“You mean David?”
“Of course I mean David.”
Constantine shook his head. “You know damn well he’s not my competitor and never could be.”
“We know that now,” she corrected.
“It still would have been a simple matter to get rid of him without proposing in front of your entire family.”
That gave her pause. “How?” she asked, genuinely curious.
He smiled tenderly. “Simply by being with you. David would have seen what everyone else sees whenever you and I are together. The very air around us is on the verge of bursting into flames whenever we touch. It isn’t something either of us can hide.”
“Try.”
“Damn it, Gianna!” He shot a hand through his hair. “What the hell do you want from me?”
“Nothing. I don’t want a thing from you.”
“And you call me proud.” Unable to help himself he swept her into his arms, praying his restraint wouldn’t snap. She might end up a bit ruffled and undone, but if he could rein in his self-control, it wouldn’t go any further than that. “I have spent endless months working night and day doing everything within my power to get back to you as quickly as possible.”
Tears welled in her eyes again. Tears of regret. “It’s been so long.”
“I know, I know. I’m sorry.” He feathered a kiss across her mouth. Unable to resist, he deepened it. “I came back as soon as I could, I swear.”
She wound her arms around his neck. “I missed you so much. You have no idea how hurt I was by your silence. There were nights I’d lie in bed and ache for you.”
He closed his eyes, her brutally frank words impacting like a blow. “I am so sorry. It was never my intention to hurt you. I have missed you beyond measure. But I am here now. Don’t let pride keep us apart any longer.”
Finally they had the privacy he needed to allow his hunger loose and he couldn’t take advantage of it, not after the promise he’d made to Primo. Or at least, not until Gianna had fully committed to him by allowing him to put his ring on her finger. He settled for another lingering kiss, one filled with promise. Filled with longing. A kiss that teetered on the edge of losing control. Her lips parted and her hands slid from his neck to fork deep into his hair, anchoring him in place. Her moan spoke of endless hunger, urging him to take that next, irrevocable step.
“We can’t,” he murmured against her mouth. “We need to take our time and do this the right way.”
To his relief, humor gleamed in her eyes in place of anger. “Do you think either of us is capable of that?”
“We better be or I’ll have a tribe of Dantes willing and able to take me apart.”
“I won’t tell if you won’t.”
“Are you saying you’re ready to wear my ring? To commit to marriage?” He didn’t need to hear her response. “No, I can see from your expression that you’re not.” He snatched a swift kiss, then set her firmly from him. “Come on. Let’s go upstairs. I need to change.”
He escorted her to his apartment and left her in the great room with its expansive view of the city while he disappeared in the direction of his bedroom to shave and change. He joined her a short time later and found her studying the 3D replica he’d made of the Diamondt building for his presentation to the family, along with a thick book of drawings and samples that detailed the various aspects of the renovation.
“This is gorgeous,” she marveled. “I love how you’ve melded their name with the updates to the building. Are these beveled diamond panes going to be made from leaded glass?”
“Good eye. There are a lot of leaded glass windows in the older homes in the Seattle area. Since this is an older building, it seemed to suit. We’re also planning an immense stained-glass window for the foyer.”
“I wish I could see it. I’ll bet it’s gorgeous.”
“We’re still negotiating the contract, so unless there’s a problem, I won’t be going up there until it’s ready to be signed. But next time I do, you’re welcome to accompany me.” Maybe it would even be as his wife, though he was careful not to say as much.
“Thanks. I just might take you up on that.”
She studied the building a final few minutes, a frown growing between her brows. That couldn’t be good.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I’d almost forgotten. It wasn’t until I saw this model and the Diamondt name that I remembered,” she murmured. She shook her head in annoyance. “It would seem you were right. That drug David gave me affected me more than I realized.”