The Italian's New-Year Marriage Wish by Sarah Morgan Page B

what he knew about her. Nothing she said made sense.
    â€˜So you had a sudden change of heart—why didn’t you discuss it with me?’
    â€˜There was nothing to discuss. You wanted one thing, I wanted another.’
    Marco tried to make sense of her words. She was saying that she didn’t want children and yet he’d seen her with children and had been captivated by how gentle and kind she was. Just now with Alfie, she’d been tactile and gentle. He’d seen how much she cared. In fact, he would have said that she was better with children than adults.
    â€˜You love children. You couldn’t wait to be a mother,’ he said hoarsely. ‘That’s why I married you.’
    â€˜Yes.’ This time when she turned to face him, her expression was blank. ‘I know that’s why you married me. And that’s why I knew that it would never work. I knew that there was no point in “trying again” or working at our marriage. There was no point in talking it through or having endless discussions that wouldn’t have led anywhere. You married me because you wanted to settle down and have a family. You were perfectly clear about that. And I’m telling you right now that that isn’t what I want. So ending our marriage is the fairest thing for both of us. You should be with a woman who wants children. That’s very important to you and you can’t ignore something like that.’
    Marco inhaled sharply and laid himself bare. ‘For me, you were that woman, Amy. What was I to you?’ She wasn’t good at communicating but he’d thought he’d known what she’d felt. He’d felt utterly secure in her love. Arrogance on his part? Maybe.
    â€˜You were—’ She broke off and her eyes slid from his. ‘You were a wonderful affair that never should have become anything more.’
    If he hadn’t been so exasperated and confused he would have laughed. ‘You’re trying to tell me you wanted the sex and no commitment? Do you have any idea how ridiculous that sounds, coming from you? You don’t have affairs!’ It was one of the reasons he’d wanted to marry her.
    â€˜How would you know? We were only together for three months before we married. That’s not enough time to know someone. You never really knew me, Marco.’ He’d thought he’d known her. ‘I know you’re not the sort of woman to have a casual affair.’
    â€˜Maybe I am that sort of woman in some circumstances! I’m not the first woman to find you irresistible, Marco. You’re an incredibly sexy guy. Intelligent, good company…’ She shrugged as if his attractions were so obvious it was pointless naming them. ‘I don’t suppose there’s a woman in the world who would reject you.’
    He decided not to point out that she was rejecting him. ‘So now you’re saying that I seduced you?’
    â€˜Of course not. I’m just saying that…the physical side took over.’
    â€˜Physical? You married me because I’m good in bed? What about the rest of our relationship?’ Finding the entire conversation completely unfathomable and beginning to wonder whether his English was less fluent than he’d previously believed, Marco ran a hand over the back of his neck and held on to his temper with difficulty. ‘As I said before, we weren’t teenagers, Amy. Yes, there was strong chemistry but our minds were working, too. We shared a great deal more than an incredible sex life.’
    Colour bloomed in her cheeks and he remembered just how shy she’d been when they’d first met. ‘We were friends, yes. But we never should have been more than that.’
    â€˜Was our relationship really that shallow? What about all those plans we made, or is my memory playing tricks? The way you’re describing our life together…’ he spread his hands in a gesture of raw