Sweet Temptation by Cora Reilly

her chubby cheeks blotchy.
“I’m sorry,” Giulia said. Guilt filled her expression.
I didn’t say anything. Slowly, I made my way back upstairs and into
Simona’s room. Giulia was quiet. I should say something, tell her it would get
better, but I wasn’t sure if it was true.
Giulia watched me the entire time that I fed my daughter. Simona was calm
as I cradled her against my chest. “Should I try to hold her again?” she asked,
uncertain.
“No,” I clipped. I couldn’t bear another crying fit.
Giulia nodded slowly, looking away. Silence settled over us, only disturbed
by the suckling sounds of Simona drinking her bottle. When she was finally
done, my eyes burned with exhaustion. I tried to put Simona back down in her
crib, but the moment I did, she began wailing again.
With a small sigh, I went over to the rocking chair in the corner and sank
down. The thing groaned under my weight. “You can go to sleep. I don’t need
you.”
Giulia winced as if I’d slapped her. She turned, walked out, and silently
closed the door.
I rocked, watching my daughter who looked wide awake. This would be
another sleepless night.
Simona had eventually fallen asleep so I was able to catch two hours of sleep
before my alarm rang at six. Groaning, feeling bone-tired, I straightened in bed.
Giulia sat up too. Just like after our first night together, her eyes were puffy from
crying. Maybe our bond was doomed the same way my bond with Gaia had
been.
“Good morning,” she said, tugging a strand of hair behind her ear and
straightening her bangs. “I didn’t hear you come to bed.”
“It was late. Simona wouldn’t fall asleep.”
Giulia bit her lip. “Sybil’s going to be here today, right?”
I nodded. “You don’t have to worry. You won’t have to be alone with my
children yet. Sybil will show you how to take care of them until you know what
to do. But Sybil’s main job is to clean and cook.”
“Okay,” she said softly.
“I’m going to get ready. Your bodyguards are coming over at seven so I can
introduce you before I leave for work.”
“Are they your late wife’s bodyguards?”
Fury burned in my chest. “No.” Which was mostly the truth.
Giulia got out of bed, but her eyes were on me. “When will you be home