“His name is Gabriel, Brice. I’m sorry, I had no idea he was going to be there. If I’d known, I would have told you about him before you met him.”
“He looks at you as if he owns you.” Brice hugged her to him, suddenly feeling as if he had already lost her. There was a wariness in her eyes that had never been there before. Francesca was different, but he couldn’t exactly say how. “He thinks he does, doesn’t he? What is he to you?”
“He was my husband. I thought he was dead,” Francesca said softly, truthfully. “I was more shocked to see him alive than you must be. I’m sorry, Brice, he’s been gone forever. I had no idea he would come back. I truly thought him dead all these years.”
“You never mentioned a husband.” Brice was clearly in shock.
She nodded. “I know I didn’t. It was a long time ago and I had accepted that he was gone. His return is a shock and I have to deal with it. All of us do.”
Brice swallowed hard, visibly upset, so much so that she automatically soothed him with her touch. He immediately laced his fingers through hers. “What does it mean? He can’t think after all this time he can just walk back into your life, can he? You know how I feel about you. Was he legally declared dead? What does this mean for us?”
“I don’t honestly know what to think right now, Brice. I told you, I’m in a state of complete shock.” Because Francesca could not bear to be dishonest with him, she forced herself to go further. “But it does change things. How could it not? Gabriel is a very overpowering man and he certainly was never declared dead.”
Brice stepped away from her, his eyes moving over her face in censure. “You’re still attracted to him, aren’t you?” It was an accusation.
Francesca looked away from him, guilt washing over her in a rush. “He was my husband, Brice. What do you think?”
“Damn it, Francesca! You should have married me a long time ago. You certainly thought about it, you can’t deny that you did. So what if he’s come back? He doesn’t belong in your life anymore.” Suddenly he went very still. “He isn’t staying at your house, is he?”
Francesca remained silent, her gaze studiously avoiding his.
Brice slapped his forehead. “Francesca! Are you out of your mind? You don’t even know anything about this man anymore. Where has he been all this time? Do you even know what he’s been doing lately? I’ll bet you don’t yet you just take him in as if no time has passed. For all you know, he could have been in jail. He probably was in jail.” His hand on her arm detained her progress into the hospital. “Is that it, Francesca? Was he in jail somewhere and you just don’t want to tell me? I think you owe it to me.”
“If I wanted to tell you, I wouldn’t be able to. You won’t let me get a word in edgewise,” Francesca protested. “Where Gabriel was and what he was doing is his business, only his, and I don’t owe you that information.”
“You slept with him.” Brice made it a statement.
“That isn’t your business either.” Her chin was up, her eyes flashing a warning signal. Francesca might feel guilty but she couldn’t find it in her to allow Brice or any other man to chastise her. She had always been honest with him, always. More than once she had encouraged him to find another woman, one who would adore him as he deserved. Francesca was just not that kind. It made her feel sad that she wasn’t. It made her feel inadequate that she couldn’t give her heart completely and totally. There was something wrong with her, something missing. It was just as well Gabriel had chosen to follow another path; he would have found her less than perfect, his life with her less than satisfying.
“Has it occurred to you he may have been living with another woman all these years? He could have another wife and even children somewhere and you wouldn’t know it.” The words slipped out maliciously, before he could stop them.