The Billionaire’s Prodigal Wife (Mackenna and Alessandro)

Chapter 12

By noontime Mackenna was more confused than she'd ever been by him. Usually, he was heavy handed and demanding and this morning he had been flirty and funny. It had reminded her so much of how he'd been the first year they'd been married she was torn. She swirled her vegetables in the broth of her soup in the cafeteria and tried to figure out what the hell she'd agreed to. Alessandro had charmed her, and she had not only let him, but she'd liked it. She could still smell his cologne from where he'd nuzzled her and the way he'd turned at the door to wink at her had her mind mush.

-Wow you look like you're in a world of your own Savannah grunted as she flung herself into a chair across from her. -Does the expression on your face have anything to do with the gorgeous man you've been crying over all weekend or the hot doctor who wants to bed you?II

-The first,II she admitted angrily. —I agreed to have dinner with him. He wants to talk She hadn't told Savannah about sleeping with Alessandro the last time she'd been in Milan. She'd simply told her they'd fought, and she'd run off when he went to the bathroom. If Savannah had noticed the shirt she'd kept tucked under her pillow, then she hadn't said anything.

-Why is he fighting so hard?II Savannah asked suddenly and when Mackenna lifted her eyes to her she held her hands up defensively. —It's not I don't think you're worth fighting for or anything, but you left him five years ago. Surely he knew this is what it was coming to

-He's a proud Italian man and I kicked him in the ego. He's very possessive and he doesn't like it when someone takes what he thinks is rightfully his

-You're a woman not a pet Savannah grimaced as she took a mouthful of coffee.

Mackenna agreed but she couldn't help but admit she'd missed the way Alessandro fussed over her. There was something about Alessandro's personality which made her long for

him and she couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was but the more involvement she had with him, the more she wanted him. It was why she had known five years ago the only way to save herself was to go cold turkey where he was concerned. She lifted her spoon to her lips and then dropped it back in the bowl without it making it to her mouth. I'm a bloody fool. I can't do this. I'm trying and I can't -Cancel Savannah shrugged as if it were so simple.

Mackenna laughed humourlessly at her instruction. -I'd like to remind you I spent five years protecting my location just so he couldn't convince me to go back to his bed. I had to leave the freaking country to keep myself from throwing myself at his feet and begging his forgiveness when I know I'm not the one who did anything wrong. You tell him I'm not having

-Fine, he's coming this way right now. I'll tell him Savannah glowered at the man. —Men shouldn't be allowed to look like him by the way."

-Genetics, II she mumbled bitterly, -His grandfather is still drop-dead gorgeous even in his seventies. His mother is a Brazilian supermodel who makes Dulce look ugly. His father has more charisma in his pinky finger than the entire staff here at Saint Christopher's and to top it all off, Alessandro can actually be a nice guy when he wants to be She sighed as she looked over her shoulder and saw him weaving through the tables in her direction. Maybe he had to cancel dinner because he was going to sit with his precious Dulce. She was torn between

wanting it and fearing it.

Alessandro looked at Savannah as if he knew the blonde doctor sitting with his wife didn't

like him and if Mackenna had told her anything of the things Dulce had admitted to saying to

her, he didn't blame her. He decided to just ignore the way the woman glared at him, and he grew closer to Mackenna who seemed distraught. He pointed at her with a long finger. -You're trying to think of excuses to get out of dinner

She wanted to hit him for knowing her so well, even after all this time. I don't like you Alessandro and I don't want to have dinner with you Her heart hurt simply saying it out loud. She did want to have dinner with him and moreover, she wanted the feast he alluded to earlier.

He looked at her bowl of uneaten soup. Someone has to feed you because it's clear you're not eating He pulled a chair from a nearby table and sat down next to her,-And I know you don't like me, but you do love me and it's a start His grin was disarming, and he winked at Savannah who had gasped at his bold comment. She'll come around. You'll see -She is going to divorce you Savannah tried not to be taken in by his wide smile. —No, she's not. She's going to come home and have fat babies with me with big blue-grey

eyes and dark black hair He teased Mackenna. We've never had an argument I haven't won.

-Because you cheat but I'm onto you. And I want blue-eyed, blond-haired babies so it leaves you out of the running Mackenna glared at him furious he was so cocky.

-If it's what you really want, we'll adopt one just as you described His grin turned to a scowl as she pushed the spoon through the bowl and sloshed it over the side onto the tray. He pushed his chair back and stood up and walked away.

Savannah whistled as he walked away. -Okay, I admit it. He's good -At everything,II Mackenna grumbled wishing she'd taken something other than soup for

of it. She rested her chin in her palm and sighed. -Adopt one She shook her head at his comment. She looked up in surprise when his hand pushed the bowl away from her and he dropped a plastic wrapped item in front of her.

-It's a turkey wrap not the Bubonic plague He saw her facial expression. -You don't like soup. Why do you order something you don't like?II

-She's trying to lose the seven pounds she put on in three days with her grandmother Savannah interjected.

Mackenna glared as her best friend suddenly without warning seemed to switch sides. I only have two pounds left to lose

Alessandro rolled his eyes. You should be putting weight on, not taking it off. You have a beautiful body Mackenna. Women pay large sums of money to get the curves you were naturally blessed with When Savannah opened her mouth Mackenna lifted her hand. -Doctor Kirkland, before you decide to jump on the bandwagon of making my life miserable, I'll remind you I live where you sleep

Alessandro chuckled at her defiant attitude. -Mackenna, you always were edgy when you were hungry. Eat your lunch

-I hate you She mumbled as she removed the wrap of her sandwich.

-Can't say I blame you for, but we can fix this too He leaned back and stretched his long legs out, crossing them at the ankles under the table by her feet.

She put the wrap down slowly and turned her head, her eyes reflecting her stunned surprise. What did you say?"

-I admit I have made some mistakes, but I am ready to take responsibility for them and to do whatever it takes to make things better between us He pointed to her sandwich. -Eat or I'm calling Sofia and flying her out to stand over you with cheese and bread

She bit her sandwich and kept a careful eye on him unsure of what kind of game he was playing.

He looked to Savannah. —So, you're an emergency room doctor. What made you decide to do trauma instead of a private practice?II

-In a private practice, the whiners keep coming back. Most of my patients I see a couple of times in their lifetime. I prefer it this way

saw her head snap back. —Don't deny it. It has nothing to do with the whiners coming back,II he mocked her terminology. -What the hell do you know?II Savannah asked angrily.

Mackenna chuckled at the sudden raising of her friend's hackles. -Told you he could get under anyone's skin

—I am a good observer of people, II his tone was boastful, and he knew no shame,II Savannah, I've seen you with Mackenna and the few times I've seen you here in the hospital you have a good bedside manner, but you keep professional distance which is important He lifted his finger to her, but I can see how defensive you are about Mackenna, and I know you would fight any of her battles for her to the death and not think twice. If you had a young patient for example, you would get attached and you would have a hard time if the person were terribly ill

-You're right Mackenna, he is a know-it-all. I heartily support your decision to divorce him Savannah grumbled as she sipped her coffee cup, hating her cheeks were bright red.

Alessandro chuckled and leaned conspiratorially in Mackenna's direction. We'll have to let her be the godmother to our first child. She'd make a good protective mother should something happen to us Savannah choked on her coffee and Mackenna laughed at her. She leaned away from him and shook her head. -Alessandro, you're being very pushy when you admit I have every right to be angry with you. You cheated on me She whispered the last words. You still have your mistress right here in this hospital

He shook his head and stood up. No, I said I made mistakes and I admit to those.

Cheating? That I don't admit to. I haven't slept with anyone but my wife since the day she tried to end her life by jumping in front of my car He tilted her chin and pressed a kiss to her surprised lips. -Five o'clock and don't be late

Mackenna watched him walk away with her eyes filling with tears at the sudden rush of emotion she was feeling. She wanted to believe him so desperately, but she knew she was a fool for even considering the possibility.

Savannah put her coffee cup down gently. -Mackenna, I just want to say I'm so sorry."

Mackenna looked to her in surprise. -What?II She was confused. Why?II

-Because I know you,,ve told me a thousand times you were overwhelmed by him and I admit there were times, II she grimaced at herself, -okay, most of the time, I thought you were make yourself feel better for running away like a teenager

-You thought I was making it up?II Mackenna's mouth hung open at her friend's revelation.

-I thought you were being a drama queen Savannah admitted with a wry twist of her lips.

-However, I stand corrected. The man is quite possibly the biggest contradiction in humanity I've ever met. When you look at him you automatically think snooty rich guy with the whole world at his feet yet he's friendly and easy-going but then he looks at you, II she pointed to Mackenna so there was no denying she was talking about the way Alessandro stared at her,II and he is intense and single-minded. I admit if I hadn't known everything you've told me before, I would think you're a fool for not believing the man loves you desperately because he certainly has a way of making it seem he does Savannah gulped her coffee as if trying to burn her throat out. And those eyes should be declared an illegal and lethal weapon because they are like molten gold all hot and fiery and sexy as hell. No wonder you ran for the hills. He's beautiful and cunning

Mackenna wanted to scream at her for her words. Instead, she wiped a tear off her cheek.

-You're not making it any easier, Savannah

-If you need my visa to run away and hide in Antarctica, let me know and I'll get it for you.

It's all I'm saying. I don't know how, if I were in your shoes, I would be able to resist him Savannah looked at her hands clutching the now mangled turkey wrap. Oh, and if I were you, I'd eat that just because he said so. He's watching you from the door -You are definitely not helping Mackenna shivered as she looked up and saw he'd stopped to talk to Derrick at the entrance of the cafeteria. At his raised eyebrow and pointed finger she rolled her eyes and bit her wrap. Antarctica was starting to sound better and better.