Read The Sicilian's Wife for Free Online Page A

eyes.
    But perhaps it was just as well, Cesare told himself, automatically smoothing down his ruffled hair and fastening the loosened buttons on his shirt with fingers that were not exactly steady. He needed to get himself back under control and think straight. And that was something he would never be fully capable of doing with a half-naked Megan standing in front of him.
    So he waited, forcing himself to breathe slow and deep, until she was clothed again before deciding to speak once more.
    â€˜So,’ he said when at last, dressed and apparently more composed, she slowly turned to face him. ‘Are you going to tell me what happened?’
    It was like being summoned to the headmaster’s office to try and explain some kind of misdemeanour, Megan reflected, feeling reduced once more to the status of naughty schoolgirl, awaiting her punishment. No, it was worse than that. Cesare was counsel for the prosecution and judge and jury all rolled into one, the sombre, frowning disapproval on his face sending a sensation like the trickle of icy water running down her spine.
    â€˜You know what happened! You don’t need me to tell you! I met this guy at a party—Gary. I—found him attractive and he made it plain he liked me. We started dating. One night our kisses led to more and more—as these things do…’
    â€˜As they do,’ Cesare echoed in a voice that made her blood run cold. ‘And so you ended up in bed together.’
    â€˜Do you have to make it sound so sordid!’
    â€˜It wasn’t like that?’
    The cynical lift of one jet-black brow almost destroyed her but she forced herself to ignore it and rushed on.
    â€˜No, it wasn’t! It was nothing like that!’
    â€˜Ah, I see…’
    Pushing his hands deep into his trouser pockets, Cesare leaned back against the velvet cushions and looked up at her through narrowed eyes. His coldly assessing stare was cruel as a laser, seeming to cut right through to her soul and lay it bare.
    â€˜You were madly in love with him?’ His scepticism scraped over her skin, stripping away one protective layer.
    â€˜Yes! Yes I was!’
    It was too vehement, too revealing. Especially to someone who knew her as well as Cesare did. Surely he would be able to guess that she was protesting too much. That she was hiding behind a smokescreen of emotion?
    She had thought she was in love with Gary. For a time she had truly believed it to be the case. But then circumstances had changed, forcing her to reconsider. And if she hadn’t already been doubting her own conviction, then her reaction to Cesare just now would have rubbed her nose forcibly in the uncomfortable truth.
    â€˜But he wasn’t in love with you?’
    Megan’s bright head came up sharply, big green eyes becoming even bigger and darker.
    â€˜Why do you say that? How do you know?’
    His indifferent shrug dismissed her question as the irrelevant inanity it was.
    â€˜If he cared anything about you, he would be here now—with you. He wouldn’t leave you to come home—face the music by yourself. I take it that was the reason for your tears?—Megan!’ he warned when she looked away, out of the window, down at the floor. Anything other than look him straight in the eye. ‘He didn’t come with you, did he?’
    â€˜No.’
    It was just a whisper, the barest thread of sound, and shedrew invisible patterns on the floor with the toe of one bare foot, watching the process with an intensity that was totally unconvincing.
    â€˜No, he’s not here. In fact he won’t be coming at all. Not ever.’
    â€˜Not even when the baby…?’
    â€˜No.’
    She shook her head again, her expression that of a forlorn child.
    â€˜He won’t come for me, or for the baby. He doesn’t want either of us. He never did. Not really. He was just having a bit of fun—playing around. As a matter of fact…’
    She