Seducing Phoebe (Crimson Romance) Read Free Page A

his nose with the slight bump from when it was broken playing schoolyard football. No one watching him in this restaurant would have any idea that she’d just dropped a major, life-changing, bombshell on him.
    He looked around the crowded restaurant before returning his gaze back to her. “I’ll ask for the check.”
    Phoebe nodded, unable to speak. She sat quietly while Marco signaled the waiter.
    “I’m sorry,” she whispered as the waiter walked away. He held up his hand to stop her from saying anything else.
    Why had she blurted that out in the middle of a restaurant? Did she hope that by saying it in a crowded place he wouldn’t make a scene? Did she hope that there was safety in numbers and she could tell him everything and he’d just sit there and take it all in, smiling like nothing was happening? She should’ve waited until they were at her place. Or at least in the car on the way home.
    The waiter returned with the check and Marco opened his wallet and pulled out some bills, placing them in the folder. He closed it with a snap, pushed his chair back, and stood up. “Let’s go.”
    Phoebe shivered; she’d never seen him like this. So cold and remote. He’d always been open with her. The first time they’d met had been at Alex and Sophie’s wedding. She’d been so caught up in John that she hadn’t paid much attention to him, and had put the connection flaring between them down to the fact that they were best man and maid of honor. The next time they’d seen each other had been at Louisa’s christening. John had been gone for months and well, the connection flared to life again and she had gone home with him.
    “Are you coming, Phoebe?” Marco’s tone was impatient and pulled her from the thoughts of their first night together.
    “Yes.” She stood and walked towards the restaurant’s exit.
    Even in anger, he was the consummate gentleman, holding the door open for her so she could exit the restaurant before him. The short walk to the car passed in a tense silence.
    What was she doing? Had she done the right thing telling Marco she couldn’t marry him? They reached the car and once again he held the door open for her. She paused before getting into the car. She looked up at him. In the muted light of the car park he looked to be made of stone. She ached to reach out and touch his cheek, to soften the tension that she could see in his jaw. But at that moment, that would be the worst thing she could do. So she murmured her thanks and slipped into the car. He closed the door firmly. She’d expected him to slam it.
    • • •
    Marco got into the car, keeping a tight hold on his anger. An anger that had started from the moment Phoebe announced she was calling the wedding off. It was the last thing he’d expected to come out of her mouth. He could tell she wasn’t herself that evening; she’d turned her head when he’d leaned in to kiss her, and she’d been distracted throughout dinner. He had put it down to being preoccupied with their wedding plans. But her pre-occupation had been about cancelling the wedding, not thinking about what still needed to be finalized.
    He pulled out of the car park and headed towards … not his house that was for sure. He wanted to have this conversation where he wouldn’t be reminded of the outcome.
    He drove for a few minutes before coming across a small park. He pulled into the empty lot.
    “What are we doing here?” Phoebe asked.
    Marco cut the engine and released his seat belt. He turned to face her. “We’re going to talk.”
    “At a deserted park?” He could hear the incredulous tone in her voice.
    “Yes.”
    “Why not at your house or mine?”
    “Because I think we need to discuss this situation we now find ourselves in in a neutral place.”
    He didn’t want to have a talk at all. What he really wanted to do was reach over and kiss her. Kiss away her doubts and remind her that they were good together and their marriage would be a good and