Page 206 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8

‘Yes...’

‘And we’re both clear that it should end neatly?’

‘Yes.’

‘With no hard feelings?’

She didn’t answer quite so quickly then, because while there might not be hard feelings in the way he meant them, there were going to be difficult feelings—and certainly they’d hurt.

‘Susie?’ He was awaiting her response.

‘No hard feelings,’ she agreed—because she didn’t regret what had taken place between them, nor ever would.

‘Okay,’ Dante said, and his hand moved to her arm. ‘Now, what if in two years’ time...?’

His hand paused, the fingers hovering over her arm, and she felt her skin goosebump, as if stretching to retain contact.

‘What are the names of your sisters?’ he asked.

‘Cassandra and Celia.’

‘Okay, what if Celia comes to visit, tells everyone she’s met a guy, and she’s hoping he’ll propose this weekend...’

Susie’s heart sank as she envisaged it.

‘His name is Dante...’

She swallowed.

‘And he’s really good-looking,’ he said, coaxing out a smile.

‘Arrogant?’ she checked.

‘Absolutely,’ Dante said. ‘As well as brilliant in bed. Oh, and he’s an attorney in Milan.’

Her smile faded then; this game was so hard to play.

‘I don’t know...’ Her mind darted at the dreadful conundrum. ‘I think I’d tell her.’

‘What if I’d already met the rest of your family and told them we were getting engaged?’

‘I...’ Her certainty was gone.

And the more he spoke on, the more she didn’t know.

‘What if I then caught you alone and told you how much it would hurt your sister if you ever told her?’

‘I’d probably do what you did...’

‘And then I tragically die.’

Susie started to cry as she truly saw the hellish position he was in.

‘Would you tell her then?’ he asked.‘“Hey, Celia, I never told you at the time, but before you were married Dante and I...”’

‘No.’ She stopped him then. ‘I would never tell her.’

‘There you go.’