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Authors: Susanna Carr
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Rossi heir.” He gestured at her stomach. “This is my concern as much as yours.”
Isabella automatically wrapped her arms around her belly. “You can’t possibly want to have anything to do with me or my child. You think this baby is proof that I cheated on you.”
“I wouldn’t blame a child for his parents’ sins.”
Isabella stilled as Antonio’s words stung. She took a deep breath. “I’m not willing to test that out.”
Antonio flattened his hands against the wall as a dark, unpredictable energy swirled around him. “Do you think that I’m the kind of man who would mistreat a child?” he asked in a low, biting tone.
Her instincts said no. She knew Antonio would useall his power and resources to protect a child. But this was Giovanni’s baby. She didn’t know much about the history between the brothers, but she knew it was filled with pain and betrayal. Could Antonio separate his feelings for Giovanni from the feelings he had for the baby?
“I don’t know,” she admitted, tilting her head up to meet his angry gaze. “I’ve never seen you around kids.”
“I haven’t seen you around children, either,” he said as he leaned in, “but I know enough about you to know that you would be a good mother. I don’t need a blood test to know that this child is family.”
Family . She really wanted her child to grow up with a sense of belonging and surrounded by unconditional love. Her mother had given her those things, but there had been times when she had wanted acceptance from the family that had shunned her. There had been times when Isabella had wondered what was wrong with her that her relatives should withhold their love and approval.
“I take care of my family,” Antonio said, his voice strong and clear, “and I will take care of this child.”
Isabella blinked slowly as she listened to his vow. Why was he claiming this child? She hadn’t expected that. But then why would she? Her own father hadn’t claimed her . Giovanni had only claimed his baby because he could use the information to hurt Antonio. What did Antonio expect to get from all this? What was his end game? Whatever it was, she didn’t think she could afford the price.
“My baby doesn’t need your financial support,” she declared huskily, and tried to move away. Antonio settled his hand against her shoulder and she stopped.
“It’s not just money,” he explained. “Your child willone day head the Rossi empire. He will be part of this world. He needs me to guide him through it,” Antonio said as he removed his hand from her shoulder. “Unless you think you’re up for the challenge?”
Isabella felt her skin flush. She was an outsider while Antonio’s family ruled high society. “Who says my child will want this world?”
“That should be his decision, not yours. Your child will need to be groomed from the beginning. He will need to attend the best schools, train—”
“I can provide that now. I am not a disadvantage to my baby,” she insisted, hating how her voice shook.
She was surprised when Antonio hooked his finger under her chin and guided her face up so she could look into his eyes. “Your baby is already lucky to have you as a mother,” he assured her softly. “You are very nurturing and affectionate.”
Maybe too much so. During their affair she hadn’t held back on her embraces and caresses. She’d always been touching Antonio. Holding on. Clinging. It had led him to think that she was like that with everyone.
“But you don’t think I can give this child the sort of life that befits a Rossi heir?” she said.
Antonio dropped his hand and took a step back. “That’s where I can help.”
It was too good to be true. There must be some strings attached to his offer. An expectation of good behavior or a short expiration date.
“For how long? Until it’s no longer in your interest? When you start a family of your own?” With that fiancée of his. The thought of the other woman made
Isabella automatically wrapped her arms around her belly. “You can’t possibly want to have anything to do with me or my child. You think this baby is proof that I cheated on you.”
“I wouldn’t blame a child for his parents’ sins.”
Isabella stilled as Antonio’s words stung. She took a deep breath. “I’m not willing to test that out.”
Antonio flattened his hands against the wall as a dark, unpredictable energy swirled around him. “Do you think that I’m the kind of man who would mistreat a child?” he asked in a low, biting tone.
Her instincts said no. She knew Antonio would useall his power and resources to protect a child. But this was Giovanni’s baby. She didn’t know much about the history between the brothers, but she knew it was filled with pain and betrayal. Could Antonio separate his feelings for Giovanni from the feelings he had for the baby?
“I don’t know,” she admitted, tilting her head up to meet his angry gaze. “I’ve never seen you around kids.”
“I haven’t seen you around children, either,” he said as he leaned in, “but I know enough about you to know that you would be a good mother. I don’t need a blood test to know that this child is family.”
Family . She really wanted her child to grow up with a sense of belonging and surrounded by unconditional love. Her mother had given her those things, but there had been times when she had wanted acceptance from the family that had shunned her. There had been times when Isabella had wondered what was wrong with her that her relatives should withhold their love and approval.
“I take care of my family,” Antonio said, his voice strong and clear, “and I will take care of this child.”
Isabella blinked slowly as she listened to his vow. Why was he claiming this child? She hadn’t expected that. But then why would she? Her own father hadn’t claimed her . Giovanni had only claimed his baby because he could use the information to hurt Antonio. What did Antonio expect to get from all this? What was his end game? Whatever it was, she didn’t think she could afford the price.
“My baby doesn’t need your financial support,” she declared huskily, and tried to move away. Antonio settled his hand against her shoulder and she stopped.
“It’s not just money,” he explained. “Your child willone day head the Rossi empire. He will be part of this world. He needs me to guide him through it,” Antonio said as he removed his hand from her shoulder. “Unless you think you’re up for the challenge?”
Isabella felt her skin flush. She was an outsider while Antonio’s family ruled high society. “Who says my child will want this world?”
“That should be his decision, not yours. Your child will need to be groomed from the beginning. He will need to attend the best schools, train—”
“I can provide that now. I am not a disadvantage to my baby,” she insisted, hating how her voice shook.
She was surprised when Antonio hooked his finger under her chin and guided her face up so she could look into his eyes. “Your baby is already lucky to have you as a mother,” he assured her softly. “You are very nurturing and affectionate.”
Maybe too much so. During their affair she hadn’t held back on her embraces and caresses. She’d always been touching Antonio. Holding on. Clinging. It had led him to think that she was like that with everyone.
“But you don’t think I can give this child the sort of life that befits a Rossi heir?” she said.
Antonio dropped his hand and took a step back. “That’s where I can help.”
It was too good to be true. There must be some strings attached to his offer. An expectation of good behavior or a short expiration date.
“For how long? Until it’s no longer in your interest? When you start a family of your own?” With that fiancée of his. The thought of the other woman made
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