Page 64 of His Fantasy Bride (Things To Do Before You Die)

“You mean like constant criticism.”

“It shows they care. If they didn’t, they would just let you do what you like. They want you to fit in, be more like us. But you’re one of a kind. That doesn’t mean they don’t love you.”

“What are you two up to out here?” Luca said from behind them. He looked smart tonight, and slightly sinister, all in black, more like mafia than the businessman she knew him to be. That reminded her of the whole vendetta thing, which reminded her of Vito, which made her sad and then angry.

“We’re just discussing how loveable I am,” she said.

Luca snorted, then dragged a chair over and sat down.

“It’s true, I am.” She’d never really felt that before. Her own mother had left her, and while she understood now, at the time it had had an enormous effect on her self-confidence. That in turn had affected her relationship with her stepmother. She had never disliked or resented Maria, but she had also never allowed herself to get too close, probably in case her stepmother walked away as well. So, she’d always held herself a little aloof from people. Except from Theresa who had made it impossible.

But maybe she was loveable after all. “And Vito D’Ascensio is a goddamned idiot if he doesn’t think so.”

“He is,” Theresa agreed, lifting her champagne glass in a toast. “A total idiot.”

So, she’d made a mistake. She’d had her reasons, and it was about time he got over it. But even if he did forgive her, she was still not the sort of woman he wanted to fall in love with. “But then, he loved goody two-shoes Gabrielle.”

“He’s obviously got no taste. Except youareGabrielle.”

“Not.”

“Are.”

“She’s boring and nice.”

“You’re nice, too.” Theresa studied her for a moment, head cocked. “You might not like to admit it, but there’s a lot of Gabrielle in you. I’m guessing that’s why you found the part so easy. You’re both Gabby and Gabrielle. You’re nice and you’re crazy and that makes you interesting as well.” She emptied her glass in one swallow. “And if that asshat can’t see that, then he doesn’t deserve you.”

She was right. And maybe it was time Vito realized you don’t always get what you want. “Yeah. In fact, I think I might tell him that. And if he doesn’t like it, he can kiss my ass.”

Theresa raised her empty glass. “You go, girl.”

There was one problem. “Except he hates me.”

“Hate’s better than indifference,” Luca said. “And I wouldn’t be so sure he hates you.”

“Of course, you would know. You are drinking buddies after all.” She narrowed her eyes on him. “So have you heard anything from him since that night?”

He tapped the side of his nose. “That would be telling.”

“Has anyone ever told you, you can be really annoying?”

“Never.”

Liar.

So she was going to tell Vito that she was loveable. And maybe he’d believe her. And maybe he wouldn’t. But she wasn’t being a coward any longer. She wasn’t letting her old insecurities rule her life. At least she could say she had tried.

Except…two days later, she still hadn’t been able to confront him. She’d tried the Savoy, but he’d checked out days ago. She’d phoned his office in Cambridge, but was told he wasn’t expected in that week. She’d even taken the train up to Cambridge yesterday morning, but his house had been locked up and empty. She didn’t know where his parents were staying, so she couldn’t ask them.

It was all very well to have a plan. But extremely frustrating when you couldn’t even get started.

“Wake up,” Theresa said. At her cheerful tone, Gabby buried her head under the pillow. “Bugger off.”

“No.”

The duvet was ripped off her, and she sat up, teeth gritted.

Theresa held out an envelope. “This came for you in the post.”

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