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Authors: Susanna Carr
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as she turned on the shower. She would demand a plane ticket and deal with any paperwork through the lawyers. She couldn’t be around Antonio anymore. Especially after last night. Because if he didn’t suspect already Antonio would soon realize that he was her only weakness. And he would use that information ruthlessly to get what he wanted.
Weak and shaky, it took her much longer to get ready than she’d anticipated. She pulled her damp hair back in a tight ponytail and dressed simply in a gray T-shirt, jeans and her scuffed-up flats. Looking in the mirror, she wondered how she’d ever gained Antonio’s attention. She wasn’t beautiful or sexy. There was nothing special about how she looked. She had nothing to offer someone as rich and worldly as Antonio.
Maybe he’d slept with her because she was different from the women he normally had in his life. She was earthy compared to those glamorous creatures. Isabella grabbed her backpack and strode across the bedroom. Or maybe it was because she’d made it known that she found him desirable. That was more likely. Isabella swung open the door and jumped back when she saw Antonio standing in front of her.
“Here—eat this.” He offered a piece of dry toast.
Isabella reared her head back. The bread did nothing to whet her appetite. “I was heading for the dining room.”
“Where you would have found an excuse not to eat breakfast,” he predicted. “I know you don’t believe me, but you will feel better after you’ve eaten.”
Once she would have found comfort in the fact thatAntonio knew her so well. Now it made her feel vulnerable. She snatched the toast from his hand, deciding she needed to pick her battles. She didn’t want to argue with him when she needed to get her plane ticket.
She looked at the toast with hesitation and then glanced up at Antonio when she noticed he wasn’t walking away. “Are you just going to stand there and watch me eat?”
“It’s the only way I’ll know you’ve been fed.”
Isabella frowned. Why did he care? “I can take care of myself.”
“I’ve already caught you once when you fainted,” he reminded her as he crossed his arms as if ready for battle. “I don’t want to make it a habit.”
“It won’t be,” she said as she leaned against the wall and nibbled on the toast. She hated being an inconvenience. Or, worse, an obligation. She always toughed it out on her own, took care of her problems alone, and promptly repaid any favor or debt. She didn’t accept charity and she wasn’t going to start now.
“Can you give me the address of the doctor’s office?” she asked Antonio, avoiding his intent gaze as she took another bite of toast.
“No need. I’m coming with you.”
She almost choked on the bread. “Why? It’s a simple examination and a blood test. You don’t need to be there.”
“Why do you hate the idea so much?” he asked, and his gaze narrowed on her face. “Do you have something to hide?”
“No, but I don’t need to be watched like a hawk.” She wanted to handle this alone. Antonio would immediatelytake over and she knew she would lose the power struggle.
“We’ll need to do a DNA test to prove paternity,” he explained.
“I’ll sign a release form and the lab will send you the results,” she promised as she finished the last of the toast. “Or are you afraid I might tamper with the procedure?”
“Are you always this suspicious when someone tries to help you?” he asked as he arched an eyebrow.
“Yes.” Because no one offered help unless there was an agenda. The last time she’d accepted assistance she had become a pawn in Giovanni’s games.
Antonio took a step forward. “Then you need to work on that, because from now on I’m going to be with you every step of the way.”
She should take that as a threat, but she felt her body soften and warm at the promise. “We both know that’s the last thing you want to do,” she muttered.
“You are carrying the
Weak and shaky, it took her much longer to get ready than she’d anticipated. She pulled her damp hair back in a tight ponytail and dressed simply in a gray T-shirt, jeans and her scuffed-up flats. Looking in the mirror, she wondered how she’d ever gained Antonio’s attention. She wasn’t beautiful or sexy. There was nothing special about how she looked. She had nothing to offer someone as rich and worldly as Antonio.
Maybe he’d slept with her because she was different from the women he normally had in his life. She was earthy compared to those glamorous creatures. Isabella grabbed her backpack and strode across the bedroom. Or maybe it was because she’d made it known that she found him desirable. That was more likely. Isabella swung open the door and jumped back when she saw Antonio standing in front of her.
“Here—eat this.” He offered a piece of dry toast.
Isabella reared her head back. The bread did nothing to whet her appetite. “I was heading for the dining room.”
“Where you would have found an excuse not to eat breakfast,” he predicted. “I know you don’t believe me, but you will feel better after you’ve eaten.”
Once she would have found comfort in the fact thatAntonio knew her so well. Now it made her feel vulnerable. She snatched the toast from his hand, deciding she needed to pick her battles. She didn’t want to argue with him when she needed to get her plane ticket.
She looked at the toast with hesitation and then glanced up at Antonio when she noticed he wasn’t walking away. “Are you just going to stand there and watch me eat?”
“It’s the only way I’ll know you’ve been fed.”
Isabella frowned. Why did he care? “I can take care of myself.”
“I’ve already caught you once when you fainted,” he reminded her as he crossed his arms as if ready for battle. “I don’t want to make it a habit.”
“It won’t be,” she said as she leaned against the wall and nibbled on the toast. She hated being an inconvenience. Or, worse, an obligation. She always toughed it out on her own, took care of her problems alone, and promptly repaid any favor or debt. She didn’t accept charity and she wasn’t going to start now.
“Can you give me the address of the doctor’s office?” she asked Antonio, avoiding his intent gaze as she took another bite of toast.
“No need. I’m coming with you.”
She almost choked on the bread. “Why? It’s a simple examination and a blood test. You don’t need to be there.”
“Why do you hate the idea so much?” he asked, and his gaze narrowed on her face. “Do you have something to hide?”
“No, but I don’t need to be watched like a hawk.” She wanted to handle this alone. Antonio would immediatelytake over and she knew she would lose the power struggle.
“We’ll need to do a DNA test to prove paternity,” he explained.
“I’ll sign a release form and the lab will send you the results,” she promised as she finished the last of the toast. “Or are you afraid I might tamper with the procedure?”
“Are you always this suspicious when someone tries to help you?” he asked as he arched an eyebrow.
“Yes.” Because no one offered help unless there was an agenda. The last time she’d accepted assistance she had become a pawn in Giovanni’s games.
Antonio took a step forward. “Then you need to work on that, because from now on I’m going to be with you every step of the way.”
She should take that as a threat, but she felt her body soften and warm at the promise. “We both know that’s the last thing you want to do,” she muttered.
“You are carrying the
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