Dante's Dilemma (a Dante Legacy Novella) by Day Leclaire Page B

father’s vineyards in exchange for your hand in marriage?”
    Her mouth trembled for an instant before she regained control. “It’s a generous offer, Rom. But I’d have to refuse.”
    “So, you’re ending things between us.”
    “Yes.”
    “Very well. If there’s nothing I can say to change your mind, I must accept your decision.”
    “I’m sorry. I won’t change my mind.”
    He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. She fought to keep from shaking. She only needed to remain strong a few more minutes, and it would be over. Rom would express his regret and leave. And she would return to the cottage and continue the preparations for her wedding to Tito. She closed her eyes. How would she bear it?
    “One quick question before I leave,
amore mia.”
How could he sound so casual when it felt as though her heart was breaking?
    She cleared her throat. “What is it?”
    “A few minutes ago, you said you have to go through with the marriage. Why do you
have
to?” Her gaze flashed to his in open alarm, and he smiled. “Ah. I believe that tells me everything I need to know.”
    She shook her head. “What are you talking about?”
    “Why do you have to marry Tito?” he asked again.
    “I… I never said that.”
    “Yes, Julietta, you did. It was the first thing you said when I joined you. ‘I have to go through with the wedding.’ Why?”
    She came as close to the truth as she dared. “Until you met me, honor was everything to you. Believe it or not, it’s important to me, too.” She forced herself to continue meeting his gaze, striving to appear resolved. “My family will suffer if I don’t marry Tito. How can I be content with you, if they pay the price for my happiness?”
    He slipped a hand around her neck and drew her in for a lingering kiss. She returned it with a helpless passion. How would she survive without him? Worse, how could she allow Tito to touch her the way Rom had? She thrust the thought away, unwilling to have anyone else intrude on this final kiss. She closed her eyes, losing herself in his embrace. Their tongues tangled, his breath becoming hers. The heat of The Inferno burned between them, pulsating through her blood and quickening her heartbeat.
    “I love you,” she moaned against his mouth. “I’ll always love you.”
    “As I will always love you.”
    She forced herself to pull away and stand. “I beg you, don’t attend the wedding. I couldn’t bear it.”
    He bit off a curse and stood, as well. “You couldn’t bear it? I know there’s something else going on here. Something you’re not telling me.” His gaze narrowed, grew hard and resolute. “Know this, Julietta. I’ll let you go for now. I can’t promise to let you go forever.”
    “Once I’m married to Tito, you’ll have to.”
    “You’re not married to him, yet,” he retorted. “And if I have anything to say about it, you never will be.”
    She didn’t dare respond. Without another word, she turned and walked away.

    Rom continued to sit beside the rose bush for a long time after Julietta left, turning various options over in his mind. Nothing brilliant came to him and, at long last, he stood and brushed the grass from his trousers.
    “I always thought Julietta was the weak one,” a woman said from somewhere nearby. “But I’ve underestimated her.”
    Rom froze, searching the shadows cast by a widespread umbrella pine. After a moment, he found the womanly shape outlined against the tree trunk, her dark brown hair and clothing offering the perfect camouflage. “You, again.”
    Serena smiled, amusement giving an attractive sparkle to her dark eyes. “Me, again.” She stepped into the sunlight. “And, yes, I’ve been following Julietta—at my mother’s request, I might add.”
    “Do you intend to tell your mother about us?”
    Serena tilted her head to one side. “I haven’t quite decided.”
    Rom folded his arms across his chest. “Maybe you should. Maybe we should all sit down and discuss