The Italian's Fake Fiancée

32

The clear eyes, the warm smile and the strong hand that patiently held food to her mouth confused Paige.

 

Leo had kissed her passionately in the garden making her crave things she didn't dare mention only to apologize later. If she had known his sole purpose for coming upstairs to their room was to apologize to her she would have kept him out and closed her ears to anything he had to say.

 

His apology only confirmed what she already suspected but wouldn't dare believe. That he didn't enjoy the kiss like she did.

 

The pain that resulted from that knowledge should have been over by now. Instead, it had developed into a mass of confusion swirling around her head until it ached.

 

Why kiss her if he was going to apologize later. And why was he looking at her so tenderly and feeding her as if he hadn't just shattered her hopes, weakened her defense, and then ruined the perfect image of their first kiss in her head?

 

Who did he think he was to confuse her like that, to make her stomach flutter and her heart race at a pace she did not understand and then withdraw?

 

Gripping her gold gown under the long dinner table, Paige bit down hard on her lips, trying to stop the trembling that threatened to come. She could feel the eyes of his family members on her, and it made her feel exposed and vulnerable. Like they can tell what has transpired between them.

 

When next the food came to her mouth, she wanted to smack it away and shout at him or something. Instead, she forced herself to remain calm. Counting from one to five, she opened her mouth and accepted the food thinking of what to do. She was in danger of exploding with so many emotions.

 

Seeing him smile like that when moments ago he had shattered her heart with his apology made her sick to the stomach and before he could deliver the next food to her mouth, she drew her chair back and sprang up "I think am rather full."

 

He stared at her in surprise, and then his strong hand lowered the fork to his plate. "So soon?"

 

Paige didn't bother answering that as she headed towards the entrance. Soon she heard the scrapping of a chair on the hard floor and she didn't need the heavens to tell her he was coming after her. She increased her steps, trying to outwit him. Halfway up the stairs, he grabbed her hand and turned her around.

 

Confronted with that face, Paige couldn't move and only stared at him. His hand fell on her cheeks and he caressed it with his thumb. Curling his hand under her chin, he raised her face. 

 

"Don't walk too fast, you might fall and wound yourself."

 

"I'm not walking fast." 

 

His eyes clearly said he didn't believe her. 

 

"Fine, I was running away. You embarrassed me when you feed me," she lied. She didn't want to say you confused me. No, that will be too exposing. She had been saying all this while looking down.