Читать книгу Escape for Easter: The Brunelli Baby Bargain / The Italian Boss's Secret Child / The Midwife's Miracle Baby - Ким Лоренс, Trish Morey - Страница 13

‘YES, your vision has returned, Mr Brunelli.’

Cesare had struggled to stifle his impatience with the doctor. ‘I did not need you to tell me that. What I need you to tell me is will it last?’ Or would he wake up tomorrow in the world of blackness once more?

The medic was unwilling to commit himself. ‘We have no idea if this is permanent until we do more tests, Mr Brunelli.’

‘If that is so, Doctor, there are things other than your face that I would prefer to spend what time I have looking at.’

His retort drew a thin smile from the doctor, though the other man clearly didn’t take his objection seriously. ‘I understand, but I must recommend in the strongest terms that you remain in hospital until we have completed more tests.’

Cesare retorted in equally strong terms and in considerably more robust language that he was getting married that afternoon and nothing would keep him from that appointment.

Now, as the ceremony neared the end, he did not regret his decision. He had seen Sam’s face. No one could rob him of that.

The expectation among the small wedding party stretched as Cesare froze, an odd dazed expression on his face. As if, Sam thought miserably, he had just realised the enormity of what he had done and was already regretting it.

She was seized by the humiliating certainty that he wasn’t going to take up the registrar’s invitation to kiss her. She was lowering her head when he reached out and cupped her chin in one hand.

‘You don’t have to,’ she whispered as he dipped his head. Suddenly she couldn’t stand the pretence, the sham. She wanted with all her heart for it to be real, but she knew it never would be. ‘There is no one to act for,’ she added, making her voice cold. The quiver was an addition she had no control over.

Even though she knew it wasn’t possible his eyes seemed to hold hers as his mouth feathered across her lips, soft as a butterfly caress.

‘I’m not acting. We’re married, cara,’ he said, running the tip of his thumb along the outline of her lips. ‘This is for real, not an act.’ The throaty murmur was pitched for her ears only.

The light in his eyes dazzled her, awakening the gnawing need and longing that was always just below the surface when she was anywhere near him.

‘And I kiss you because I want to and you want me to, not to satisfy an audience. You do want me to, don’t you, cara?’

Sam had forgotten they had an audience; she was utterly mesmerised as she whispered, ‘Yes.’

He brushed his lips across hers and Sam’s eyes drifted shut as her lips parted under the light pressure and her fingers tightened around her posy of flowers.

The lingering kiss was so exquisitely tender that it brought a rush of hot tears to Sam’s eyes. When he lifted his head she remained still, her lashes lying dark against her delicately flushed cheeks.

Cesare looked down at her face and felt a swell of emotions so powerful that for a moment he could hardly breathe. From the instant he’d learnt about the pregnancy he’d been telling himself he was a great guy willing to make the supreme sacrifice and marry the mother of his child.

Sacrifice nothing! He’d been acting selfishly. His life would have no meaning without this infuriating, gorgeous redhead!

She opened her eyes and they shone deep violet as she looked up at him. He felt as if someone had reached into his chest and grabbed his heart. When he told her he had got her the sack she was going to hate him.

The registrar cleared her throat and gave an apologetic smile.

‘I’m sorry, but I have another couple booked in for four-thirty…’

Sam blushed and said, ‘Of course…sorry…’ She placed a hand unobtrusively under Cesare’s elbow and murmured softly that there were two steps.

‘As much as I appreciate you being sensitive to my feelings, Samantha, I think it would be a lot easier if I just lean on you.’

Sam flashed an uncertain look at his face as he pulled her into his side. ‘Yes, I suppose it would.’ Not easier for her, though, to maintain an illusion of cool when she was overwhelmingly conscious of the lean, hard body pressed against her own.

But that was all right because brides were not meant to be cool, they were meant to be glowing. She wasn’t, but Sally, Tim’s girlfriend, didn’t seem to recognise there was anything lacking at least.

She was misty eyed as she kissed Sam; Cesare she regarded with nervous awe.

‘Where are you going on your honeymoon?’ she asked Sam as they left the building heading for the waiting limo.

‘Oh, we’re not having a honeymoon.’

Sally’s face fell. ‘Oh, what a pity!’ she exclaimed.

Sam’s eyes slid briefly to the tall man at her side…she’d have to get used to calling and even thinking about him as her husband. ‘Cesare’s got to attend a business meeting early tomorrow and—’

‘We are having a honeymoon.’

Sam’s jaw dropped as she tilted her face up to his. ‘What?’

‘A honeymoon. We are having one—didn’t I say?’

‘I don’t understand,’ Sam said when they were alone in the car. ‘It was agreed we weren’t having a honeymoon.’ Honeymoons were meant for people in love. ‘You have urgent—’

‘There has been a change of plan,’ Cesare inserted smoothly.

Sam’s eyes narrowed. ‘A plan on which I wasn’t consulted!’ she responded, not really understanding why she felt so cranky except that he had taken her by surprise. ‘I suppose this is how it’s going to be married to you. I’m supposed to fall obediently in line with anything you say because I’m a dutiful wife.’

‘Anyone would think you’re regretting it already.’

Sam was glad the dark eyes scanning her face could not see the tear stains. ‘Is that transference?’

‘Oh, my God, this is worse than I thought. You’ve taken psychology classes.’

‘This isn’t a honeymoon, is it? You’re taking me with you on a damned business trip so that you can keep an eye on me…you don’t trust me!’ she accused shrilly.

‘This is a romantic gesture, cara. I’m being spontaneous.’

His sarcasm seemed unnecessarily cruel to Sam, who turned her head away, an unnecessary protective gesture to hide the new tears that sprang to her eyes.

They travelled on in silence until she had governed her unpredictable emotions enough to speak without shouting or crying or both. ‘Where are we going?’

‘I thought it would be appropriate if we went back to where we met.’

Her jaw dropped. ‘Scotland, the castle! You’re joking.’

‘I thought you might be pleased.’

‘But my brother…’

‘I did not invite him,’ Cesare inserted apologetically.

She threw him a withering look and narrowed her eyes. ‘Very funny, but what’s he going to say when he finds out we’re married?’

‘I expect he will tell you that you could have done better for yourself, which you probably could, but I think if you do not mind we will delay any family reunions. There is no need for us to see anyone. I have arranged for all the necessary provisions to be delivered and have requested no housekeeping. Of course it is possible that my request will be ignored by interfering domestic help…’

Against her will Sam responded to his teasing lopsided smile.

‘That’s better,’ he approved, leaning back in his seat.

‘What’s better?’

‘I prefer it when you’re smiling at me to when you’re scowling.’

Her brow furrowed. ‘How did you know I was smiling?’

‘I can hear it in your voice, cara.’

Sam, who hoped that was all he could hear, relaxed back into the seat beside him. The only thing that made her situation bearable was the fact that Cesare didn’t begin to suspect her true feelings. Her expression grew pensive as she acknowledged why it was important to her for him not to know. With little else left, pride took on an extra importance.

‘Come here!’ Cesare said, suddenly reaching out and drawing her to him.

Nestling into his side, Sam closed her eyes and felt some of the tension that tied her muscles in knots slip away.

‘Are you pleased about the honeymoon?’ Cesare asked, stroking a tendril of hair back from her smooth brow.

‘I’m surprised.’

Her cautious response drew an ironic smile from him.

Aware that they had driven past the road that led to Cesare’s London Georgian town house, Sam straightened up. ‘Why are we going this way?’

‘The helipad at the house is undergoing repairs. We’re leaving from just south of—’

‘We’re flying to Scotland by helicopter?’

His expression suggested he was amazed she had thought otherwise.

‘But I can’t go like this! I haven’t packed and—’

Cesare disposed of her protests with a shrug and a matter-of-fact explanation. ‘I’m sure you look charming like that and, as the store had your measurements, it was simple to arrange for them to send over some clothes this morning and the necessary personal items. If there’s anything I have forgotten we can send down for it.’

‘You’ve bought me an entire wardrobe?’

He raised a brow and looked amused. ‘Is that a problem?’

Sam, who was sure it ought to be on principle, scowled.

‘A husband is allowed to buy his wife a few clothes.’

Sam gulped and voiced her doubts out loud. ‘Husband? I wonder if that will ever not sound strange.’

‘The unfamiliar can quickly become commonplace if you allow it.’

The comment drew a laugh from Sam.

He inclined his head in an attitude of enquiry. ‘That is funny?’

Sam extended a hand to touch his lean cheek and, biting her lip, drew back at the last moment. ‘The idea of there being anything commonplace about you,’ she confided huskily, ‘is not funny, it’s frankly hilarious.’

The silence between them stretched as Cesare appeared to study her face, something that Sam always found intensely unnerving.

‘I think, Samantha, that might have been a compliment…?’

‘It was,’ she admitted, then in an effort to defuse the tension that had sprung up between them she added lightly, ‘But don’t let it go to your head.’

She shuffled along the seat and leaned back into the soft leather.

Cesare made no comment on the space she had put between them, but he did suggest she could take a nap on the flight up to Scotland.

Sam, who was no longer amazed by his spooky perception lifted a hand to stifle a yawn. The effects of the last twenty-four hours were catching up on her, but she expressed her doubt that she’d be able to sleep during the flight.

She was wrong.

She closed her eyes just to rest them shortly after they took off and the next thing she knew Cesare was shaking her awake.

‘We’re here already?’

‘Time passes swiftly when one is snoring.’

‘I didn’t!’ she protested.

‘No,’ he conceded, ‘you just gently slobbered all over my shoulder.’

His eyes were so warm as they rested on her face that, despite the fact he wasn’t really seeing her, Sam subsided in blushing confusion. He, of course, looked predictably gorgeous, and Sam took the opportunity to stare. While she had to be guarded in her speech, at least she did not have to disguise her feelings behind clever banter or hostility when she looked at him. A sigh left her lips as her hungry gaze sank to his wide, sensual mouth.

Paolo, who had been travelling up front with the pilot, carried their luggage into the castle and spoke briefly to Cesare before vanishing into the gathering darkness.

Moments later Sam heard the chopper taking off.

She turned to look at Cesare and as their eyes connected she had to tell herself for the umpteenth time that day that he couldn’t actually see her, he just had very expressive eyes. Unable to look away, she was suddenly overwhelmed by shyness.

‘Which is ridiculous.’

Cesare lowered his gaze, tugged his tie off and asked, ‘What is ridiculous?’

‘Feeling like a virgin on my wedding night is ridiculous…because I’m not…obviously.’ Her hand went to her stomach.

Something flashed in his eyes, a strong emotion but one that Sam couldn’t define. ‘Do you regret it?’

She shook her head, confused by the harshness of his abrupt question.

‘Do you regret sleeping with me that night?’

Sam shook her head again from side to side. ‘No,’ she admitted huskily. ‘I don’t.’

Sam felt a flutter of panic in the pit of her stomach. This was the closest she had ever come to admitting the extent of her feelings for Cesare.

She closed her eyes and silently willed him not to press her further on the subject. If he did she didn’t know what she’d say. Sometimes just lately she was as surprised as him to hear the things that came out of her mouth.

When he didn’t respond she opened her eyes, instantly colliding with his dark stare. There had never been anything empty about Cesare’s sightless eyes. They were an accurate reflection of his emotions, and intelligence always shone in those obsidian depths.

She experienced a flash of reckless bravery and challenged, ‘Do you regret anything?’

If he were was a better man, Cesare reflected, he would.

‘I regret…’ he began slowly.

Sam’s fingers clenched into tight fists at her sides. She lifted her chin and forced a breath past the lump of despair in her throat.

Was she some sort of masochist? Why had she asked him? Why did she invite this?

And why wouldn’t he regret it? The one night of sex had cost him dear. Sleeping with her had thrown his life into total chaos—it had obliged him to give up his freedom and marry a woman that he barely knew.

‘Fine, I understand.’ Without looking at him she picked up a kettle, filled it from the tap and placed it with an unsteady hand on the hob.

‘I regret, Samantha, that your introduction to lovemaking was not…gentler and more considerate.’

It was as much the self-recrimination in his voice as the stilted delivery of his words that made her spin back in startled amazement.

‘I wouldn’t change it—any of it!’ she said fiercely.

‘And I regret that I contrived to have you sacked.’

Her lips quivered as she tried to smile, though it was not her idea of a joke and he was not smiling. ‘Very funny, but I think you overrate your influence, Cesare.’

‘Did losing your job not influence your decision when I proposed we get married?’

Her nose wrinkled as she recalled the frightful day. ‘I suppose it did,’ she admitted, still not seeing where this was going.

‘It was meant to and I do have that much influence. It took one phone call…’ Cesare knew he was taking a risk but it was best she heard it from him rather than finding out some other way some time down the line.

With the vows they had made still fresh in his mind he didn’t want to start married life with this deceit on his conscience.

‘You did that?’

He nodded.

‘Why?’

The bewildered hurt in her voice made him flinch. ‘My father was not around when I was growing up. I do not want that for my child. I would have moved mountains to bring about our marriage, Samantha. I didn’t want to leave anything to chance.’

‘And never mind whose dreams you trample over?’ A slightly hysterical laugh was drawn from her lips. ‘At least I know I wasn’t such a lousy writer.’

‘Sam…’

She lifted a hand and shook her head. ‘Not now, Cesare.’

‘Samantha!’

She heard her name, but didn’t stop as she fled the room. Then she broke down and wept, tears running unchecked down her face.

She had walked through several rooms of the castle before she registered the huge bowls of sweet-smelling flowers that permeated each room with their scent, a scent that was intensified by the warmth from the open fires that appeared to have been lit in the stone hearths of all the rooms.

She thought about her sister-in-law going from room to room to inspect the preparations for their important guests and she shook her head. It made her smile to imagine their amazement when they discovered that she was one of those guests. Though it would be nothing to their amazement when they discovered she was married!

She bent over one of the vases and inhaled the heady fragrance, then heaved a deep sigh before straightening her shoulders. Her emotions had never felt this close to the surface.

When she re-entered the kitchen Cesare was standing in the exact spot he had been when she ran out. His expression was inscrutable but the air around him vibrated with tension.

Sam said the first thing that came into her head. ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’

His lips twitched, but to her relief some of the tension in the air receded, making it easier to breathe.

He leaned back against the counter and stood there, his arms folded across his chest. ‘Why not?’ He gave a shrug and added quietly, ‘I am not proud of what I did, you know.’

‘I wonder if there’s milk?’ Then she stopped, bit her lip and fixed him with a wide candid stare. ‘It was a vile thing to do, but I suppose you didn’t have to tell me and that at least is something.’

Cesare stopped himself asking if it was enough as he watched Sam open the fridge.

Her eyes opened wide as she saw the contents. There wasn’t just milk and basics, it was an Aladdin’s cave. There was just about every luxury item of food you could imagine plus several bottles of champagne. She lifted one out, looked at the label and whistled before putting it back and taking out a carton of milk.

‘It’s a pity I’m not allowed alcohol.’

‘I will keep you company with the orange juice.’

Sam closed the door. ‘You don’t have to,’ she said, wishing she didn’t have to love him so utterly and totally. ‘Why did you tell me?’

‘I didn’t want to start this marriage with a lie, but I forgot that the truth, cara, is not always better.’ In fact the truth could be highly overrated.

‘Of course the truth is better!’ she exclaimed.

‘The truth, Samantha, is that you married me because you were desperate and I was your meal ticket.’

The pragmatic description caused the hot colour to rush to her cheeks. ‘You think that?’ How could a man as bright as him not know she loved him?

His dark brows lifted. ‘I’m hardly in a position to criticise, Samantha.’

No, but he did just think she was a variation on an avaricious gold-digger. She heaved a silent sigh. Maybe that was actually better than him knowing the truth. ‘You think I married you for your money?’

And wasn’t he right?

But nothing as Sam knew to her cost, was as simple as it looked.

Since the moment when she had seen the look upon Cesare’s face as she had described their unborn child to him it had been an uphill struggle to continue to think of Cesare as the two-dimensional, cold, ruthless despot with a chip on his shoulder she had origninally labelled him.

He was a far more complex man, a fascinating man of strong passions whose worst sins were not loving her and his willingness to do anything for his unborn child.

‘I think you saddled yourself with a blind husband because you want the best for your child. You’re the last woman in the world I’d accuse of being avaricious, Samantha.’

‘You could have told me before the wedding,’ she pointed out.

‘I’m not that much of a reformed character, Samantha.’

‘Are your parents together?’

He shook his head. ‘My father walked out when I was ten, my mother remarried a few years later and I moved out when I was sixteen. Family is something I never had.’

Sam could read the hurt and loneliness behind the bald facts he outlined and, while she didn’t forgive what he had done, she could understand what had driven him to do it. His determination to get married made even more sense now, but the fact that this marriage had always been about the baby made her sad and happy at the same time.

In a perfect world, even in this world for some lucky ones, a loving husband and a father willing to do anything for his child would not be mutually exclusive.

But in her world it was, so she’d better get used to it. She could have him but not his heart. She closed her eyes, not wanting to even think about what it would feel like if he gave that heart to another woman one day.

That was her nightmare.

‘Well, you have one now, so don’t blow it,’ she advised him. ‘And remember you’re on probation so any time you feel any Machiavellian impulses take a shower.’

‘I don’t deserve you,’ he said with more humility than she ever imagined to see him display.

‘Hold that thought,’ she said, putting the milk back into the fridge.

‘We will celebrate together with champagne after the baby is born.’

She turned her head and was startled to find he was standing at her elbow, close enough for her to smell the clean male scent of his body. A stab of sexual longing knifed through her body, snatching the breath from her lungs with its intensity.

‘It is a big thing you have done, Samantha.’

‘Well, I want this marriage to work too. I had the things you missed out on, Cesare. I had a great childhood and I’d like that for my baby.’ She sucked in a deep breath and pushed her hair back from her face.

‘I could make something to eat if you like—steak and salad…?’ Without waiting for his response she added quickly, ‘I don’t know about you but I’m starving so I’ll just go change out of these things.’ She flashed a quick smile in his general direction and left the room.

Outside the room she leaned against the door…and closed her eyes. So far she was handling herself with all the skill of a dancer with two left feet—and both of those seemed to be permanently in her mouth. She had been within a heartbeat of blurting out that the only reason she had forgiven him was because she loved him!

Upstairs in the largest of the bedrooms she found the clothes that Cesare had promised laid out in neat piles on the big four-poster bed.

What she needed, she told herself, was a coping strategy.

But what?

With a sigh she stepped out of her dress and, after folding it carefully and placing it on the bed, walked to the big mullioned window that gave a view of the loch.

She had absolutely no idea how long she stood there lost in thought. It was only when she began to shiver with cold—the basque she wore was not really intended for wearing in the Scottish Highlands—that she realised the moon was out and shining its silvery light over the surface of the water far below. With a sigh she began to pull the heavy brocade curtains across the window.

‘Leave that.’

Sam, who hadn’t heard him come into the room, started at the sound of Cesare’s voice. She turned and saw his tall figure framed in the doorway, a towel knotted around his middle and his jet hair dripping wet.

Her breath quickened as her covetous gaze slid over the perfect definition of his broad chest before sliding lower to his flat belly. She ran her tongue across her dry lips as her heart rate quickened.

‘I thought you were downstairs.’ She was startled to realise she had been gone long enough for him to shower.

His shoulders lifted. ‘As you see, I am not.’

‘You should have called me.’ She was angry because in her head she could see him lying unconscious at the bottom of the stairs that were uneven stone and lethally steep. The castle did not boast anything as modern as en suite facilities and the nearest bathroom was up a winding staircase. ‘How did you…?’

‘It is always easier to get my bearings when I have been some place before,’ he reminded her slickly. ‘I managed on my own.’

‘So I see.’ She was seeing a lot more, and trying very hard not to! The towel was very small and his body was nothing short of perfect.

The way she was staring at him sent flames of lust through Cesare’s body. He was seeing Samantha with her feelings bare on her face. Having her look as though the sight of him was enough to make her weak with lust was intoxicating and more of a turn-on than anything in his life.