Now.”

Payton’s heart rose. “My children?”

“It’s what you wanted. It’s why you kept them from me.”

“Marco.” He was angry and he was lashing out at her, she understood that much, but to be cruel about the children? That just wasn’t fair.

“You moved halfway around the world. You turned me into a stranger. This is your doing, Payton!”

She had to stay calm, had to keep control. “I’m trying to make amends—”

“How?” he interrupted fiercely. “By destroying my relationship with Marilena?”

“Nothing’s destroyed, Marco. Nothing’s changed. Don’t blow this out of proportion. It was just a kiss—”

“Just a kiss? How can you say that? I’m engaged. I’m about to marry Marilena in two months and you say, you have the gall to say, it’s just a kiss?”

He’d paled, blood draining, intensifying the hard slash of cheekbone and broad jaw.

“Maybe a kiss is nothing to you,” he continued bitterly, “but I am loyal. I am faithful. I do not do things like this. I do not make love to one woman when promised to another and yet twice now I’ve done the unthinkable and both times it was with you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What is it about you, Payton?”

“I don’t know.”

“I don’t know either, but this…this—” He broke off, lips twisting, filled with loathing and self-disgust. “This is wrong. I am ashamed.”

He was. She didn’t doubt him, or his sincerity for a moment. “I’ll go to my room. I’ll give you some space.”

“That’s not what I asked you to do.” He was standing over her, shoulders dwarfing her. “I said get your suitcases and go.”

“Marco, please—”

“No! I am done talking. I am sick inside, I am sick that we are back to where we were three years ago. I don’t know what you do to me, I don’t understand the effect you have on me but this time I know exactly what to do. Get rid of you.” Tiny beads of sweat formed on his brow. Tendons popped on his neck. “Fast.”

They were standing so close she could feel his warmth, feel rather than see the rise and fall of his chest. He was insisting she, demanding she leave, but she could not.

She would not.

Yet.

He cursed beneath his breath. “If you will not leave, than I shall.” He stepped around her as if she were foul. Tainted. “Marilena and I will stay at my country house at the lake until you’re gone.”

Payton struggled to find her voice as he reached the tall, painted salon doors with the whirl of pale turquoise against faded gold.

Stop him. Stop him. You can’t let him leave. “You don’t have to go.”

He stopped, his wide back filling the doorway, but he didn’t turn around nor glance behind.

She drew a shaky breath.