The Unwanted Wife (Unwanted #1)(35)

“So it would seem.”

She heard the fridge door closing and tensed as he padded toward her, coming to a standstill directly behind her and reaching up for another bowl. He was standing so close to her that she could feel the heat coming off his naked chest. His warm, musky scent enveloped her. Theresa shut her eyes and tried to regain her equilibrium in the face of such overwhelming sexuality. He lingered behind her for much longer than he should have before abruptly moving away and leaving her feeling bereft. When she turned back to face him, he was sitting at the wooden table in the sunny breakfast nook and shaking a huge amount of corn flakes into his bowl. When he noticed that she was watching him, he lifted the box inquiringly. She sighed before carrying her bowl to the table and sitting down opposite him. She watched as he sprinkled the flakes into her bowl and topped the dry cereal with strawberry halves and banana slices that he must have prepared earlier.

It was the housekeeper’s day off, so Theresa hadn’t planned on anything fancier than cereal anyway, but the company was unwelcome and unexpected. She watched as Sandro poured a generous amount of milk over her cereal and filled a glass with orange juice, which he nudged across the table toward her. She nodded her thanks before lifting her spoon and awkwardly beginning her meal. Sandro tucked in enthusiastically and was finished before she was halfway done. He leaped up and over to the fridge, digging around in there before triumphantly producing a grapefruit, which he halved, put into bowls, and carried back over to where Theresa was sitting. He placed one half in front of her before he sat down, grimaced to himself, and proceeded on his own half.


“I thought you didn’t like grapefruit.” She broke the silence between them and he grinned over at her while his hair, which was in serious need of cutting, flopped over his forehead endearingly.

“I don’t,” he admitted. “But I thought I’d give it a try anyway.”

“Why?” she asked. He shrugged and she didn’t push for a response.

“So, has the morning sickness completely passed?” he asked after another short silence, and she made a noncommittal sound that he could interpret any way he wanted. He lifted his eyes to hers and something in his expression made her sigh and shake her head.

“Not completely, no…” she admitted. “But it’s a lot better than it was before.”

“What are your plans for today?” he asked, keeping his eyes glued on hers.

“I was going to spend the morning with Lisa and the baby.” Lisa had given birth to a beautiful son just a couple of days after Theresa had had her own pregnancy confirmed.

“Mind if I tag along?” he asked casually, and she frowned, disturbed by the notion of her husband “tagging along” with her all morning.

“Well…” she began reluctantly.

“I wanted to discuss some business with Elisa,” he added.

“What business?” she asked flatly.

“It’s about her loan,” he elaborated.

“What about her loan?” Her voice rose in alarm, but his face remained impassive. “I won’t have you upsetting her, Sandro.”

“Well, I either tell her today, while you’re there as moral support, or I tell her sometime when she’s alone and vulnerable.” He shrugged casually.

“What are you going to tell her?” she asked in a panic.

“I don’t believe that’s any of your business, Theresa,” he dismissed. “Now why don’t you hop into the shower while I clean up down here? I’ll use one of the guest bathrooms this morning.”

She shook her head desperately.

“Sandro, you can’t do this…”

“Well, I have no aversion to doing a bit of housecleaning,” he said, deliberately misunderstanding.

“You know that’s not what I meant,” she hissed, and he cultivated a baffled frown that completely infuriated her.

“Well, if you have a problem with me using a guest bathroom, then I have to tell you, I certainly don’t mind sharing a shower with you.” He grinned lasciviously, and she made an angry sound in the back of her throat before turning on her heel and stalking off with her head held high.




She refused to talk to him for the duration of the drive to Rick and Lisa’s home. It was only as he slid the car through their security gates that she turned toward him.

“Sandro, please don’t do this,” she begged, her beautiful eyes pleading for mercy. The stony expression on his face went even grimmer, and he reached out a blunt forefinger to gently trace the delicate line of her jaw before turning away from her and getting out of the car. She was devastated by his lack of response and climbed out when he came around to open the door for her. He took her hand but she tensed and tried to drag her hand out of his grip. For a moment, when his hand tightened around hers, she didn’t think he would allow it, but after a few moments he reluctantly released her. He placed a hand in the small of her rigid back and steered her toward the front steps, which led up to the house.

Lisa had been expecting her and was waiting in the doorway with a huge smile on her face. She still retained the few kilograms that she had picked up during her pregnancy, but she radiated happiness and good health. She greeted Theresa effusively, enveloping her in a warm hug, and spared a slight smile for Sandro, who loomed above both of them.