Read Online VITTORIO'S MISTRESS (The Vittorio Series) by Kimberley Reeves - Free Book Online
Authors: Kimberley Reeves
Ads: Link
Paige said abruptly because she was dangerously close to crying. “Take care of yourself, Dante.”
Dante ground his teeth together in frustration when Paige hung up on him. If she was telling the truth and really didn’t feel anything towards him but sexual attraction then it was going to take a lot more than a few stolen moments in the park to get her to fall in love with him. He needed to be alone with her, and not just for an hour or two but for a whole day…or a whole weekend.
There was just one little problem; she seemed pretty determined to shut him out of her life. Then again, maybe it was better this way. It would prove to be much more of a challenge if she didn’t make it easy for him, and how much sweeter would his revenge be when she fell in love with him then?
***
Paige was a bundle of nerves on Monday when she accompanied her assistant and the small group of children to the park. She couldn’t seem to keep her eyes from searching for Dante or from feeling the bitter disappointment when he never appeared. Even as they were making the trek back to the daycare center and she knew it was too late for him to show up, Paige found herself making furtive glances over her shoulder.
What an idiot she was for being so upset. After all, she was the one who’d pushed him away and made sure his ego was good and bruised so he wouldn’t attempt to see her. She told herself it was for the best, that everything would go back to normal as long as he stayed away, and then she’d be able to get off the emotional roller coaster she’d been riding ever since that first encounter in the park last week. But no matter how hard she tried to drive him from her mind, he was always with her.
Tuesday’s trip to the park was no different than the day before, and when the rest of the week passed with no sign of him, Paige finally had to accept that he’d taken her at her word and believed she didn’t want anything to do with him. How disheartening it was to know that in successfully banishing Dante from her life, she’d also sentenced herself to a life without love.
She might have been able to convince herself that she’d find someone else one day if she hadn’t run into Dante again. It was even possible she might have settled for a man who was a good companion to share her life with and been content with that, but not now. She’d survive because she had to for Daniella’s sake, but in her heart Paige knew there was only one man she would ever love and if she couldn’t have him, she didn’t want anybody.
By the following Friday she’d regained enough of her equilibrium to stop staring at every dark haired man that entered the park in the hopes that it was Dante. She even managed to stay focused while she read to the children then gathered her courage and took a stroll towards the duck pond while her assistant handed out the snacks. Her footsteps faltered for a moment when she reached the path but she shook off the despair that suddenly engulfed her and forced herself to keep walking.
She passed the spot where Dante had pulled her into the woods but kept her gaze straight ahead. Somehow she had to put all the memories she had of him to rest and get on with her life. Was it possible to forget someone that was a part of you? Probably not, but she had to try. Daniella needed a mother who filled her life with joy, not someone who moped around in a deep, dark depression.
Paige lifted her chin determinedly and headed back towards the park. She could do this; one day at a time.
***
Dante watched her from the boardroom window, just as he’d watched her every day for the past two weeks. He’d scrutinized every move she made, every backward glance, every nervous gesture, waiting for the evidence he needed that she
Dante ground his teeth together in frustration when Paige hung up on him. If she was telling the truth and really didn’t feel anything towards him but sexual attraction then it was going to take a lot more than a few stolen moments in the park to get her to fall in love with him. He needed to be alone with her, and not just for an hour or two but for a whole day…or a whole weekend.
There was just one little problem; she seemed pretty determined to shut him out of her life. Then again, maybe it was better this way. It would prove to be much more of a challenge if she didn’t make it easy for him, and how much sweeter would his revenge be when she fell in love with him then?
***
Paige was a bundle of nerves on Monday when she accompanied her assistant and the small group of children to the park. She couldn’t seem to keep her eyes from searching for Dante or from feeling the bitter disappointment when he never appeared. Even as they were making the trek back to the daycare center and she knew it was too late for him to show up, Paige found herself making furtive glances over her shoulder.
What an idiot she was for being so upset. After all, she was the one who’d pushed him away and made sure his ego was good and bruised so he wouldn’t attempt to see her. She told herself it was for the best, that everything would go back to normal as long as he stayed away, and then she’d be able to get off the emotional roller coaster she’d been riding ever since that first encounter in the park last week. But no matter how hard she tried to drive him from her mind, he was always with her.
Tuesday’s trip to the park was no different than the day before, and when the rest of the week passed with no sign of him, Paige finally had to accept that he’d taken her at her word and believed she didn’t want anything to do with him. How disheartening it was to know that in successfully banishing Dante from her life, she’d also sentenced herself to a life without love.
She might have been able to convince herself that she’d find someone else one day if she hadn’t run into Dante again. It was even possible she might have settled for a man who was a good companion to share her life with and been content with that, but not now. She’d survive because she had to for Daniella’s sake, but in her heart Paige knew there was only one man she would ever love and if she couldn’t have him, she didn’t want anybody.
By the following Friday she’d regained enough of her equilibrium to stop staring at every dark haired man that entered the park in the hopes that it was Dante. She even managed to stay focused while she read to the children then gathered her courage and took a stroll towards the duck pond while her assistant handed out the snacks. Her footsteps faltered for a moment when she reached the path but she shook off the despair that suddenly engulfed her and forced herself to keep walking.
She passed the spot where Dante had pulled her into the woods but kept her gaze straight ahead. Somehow she had to put all the memories she had of him to rest and get on with her life. Was it possible to forget someone that was a part of you? Probably not, but she had to try. Daniella needed a mother who filled her life with joy, not someone who moped around in a deep, dark depression.
Paige lifted her chin determinedly and headed back towards the park. She could do this; one day at a time.
***
Dante watched her from the boardroom window, just as he’d watched her every day for the past two weeks. He’d scrutinized every move she made, every backward glance, every nervous gesture, waiting for the evidence he needed that she
Similar Books
