He listened. Then his eyes flicked to hers. "No, it is nothing important."
So, that's what she was to him now, nothing important .
Just a provoking little irritation in his busy day.
The truth that Jacob had apparently moved on sank in with a pain Gabriella could hardly bear. And it snuffed out something within her, something that had flickered to life for a couple of heartbeats. Hope.
And as she stood there, barely able to breathe, Gabriella's self-loathing for what she'd done to both of them turned the shattered remains of her heart into razor-sharp crystals of bitter regret. Because the man who stood before her had absolutely no love in his eyes for her. Instead, they were icy diamonds of utter contempt.
Jacob had suffered.
She could see the traces under his eyes and around his mouth.
And she wanted to weep when she remembered the time when she'd wanted, needed, dreamed of being by his side. She'd wanted that so badly, right up until that terrible morning when she'd walked out of his life, and had simply ceased to exist.
He should hate her. He had every right to hate her.
If she'd had any idea he was here at Ludlow hall, she wouldn't have taken the contract to photograph Coco's engagement party.
She would have stayed far, far, away.
"What happened to us, Gabriella?" he asked her now.
"Does it really matter?"
"To me it does. I want to know."
He couldn't read the expression in those huge hazel eyes.
"What do you want to know?" The question was no more than a low whisper from that delectable mouth.
His hands rose to cup her face, to tilt back her head so he could look right into those fabulous eyes, those cheating eyes.
The too familiar scent of Gabriella, his Gabriella, the feel of her skin, her hectic pulse under his hands threatened to break his iron will.
For a split second Jacob knew that a quick jerk to the right and he’d snap her beautiful neck.
His hands tensed and those hazel eyes went wide with alarm.
Her hands still clung to the chair.
Well, he wasn’t having that.
"Touch me," he said.
Her whole body shuddered under his hands, and he watched the expressions cross that stunning face.
Fear, arousal, bewilderment. The emotions ran back and forth.
"Where?"
Was she serious?
"Put your hands on my waist. Hold on to me."
He waited until she did as he asked.
Her eyelids closed.
With each hectic breath those full lips trembled.
"Eyes on me, Gabriella."
Her eyes flew open, held his.
And he read the guilt... and the regret.
Too little.
Too late.
"Who was he?" he growled.
Her mouth opened to speak then closed as she shook her head.
That tight little body seemed to slump as she exhaled a deep breath.
And all the while his hands refused to let her go, if anything they went tighter.
"There was no man," she said softly.
Now his eyes narrowed into hers seeking, searching, for the truth.
He saw it, but he refused to believe it.
She was a liar, and a cheat, and a very good actress.
"Did he decide that he didn’t want you after all?"
Those hazel eyes misted.
A year ago the outward sign of her distress would have brought him to his knees.
Not now.
She shook her head, didn’t speak.
Jacob read the move as one of remorse.
And his temper flexed against the tight leash.
"For months I wondered what it was I had done to make you unhappy. Perhaps, I thought, I had taken you for granted? But no, I treated you as if you were the most precious flower. I worshipped you, adored you, and loved you with my whole heart. My soul. With every breath I took. But it was not enough for you, cariño . Was it?"
Now her brow creased and her
She simply stared into his eyes.
His cell phone rang.
The growl of irritation in his throat was a primordial thing as he took the call.
"Si?" he snapped the word. "Nico will sort it. I am dealing with a... complication and do not wish to be disturbed." He listened. Then his eyes flicked to hers. "No, it is nothing important."
So, that's what she was to him now, nothing important .
Just a provoking little irritation in his busy day.
The truth that Jacob had apparently moved on sank in with a pain Gabriella could hardly bear. And it snuffed out something within her, something that had flickered to life for a couple of heartbeats. Hope.
And as she stood there, barely able to breathe, Gabriella's self-loathing for what she'd done to both of them turned the shattered remains of her heart into razor-sharp crystals of bitter regret. Because the man who stood before her had absolutely no love in his eyes for her. Instead, they were icy diamonds of utter contempt.
Jacob had suffered.
She could see the traces under his eyes and around his mouth.
And she wanted to weep when she remembered the time when she'd wanted, needed, dreamed of being by his side. She'd wanted that so badly, right up until that terrible morning when she'd walked out of his life, and had simply ceased to exist.
He should hate her. He had every right to hate her.
If she'd had any idea he was here at Ludlow hall, she wouldn't have taken the contract to photograph Coco's engagement party.
She would have stayed far, far, away.
"What happened to us, Gabriella?" he asked her now.
"Does it really matter?"
"To me it does. I want to know."
He couldn't read the expression in those huge hazel eyes.
"What do you want to know?" The question was no more than a low whisper from that delectable mouth.
His hands rose to cup her face, to tilt back her head so he could look right into those fabulous eyes, those cheating eyes.
The too familiar scent of Gabriella, his Gabriella, the feel of her skin, her hectic pulse under his hands threatened to break his iron will.
For a split second Jacob knew that a quick jerk to the right and he’d snap her beautiful neck.
His hands tensed and those hazel eyes went wide with alarm.
Her hands still clung to the chair.
Well, he wasn’t having that.
"Touch me," he said.
Her whole body shuddered under his hands, and he watched the expressions cross that stunning face.
Fear, arousal, bewilderment. The emotions ran back and forth.
"Where?"
Was she serious?
"Put your hands on my waist. Hold on to me."
He waited until she did as he asked.
Her eyelids closed.
With each hectic breath those full lips trembled.
"Eyes on me, Gabriella."
Her eyes flew open, held his.
And he read the guilt... and the regret.
Too little.
Too late.
"Who was he?" he growled.
Her mouth opened to speak then closed as she shook her head.
That tight little body seemed to slump as she exhaled a deep breath.
And all the while his hands refused to let her go, if anything they went tighter.
"There was no man," she said softly.
Now his eyes narrowed into hers seeking, searching, for the truth.
He saw it, but he refused to believe it.
She was a liar, and a cheat, and a very good actress.
"Did he decide that he didn’t want you after all?"
Those hazel eyes misted.
A year ago the outward sign of her distress would have brought him to his knees.
Not now.
She shook her head, didn’t speak.
Jacob read the move as one of remorse.
And his temper flexed against the tight leash.
"For months I wondered what it was I had done to make you unhappy. Perhaps, I thought, I had taken you for granted? But no, I treated you as if you were the most precious flower. I worshipped you, adored you, and loved you with my whole heart. My soul. With every breath I took. But it was not enough for you, cariño . Was it?"
Now her brow creased and her
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