Was he serious? “First, I’d need a life with fewer problems. I have to figure out what to do about my family. You and I would need to work out our differences and find some common ground. Another house with safe stairs is a must once kids start walking.” She shrugged. “But buying me a car or jewelry or taking me overseas won’t fix anything unless… Was that supposed to be some bribe to induce me to remain your wife and have your children?”

He bristled. “It’s an honest exchange. I give you something you want so I can have something I want.”

The idea was completely distasteful. “What makes you think I would even accept something monetary to enter into motherhood?”

His face turned colder. “You would hardly be the first woman. Several of my mother’s friends had monetary provisions rewarding them for the birth of each planned pregnancy written into their prenuptials. Besides, once you accepted my offer to come here in exchange for a better divorce settlement, I saw no reason you wouldn’t be amenable.”

He’d thought wrong. Was that how marriage worked in his experience? “No! Children aren’t a clause in a contract. People should have them because they’re in love and want to grow their family so they can pass that love down to the next generation.”

He raised a dark brow at her, a silent rebuke. “Love is…something movie producers and greeting card companies use to manipulate our emotions so we’ll open our wallets. Usually, it’s lust, loneliness, or the desire to display the ‘right’ wife on your arm. Over time, ‘death do us part’ is more about one being too fond of the dollar signs in their bank account to engage in a messy divorce. Gia…” He shook his head. “Unconditional love and eternal devotion are seductive thoughts, but they don’t exist.”

Every word horrified her. She stood to face him, shock bouncing inside her. “That’s not true. I’ve seen them every day. I have no clue where you got your warped ideas but… If you really feel this way, why the hell did you marry me?”

“I wanted you.”

“We were already having sex,” she argued. “You didn’t need to marry me for more of that.”

“I wanted to call you mine. I still do. You fill some void I hadn’t realized existed in my life. I enjoy spending time with you, pampering you, and fucking you. I’d like a family since I didn’t have much of one as a kid. So I need to know what you require in order to make it happen. Give me your price.”

“Your love,” she choked.

His face closed up. “I could lie, but I’d rather not insult you. What else can I give you?”

Gia felt time stand still, the air stop. Pain crushed her, starting dead center in her chest and rapidly spreading like a disease.

“Without love, I can’t stay.”

“So that’s it? You’re going to divorce me on our anniversary and walk away because I won’t give you syrupy words I don’t believe in?”

“No.” She approached him on bare feet. “I’m going to let you go so you can find someone you will fall in love with so you can see how real it is.”

With a controlled sigh, he clenched a fist. “I don’t want ‘someone.’ I want you. I’ll treat you like a queen and give you the world. Can’t that be enough?”

Gia’s first instinct was to refuse. If she did, it would mean spending her life without Jason. Should she relinquish the man she loved over an ideal? Who was to say that he wouldn’t eventually realize he more than wanted her? That maybe he even loved her deep down? Or was she rationalizing because he had her heart and always would?

Suddenly, her phone rang from a distant corner of the house. A quick listen told her the ring tone was Mila’s. Had something happened to one of the kids?

Sending Jason a glance that pleaded with him to understand, she dashed for her purse upstairs.

He followed. “Who is it?”

“My sister-in-law,” she tossed over her shoulder.

Cursing under his breath, he trailed her into the bedroom, watching with unwavering focus. Gia couldn’t mistake his impatience to finish their earlier discussion. She felt the same.

Today had, perhaps, been their most honest conversation. Before they’d married, she and Jason had lived in the moment. She’d read enough about his upbringing online to know that hers had been vastly different. He must know that, too. Since she’d returned to Jason, they had shared space, but they hadn’t really tried bridging the chasm between them.

This morning felt like a first step.

As the fourth ring pealed, Gia snatched her phone from her purse and hit the button, pressing the device to her ear. “Hello?”

“Hi, G,” Mila greeted. “Sorry to bother you. Just a quick question. Where did you leave TJ’s insurance card?”

Her sister-in-law had taken to calling Tony Jr. by his initials because Mila could no longer bear to speak her late husband’s name.

“It’s not in your purse or affixed to the fridge?” Gia asked.

“No. It’s not in the junk drawer or with your mom, either. I’ve looked in the obvious places. Last I remember, you had it when you took him in for his cough.”

Crap. Yes, she had—the day before she’d come to Jason’s.

Gia plowed through her purse and found her wallet. The second she opened it, the little card spilled out. “I’ve got it.”

“I need it.”

Her heart stopped. “What happened?”

“Nothing. I totally forgot that TJ has a well appointment today. I wish they’d let me use my card, but I guess the insurance company is cracking down against members using the wrong one, so…” Mila paused. “Is there any way we can meet so I can get it? His appointment is at three.”

A glance over her shoulder told Gia that Jason stood in the doorway, staring and conscious of every word she spoke to her sister-in-law. She barely managed not to wince. Introducing Jason to Mila might as well be introducing him to the whole family. No way would her brother’s wife keep quiet about a man. But Gia already knew that crossing town to spend a few hours without him wasn’t an option. She’d committed to spending twenty-four/seven with him until their anniversary.

“How about if I drop it off at the doctor’s office and you can pick it up there? I have to get back downtown this afternoon, and I’d rather not fight rush hour traffic.” Gia rubbed at a pain in her chest that couldn’t be anything but a stab of guilt.

“Sure.” Mila sounded a little surprised and hurt that she didn’t want to meet for a cup of coffee or lunch, like they usually would, but her sister-in-law could be a one-woman inquisition. If Jason was anywhere in earshot, he would state the bald truth.

What a terrible way for her close-knit family to find out the two of them had been married for nearly a year.

“Great. I’ll have it there by one or so.” She sent Jason another glance for confirmation, and he nodded.

Then he slipped from the room and headed down the hall, toward the stairs. Gia breathed a guilty sigh of relief that he’d elected to let her finish her conversation in private.

“Perfect,” Mila assured.

“How’s the new nanny?” Gia almost held her breath, anxious for the answer.

“Incredible! I don’t know how you managed to talk your new boss into paying for someone so amazing. The kids love Colleen, and she’s made life so easy. I wish I could keep her forever.”

A sad relief. Great that the woman was working out, but Gia’s worry that she’d failed her family hurt. She’d given her all, but between work and hunting Wayman, there hadn’t been enough of her to go around.

“Glad to hear it.”

“They miss their Auntie G,” Mila added.

“I miss them, too.” She tried not to cry. In truth, she missed her whole family.

“Hopefully, you won’t be busy much longer,” Mila said gently. “Oh, the other reason I called… We’ve had to move your father’s birthday dinner to tonight. I know it’s short notice and you’ve got a tight job, but any chance you can make it? It would mean a lot to your parents.”

“Tonight? Dad’s birthday isn’t for two weeks.”

“Thanksgiving is late this year, so his big day falls on Black Friday. The Delvecchios are out of town that weekend for the holiday.”

The family owned her dad’s favorite little hole-in-the-wall for food. He wouldn’t want to celebrate anywhere else.

“Your mom and I realized it this morning, so we rescheduled,” Mila went on. “Please come.”

How would that work? She doubted seriously that Jason would allow her to attend a family event without him. In fact, he’d told her just minutes ago that he wanted to be with her a lot longer than nine days. It stood to reason that he’d demand to meet the Angelotti clan.

When she and Jason had first eloped, she’d had a plan to invite her parents over for dinner, introduce Jason and let them get to know him over the meal, then announce that they were husband and wife. But once Tony had been killed, her plan had gone out the window. Gia didn’t know how to broach the subject with them a belated year later. Or if she even should. She’d know what to do once she’d decided whether to stick it out with Jason or throw in the towel. But springing a surprise marriage on her father, especially when it might not last, wouldn’t be much of a birthday gift.

“I want to come, but I’m really tied up here.” Gia winced. “I’ll see what I can do… If I get free, tell me again what time I should be at Delvecchio’s.”

“Five thirty. It was the only time they could take us last minute.”

“I’m not sure I can be done with my downtown appointment this afternoon by five thirty. Don’t be surprised if y’all have to go on without me.” Gia made a mental note to ask Jason if they could shop for a gift today and drop it off at the restaurant before her family arrived.