Page 31 of The Forbidden Cabrera Brother
He could sense her nerves. She had every right to be nervous. She also had every right to apologise about what had happened by the pool. He wasn’t proud of himself, but he wasn’t the one with a ring on his finger, even if the engagement was a complete sham from the sounds of it.
‘I expect,’ he said smoothly, ‘that the touching engagement will now be a thing of the past? Our parents will be bitterly disappointed.’
Caitlin glanced at him.
This engagement was a charade but it was one that had suited both of them. So what happened next? It was something she would have to discuss with Alejandro. Did he still want to buy time? Dante might believe that theirs was just a convenient arrangement but many unions were based on less. She certainly wasn’t going to commit to one thing or the other until she had spoken to Alejandro.
‘Well?’ Dante prompted sharply. They were nearing his house, all signs of habitation falling away to open land with the occasional manor to be glimpsed through imposing gates.
‘I don’t know what’s going to happen.’
‘You don’t love my brother, Caitlin.’
‘But I do.’
Dante killed the engine and swivelled so that he was staring at her with brooding intensity. Frustration soared through him. He’d thought he’d got what he wanted but had he? What did she mean by that?
‘Love without passion is the recipe for an empty marriage. And then there’s us...let’s not forget about that...’ His voice was lazy now and pensive.
‘There’s nous.’
‘No,’ he agreed, ‘there isn’t, but you went up in flames when I kissed you. Don’t worry. It was a mistake to touch you but I won’t be succumbing to the temptation again. It’s not in my nature to pursue any woman who belongs to someone else.’
Caitlin laughed shortly. ‘Belongs to someone else?What era are you living in, Dante? I don’t belong toanyone.’
‘Oh, but you do. Friends or no friends, you’re my brother’s lover—’
‘I’m not!’
Stunned silence greeted this. For a moment, Dante was lost for words. The idea that two people could be engaged without having consummated their relationship beggared belief.
‘And on the subject of lies...’ Did she think he was born yesterday? Was she hoping to airbrush away their little moment of intimacy by pretending that fidelity to Alejandro wasn’t imperative because they weren’t lovers?
‘I’m not lying,’ Caitlin whispered.
‘Tell me my brother isn’t a substitute for your ex-lover,’ Dante said sharply. ‘No man wants to bed a woman who’s thinking of some love she had and lost.’
‘You don’t get it, Dante!’
‘Whatdon’t I get?’
‘I’m not some scarlet woman! I haven’t slept with your brother and...and...’
‘And?’
‘And I don’t have any ex-lovers tucked away in my head, demanding my attention and messing up my life! I don’t have anyex-loversat all!’
‘I don’t get what you’re saying.’
‘What do younotget?’ Caitlin finally snapped. ‘I don’t have any ex-lovers because I’m still a virgin!’
CHAPTER SEVEN
CAITLINDIDN’TKNOWwho was more stunned by that admission, Dante or herself.
She didn’t wait to find out either, pulling open the car door and leaping out, heading at speed towards the front door.
Dante, on the other hand, took his time getting out of the car, grasping the roof and swinging his long body out.
