Read Online Valentino's Pregnancy Bombshell by Amy Andrews - Free Book Online

down beside her. ‘It all went really well. In a few weeks we should be able to switch the device on.’
    Paige nodded. His voice was a low murmur and she was suddenly overwhelmed by the gift his skilled fingers had given his daughter. She’d been sitting here for hours, trying not to think about it, trying to concentrate on the here and now. But Valentino had opened the door.
    A rush of emotion swamped her chest and she could feel her eyes filling with tears. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered.
    â€˜Hey,’ Valentino crooned as tears spilled down her cheeks. Her face crumpled and he pulled her head onto his shoulder. ‘It’s okay.’
    Paige nodded as a sob escaped. Then another. For the first time in years she actually felt as if it was really, actually okay.
    And she had him to thank for it.

CHAPTER FOUR
    T ODAY was the big day.
    It was totally surreal for Paige. She walked into St Auburn’s, McKenzie in tow, pressed the lift button for the fourth floor, stepped out, turned right and walked through the open doors marked Audiology.
    It wasn’t any different from what she’d done three days a week for the past couple of years.
    Except it was. Everything was different.
    Today was the day they’d know whether the operation had been a success or not. Today was the day McKenzie would hear.
    A week ago Valentino had seen McKenzie for her routine two week post-op check. He’d been pleased with her progress and they’d set this date for the activation of the device.
    â€˜Hi, Paige. Hello, McKenzie.’ Greg Palmer, the team’s social worker, was first to greet them. He grinned at McKenzie as he signed. ‘Today’s the day, huh?’ he said to Paige.
    Paige gave him a tight smile as McKenzie wentstraight to the corner of the large entrance lounge to where she knew the puzzles were kept. ‘Yes.’
    He squeezed her arm. ‘It’ll be fine.’
    Paige nodded as she pressed a trembling palm against her stomach. Of course it would be okay. ‘I’m a little early. Is Ellen in yet?’
    Greg frowned. ‘I think Valentino’s going to do the honours.’
    â€˜Oh.’ She hadn’t counted on that. Ellen was one of the two audiologists in the department and today was her day on, so Paige had just assumed…Valentino must have made room in his schedule to be there for McKenzie.
    The knot of nerves in her belly twisted even tighter.
    Today, if all went according to plan, was probably going to be quite emotional. And she’d cried in front of Valentino once too many times as it was.
    â€˜I think he’s already in his office.’
    Paige shot a nervous look towards Harry’s office. Valentino’s office. She wanted to go in, was eager and excited on one hand but scared and nervous too. What if they got no result?
    â€˜Go,’ Greg urged, squeezing her arm again. ‘It’ll be fine.’
    Paige took a deep breath and nodded. ‘Come on, McKenzie,’ she said, crossing the room to her daughter and crouching down next to her. ‘Let’s go and see Dr Valentino,’ she said as she signed.
    McKenzie smiled at her and took her hand and they headed for the door behind which lay a whole new life. Paige knocked lightly and entered at Valentino’s command.
    Valentino looked up from a pile of charts on his desk as Paige’s deer-in-headlights eyes sought his. He knew all about the squall of emotions going on inside her. Had seen it on hundreds of parents’ faces as the big moment arrived.
    She looked tired, dark shadows beneath her incredibly huge eyes making them appear even more stark in her face. Her clothes, as usual, were two sizes too big, skimming the bony angles of her body, hanging instead of hugging. Had she eaten any of the goodies he’d had delivered to her house every day for the last few weeks?
    â€˜Paige,’ he said, standing, denying the dictates of his body urging him to