Brunetti's Secret Son Page 18

  Her breath shook. ‘I don’t want a divorce or your money, Romeo.’

  A sound of a wounded animal seared from his throat. She took the final step and placed her left hand on his chest. ‘If I did, I would’ve taken off my wedding ring the moment we left Hawaii.’

  His gaze fell on her ring and his eyes flared bright, and then dimmed almost immediately. As if a light had gone off inside.

  ‘We can’t stay married simply for the sake of Lucca. I won’t be responsible for bringing unhappiness to your life.’

  ‘Then bring happiness. Love me. Be with me.’

  His eyes slowly rose, connected with hers. ‘But on the island, you said—’

  ‘I said I didn’t want to be married because I couldn’t bear the thought of loving you and not having you love me back.’

  His eyes widened and he jerked upright, his strong arms closing on her shoulders. ‘Che cosa?’

  Tears brimmed her eyes. ‘I love you, Romeo. I’ve loved you since the night we spent in this room. I’ve been miserable without you and I really don’t want a divorce, if you don’t mind,’ she pleaded in a wobbly voice.

  ‘I don’t mind,’ he responded, his face and voice dazed. ‘If you let me, I intend to not mind for at least a dozen lifetimes.’

  That bright light ripped through her senses once again. This time she embraced it. Revelled in its warmth. ‘Good, because that’s how long it’ll take for me to show you how much you mean to me, too.’

  ‘Dio mio, gattina...’ His voice held humble worship, a touching vulnerability that made her cup his face.

  ‘Hold me, Romeo. Kiss me. I’ve missed you so much.’

  With a groan, he sealed his lips to hers.

  Three hours later, she dragged her head from his chest and the soothing sound of his heartbeat. ‘Are you ready to video-call with Lucca?’

  Romeo raised his head and kissed her mouth. ‘Hmm, I think I’ve finally come up with something that’ll make him forgive me for not being in touch these past few days.’

  ‘Oh, what’s that?’

  ‘A promise of a brother or sister.’

  Maisie’s heart leapt. She planted a kiss of her own on his willing lips. ‘I think you just elevated yourself to Best Father Ever status.’

  Romeo laughed and set up his laptop after Maisie alerted Bronagh to the incoming call.

  Seconds later, the screen filled with their son’s beautiful face. ‘Mummy! Daddy, when are you coming home?’ he demanded plaintively.

  Romeo exchanged glances with her. ‘We will be there by the time you wake up tomorrow, bel raggazo.’

  ‘Okay! I’ve been learning some Itayan words, Daddy.’ He gazed keenly into the screen.

  Romeo’s hand found hers, and he pressed it to his chest. ‘Tell me,’ he invited softly.

  ‘Ti amo, Papà,’ he said haltingly, then his face widened in a proud smile. ‘It means, I love you, Daddy.’

  Beneath her hand, Romeo’s heart lurched, then raced wildly. His throat worked for several moments, before he spoke. ‘That is exactly right, and I...’ His eyes connected with hers, and tears brimming in hers, she nodded in encouragement. ‘I love you, too.’

  They rang off several minutes later, and Romeo took her in his arms and just held her. Somewhere in the suite, a mournful opera started.

  ‘Why do you listen to those things? They’re so sad.’

  He hugged her closer. ‘It was a reminder that hope was a futile emotion, that everything dies in the end. But now it’ll be a reminder that even in the bleakest moments, the voices of heaven can still be heard.’

  She raised her head and stared deep into his soul, her heart turning over. ‘I love you, Romeo.’

  He kissed her, accepting her love.

  He hadn’t said he loved her after that first time. But she didn’t mind, because she felt it in every touch, every look, and knew he would get around to saying it again eventually, when their world grew less shaky with the depth of emotion rocking them.

  When he raised his head, his eyes shone with a brightness that seared her with happiness, right to her very fingertips.

  ‘I see you got away with not being taken to task by Lucca.’

  He laughed. ‘But I still intend to keep my promise to him and provide him with a brother or sister. Soon,’ he stated with serious intent.

  She traced his mouth with her fingers. ‘Soon. I can think of nothing I want more than another baby with you.’

  He gently turned her around and caressed her belly with both hands. Then his strong arms slid around her, swaying her to the sound of angels’ voices.

  ‘You’re my beginning and my end, il mio cuore. My everything.’

  EPILOGUE

  Three years later

  ‘WHO CAME UP with the brilliant idea that it’d be fun to pack seven hyperactive kids and two overachieving fathers onto a yacht for a vacation?’ Eva grumbled as she chased after her ten-month-old daughter crawling at top speed towards the boat’s chrome railing. Baby Donatella Giordano immediately screeched in protest at her thwarted bid for freedom.

  Maisie grinned, raising her face to the dazzling Mediterranean sunshine. ‘You think there would’ve been any stopping Romeo or Zaccheo once they co-bought the super-yacht they’d been drooling over for a year?’

  Eva walked across the wide marble-tiled second-floor deck of the stunning vessel to join Maisie, her white bikini accentuating her tanned skin beautifully. Sitting down, she bounced Donatella on her lap until she quieted. ‘It’s a beautiful boat, but I haven’t been able to sleep a wink from worrying that one of the boys will throw themselves overboard just for the sheer hell of it.’

  ‘Romeo assures me that’s impossible. Trust me, I grilled him for hours on that very subject before I agreed to bring Lucca and Marcelo.’

  Two-year-old Marcelo glanced up at the mention of his name and grinned from where he splashed in the shallow pool with the second set of Giordano twins, Gianni and Angelo.

  Eva kissed the top of her baby’s head and sighed happily. ‘It’s good to see them relax, though, isn’t it? I just wish they wouldn’t relax so...vigorously.’

  Maisie laughed and glanced to the side as two powerful Jet Skis whizzed by, trailed by excited cheers and urges to go faster.

  Romeo’s jet carried Lucca and Zaccheo’s his oldest sons.

  As they made a final turn past the boat, Romeo’s gaze met hers. The contact was brief, but the love blazing in his eyes snagged Maisie’s breath. Her heart raced as the overwhelming love, which incredibly grew stronger every day, pounded through her blood. She reached up and touched lips that still tingled from when they’d made love hours ago. Then her hand drifted down to her flat belly, and the surprise that would bring another smile of joy to her husband’s face.

  ‘Since Romeo hasn’t crowed about it, I’m guessing he doesn’t know yet?’ Eva asked, glancing pointedly at Maisie’s stomach.

  Maisie gasped. ‘No, he doesn’t, but how...?’

  ‘Please. You’ve been positively glowing since you stepped aboard the Dolcezza Gattina yesterday. I’m guessing you didn’t get a chance to tell him because Zaccheo monopolised his attention until the early hours?’

  Maisie snorted. ‘He didn’t come to bed until five this morning.’ Whereupon he’d woken her and made love to her until she’d been too exhausted to move. By the time she’d woken again, he’d been up with their children. ‘I’ll tell him tonight.’

  ‘Tell me what, amore mio?’

  Maisie jumped guiltily at the deep voice that heralded her husband’s arrival.

  Romeo climbed the last step and headed straight for her. This close, his tight, lean physique, damp from the ocean’s spray, was even more arresting. ‘If I told you now, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?’ she finally said when sh
e could speak past the wondrous reality that this gorgeous, incredible man belonged to her.

  After kissing his younger son, he lowered his body onto her lounger and braced his hands on either side of her hips, caging her in. Outside the unique cocoon that wrapped itself around them whenever they were this close, Maisie peripherally saw Zaccheo greet his wife with a kiss; heard the staff attend to the children.

  But she only had eyes for the man who stared down at her with an intensity that hadn’t abated since the first moment they’d set eyes on each other.

  ‘Is there any reason it needs to wait till tonight?’ he asked with a thick rasp that spoke of other urgent desires.

  She scrambled for a sound reason, but in the end couldn’t find one. ‘No.’

  ‘Bene.’ He stood and held out his hand. ‘Come.’

  Her excitement ratcheted another notch, but she paused as she stood. ‘The children...’

  His fingers tightened around hers. ‘Emily has everything in hand.’

  Romeo led his wife to the master suite and shut the door behind them.

  Surprise or not, he would’ve found a way to bring her here at the first opportunity. Because he couldn’t get enough of her. Of her love, her devotion to him, to their family. Of everything.

  He pulled her bikini-clad body close now and exhaled with happiness when her arms slid around his neck.

  ‘I love you.’ She sighed against him.

  He shuddered hard, those three words never ceasing to move him. ‘Ti amo anch’io,’ he replied gruffly. ‘I’m so thankful you made that journey to Palermo three years ago.’

  ‘So am I, but I’d like to think you would’ve found your way to me sooner or later. You just needed to put your ghosts to rest.’

  He nodded. The ghosts had finally been slain. Lorenzo Carmine had been found guilty of murder and jailed, never to breathe free air again. The rest of the famiglia had scattered to the wind, bringing an end to Agostino Fattore’s poisoned legacy.

  Romeo had resisted the urge to raze the Fattore mansion to the ground, instead renovating it with Maisie’s help and donating it to the local orphanage.

  From the trauma of his childhood and the bleak landscape he’d anticipated his future being, he was now submerged in love and happiness so profound, it scared him sometimes. Not enough that he would fail to hang on to it with both hands.

  He pulled his wife closer. ‘So, about my surprise?’ he pressed as he tugged at the strings of her bikini.

  Breathtaking blue eyes met his as she captured his hand, kissed his palm, then laid it gently over her stomach.

  His heart stopped, then raced with pure bliss. ‘Another baby?’ he murmured in awe.

  Maisie nodded, tears filling her eyes.

  Dropping to his knees, he kissed her belly, and the miracle nestled within. ‘Ciao, bella bambina,’ he whispered.

  She smiled. ‘You’re so sure it’s a girl this time?’

  ‘I’m certain. She’ll be as beautiful as her mother. And she will go a little way to balancing out the testosterone you find so challenging.’

  She laughed as he scooped her up and tumbled her into bed.

  Laughter ceased, and desire took over. They expressed their love in the gentle kisses and furnace-hot lovemaking.

  A few hours later, they dressed and joined their children and the Giordanos around the large dinner table.

  Their news was greeted with hugs and kisses, after which Zaccheo raised his glass.

  ‘To family,’ he toasted, glancing at every face around the table until finally resting lovingly on his wife. ‘And to love.’

  ‘Sì, to family,’ Romeo echoed. Then his gaze found Maisie’s. ‘To my for ever,’ he murmured for her ears alone.

  * * * * *

  You can read Zaccheo’s story in A MARRIAGE FIT FOR A SINNER

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  Back in the Brazilian’s Bed

  by Susan Stephens

  CHAPTER ONE

  ‘YOU VOLUNTEERED ME to do what?’

  Shielding her eyes against the bright morning sun, Karina Marcelos stared at her brother in disbelief. They were standing on the balcony of Luc’s eyrie on the penthouse floor of his magnificent cream marble flagship hotel with Rio de Janeiro laid out in front of them. Luc was one crazy polo player—he could be dictatorial when he was in ruling his business empire mode, but he was always considerate of her feelings.

  Her brother looked at her with surprise. ‘Why the fuss? You’re the obvious choice. The job of events organiser for the polo cup couldn’t be awarded to anyone better than my highly qualified sister.’ With a shrug he left her clenching and unclenching suddenly clammy fists.

  She followed him in. ‘You’ll have to un-volunteer me,’ she said firmly.

  Luc scowled as he sat heavily at his desk. He wasn’t used to being denied anything, unless his beloved wife Emma was in the picture.

  ‘I mean it, Luc,’ Karina insisted. ‘My schedule’s packed. I could only give the project a couple of weeks and it’s going to need a lot more time than that.’

  She could make the time. She could make the event fly, but that wasn’t the reason she was shying away from this plum of a job.

  ‘Too late,’ Luc said flatly. ‘The posters have gone out and your name’s on them. I didn’t expect you to kick up a fuss. When I put your name forward to the team, they nearly bit my hand off.’

  By team, Luc meant Team Thunderbolt, the world’s most infamous gaucho polo players. Luc was a mainstay of the team and so was Dante Baracca, Karina’s nemesis. This year it was Dante’s turn to host the Gaucho Cup.

  ‘What’s wrong now?’ her brother demanded, glancing up impatiently from his paperwork.

  Where to begin? She didn’t want to arouse Luc’s suspicions, and finding a plausible excuse not to work with Dante wouldn’t be easy. Nor would handling the whisper of awareness that skittered over her skin at the thought of being close to Dante again.

  ‘I need you to do this for me, Karina.’

  ‘I do know what this event means to you, but there are other events organisers.’

  ‘None as good as you,’ Luc insisted. ‘There’s no one who understands the world we work in better than you.’

  Karina’s glance landed on the cabinet where Luc kept his trophies. He’d left a space for this year’s prize. Right next to it, in a pointed reminder that it would be hard, if not impossible to get out of this, there was a trophy belonging to Karina. The International Association of Events Planners had awarded it to her for exceptional merit, and Luc was as proud of that trophy as he was of his own gleaming cups.

  ‘I need you to give me an answer, Karina,’ Luc pressed.

  ‘And I need time to think,’ she countered.

  ‘What’s there to think about?’ Settling back in his chair, Luc pushed his papers to one side. ‘Planning the polo cup is easily the most prestigious work you’ve ever been asked to do, so what’s your real problem, Karina?’

  She loved her brother dearly, but Luc had no idea wha
t he was asking. She had avoided face-to-face confrontations with Dante for a very good reason—the man was a hundred per cent ice-cold arrogance. She’d avoided him at polo matches, had been forced into his company when Luc and Emma had got together, but apart from that she was always careful to keep her distance from him. If she accepted this commission her avoidance tactics where Dante Baracca was concerned would be shot to hell.

  ‘You should at least have consulted me before you went ahead with this.’

  ‘My apologies,’ Luc mocked, gesturing widely to express his frustration. ‘I can’t imagine why I thought you’d be thrilled. You’re the go-to events organiser in Rio, Karina,’ he reminded her tensely. ‘Who else am I going to ask?’

  Her brother was right in that arranging the fixture would be an exciting challenge. It was just the man she had to deal with that was the problem.

  ‘Dante Baracca is an arrogant, humourless dictator,’ she murmured, speaking her thoughts out loud.

  ‘He’s a powerful, successful man,’ her brother argued.

  ‘Didn’t I just say that?’

  Black eyes flashed as the Marcelos siblings stared each other out.

  Karina didn’t want to upset her brother, but Luc was equally determined that she would take the job.

  ‘What aren’t you telling me?’ he demanded shrewdly.

  Ice slid down her spine.

  ‘There has to be something,’ he insisted. ‘We’ve known Dante for years. I play on the same team. I’d know if there was a problem. I hope you don’t believe his press?’

  ‘He doesn’t intimidate me, if that’s what you think. And as for his reputation...’ She blew out a contemptuous breath. ‘Dante’s the devil incarnate if you listen to the media—and much as I would love to take on the challenge of working with someone like that, I would have thought that my brother, of all people, would do me the courtesy of allowing me to refuse this job.’

  Luc shook his head. ‘No can do, Karina. Too much money has been invested in publicity for you to pull out now.’ He gave her the look that had melted a thousand hearts. ‘Do this one thing for me and I’ll never ask again.’