Page 212 of Claimed At First Sight

“Put Aldo up to it.”

“The proposal?”

“Yes. Did you encourage him? Suggest it? Remind him what a wonderful idea it would be?”

The words begin spilling out faster now, gaining momentum with every sentence.

I almost laugh. The accusation is absurd. Unfortunately, she’s far too angry to appreciate that fact.

“This is something you would do,” she declares.

That’s considerably less far-fetched. I decide not to comment on it.

“Mia, I had nothing to do with Aldo proposing to your mother.”

“I don’t believe you.”

My patience begins to fray. “Believe whatever you like.”

Her eyes flash. “Everything is always a strategy with you. You manipulate people.”

I remain where I am as she advances another step.

“You control,” she seethes. “You plan.”

By now, she’s close enough that I can see the rapid rise and fall of her chest.

This is no longer about the engagement. She’s arguing against the future she senses is closing in around her. And it is. It’s becoming more inevitable for her by the day.

She throws her hands in the air. “You’re exasperidiotic!”

I’m what?

Then her expression grows cold.

“You’re exactly the man I thought you were.”

She turns on her heel and storms up the stairs to her room without another glance.

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Mialina

Islam my bedroom door shut, making the pictures on the wall rattle.

I pace from the bed to the window, then turn and march straight back again.

Maximo knew.

We spent an entire day and night together. How many times during that time did I talk about returning home to Sicily?

His decision to take me to Little Italy makes much more sense now, especially the visit to the shop filled with Sicilian treats.

What had he said?

“If you feel homesick, you can come here and soak up a little of home.”

Argh!