The Billionaire’s Prodigal Wife (Mackenna and Alessandro) novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Alessandro watched her across the table as she looked out across the restaurant uncomfortably. Not three syllables in succession had escaped her mouth since they’d left the hotel room. “If you are so uncomfortable with me, then perhaps we should go back to the room."

She looked up and bit her lip. “It isn’t you Alessandro. Derrick Portman is here with his family. He keeps staring over here. I just feel guilty."

“Why?” He grimaced at her. “I know he wanted to date you but what do you owe him?"

“He asked me out and I told him I wouldn’t until my divorce was final, but I asked him to wait.” She saw Alessandro’s hand tighten around the stem of his wine glass. “I didn’t tell him I slept with you in Milan. I was pregnant with your child, and I told him when my divorce was complete, I’d date him. He has been a friend a long time and I led him on. I just feel guilty.” She blew a long shaky breath outwards.

“You asked him to wait for you?” Alessandro spoke tightly as he turned to look at the man across the room. “You were really going to go through with this farce of a divorce and have another man’s baby?"

“He’s smart, funny, and handsome and he wanted me and only me. He’s professional and he’s made it clear he’s ready to settle down and he’s looking for someone to be with. I wanted to be the person he did it with."

“Why? You don’t love him.” Alessandro returned coldly.

“Do you actually think you’re the only man on the planet I might be able to love? “She asked in amazement. “People fall in and out of the love all the time Alessandro. I spent five years hating your guts because you chose to go to your mistress instead of staying with your wife. Is it really so far of a stretch to think I would have fallen in love with an attentive, kind compassionate man who wanted to be in my bed rather than one who wanted to run from it?"

“Did he make love to you?” Alessandro asked coldly his eyes still focused on the man who didn’t notice he was being watched. He was staring at Mackenna like a man obsessed.

only in the last few months he’s been single again and I’ve noticed him looking and I looked back. No, he didn’t make love to me,” she reconfirmed to her arrogant husband.

“Yes, he has.” Alessandro commented quietly.

“No, he hasn’t.” She retorted angrily as she covered her cheek with her palm and shielded her face from Derrick’s stare. “He didn’t even kiss me once."

Alessandro leaned forward then across the table. “Every night in the man’s dreams he undresses you; he takes you to his bed and he makes love to you all night long. I promise you the man thinks of it more than you want to admit. I bet he knows every nook and cranny of your body."

She was a furious shade of red now. “Alessandro. Stop it."

“He wants to make love to my wife, and I’m supposed to stop?” Alessandro demanded angrily.

“Alessandro, you won. I’ve already called Camille and my grandparents are over the moon I’m going back to Milan.” She prayed the words would change his focus on Derrick.

“You’ve called them already?” He sat back, his eyes narrowing on her.

“Yes. I called my grandparents first. They were excited about the baby.” It was so easy to change the topic of conversation when it had to do with him winning.

“And the viper?"

“Camille? She’s not a viper Alessandro. She’s a divorce attorney and she’s good at what she does."

“She threatened to castrate me.” Alessandro told her with a straight face. “She said she wanted to do it with a dull spoon."

“You showed up at her daughter’s baptism and threw a fit because she wouldn’t give you, my address.” She glared at him. “Her daughter’s baptism Alessandro! Do you know how angry I would be if someone did such a thing on our child’s special occasion?

Alessandro, I wouldn’t threaten to castrate you. I would do it. I would have splayed you out on the banquet table and removed your manhood with a pair of “I was desperate to find you.” He knew no shame. “You owe her and her family an apology.” “I will pay her bills.” He shrugged. “Alessandro. You owe her an apology."

“Fine. I will apologize.” He picked her fingers off the table and twined them through hers.

“What should I do to make it up to her?"

“I don’t know. I’m sure you’ll think of something."

“We’ll invite her to our baby’s baptism.” He grinned at her unrepentantly from across the table.

“You’re a jerk.” She muttered as she lifted her water glass. She took another peek and Derrick was still watching her intently. She felt like the biggest fool on the planet.

Alessandro would never give her an ounce of the respect Derrick would have. He could have made her a great husband and now she would never know.