Page 29 of His Unexpected Heir

So, what was the housekeeper up to?

“I don’t want to interrupt,” Edward commented. He gave a little head tilt, then said, “I’ll let you all enjoy your reunion.” Edward left the office as well, his long, powerful legs eating up the distance down the hallway. The man looked to be on a mission to…what?

Astra wondered if he was hoping to intercept Macie, but then dismissed the possibility. Macie was one of the most pragmatic women Astra had ever known. She wouldn’t become involved with a renowned playboy like the Duke of Finehearst, no matter how good looking he might be. The current gossip was that Edward Manhem was dating some up and coming starlet who was about to win an award for her latest film.

Dismissing the possibility, she turned to Bailey. “I’m so sorry that we haven’t connected recently. It’s just been…”

Bailey waved Astra’s apology away with a smile. “I’ve heard about some of the parties you’ve thrown. That one on the yacht last month is still being talked about. How did you get all of those men to dress up like gorillas and dance? It was perfect for the new makeup line’s release party.”

Someone snorted, but Astra wasn’t sure of the culprit. Nor did she care. Unexpected visitors had trumped her big revelation. She turned to Antonio, pasting a bright, fake smile on her features.

“Thank you for the conversation,” she said, staring at his chin instead of into his eyes. “I’ll get you the budget for the next round of events. But please let me know if you’d prefer to hire someone to replace me for the rest of the contract. I can give you a list of–”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Antonio snarled. “And we’re not finished with our conversation. My brother and sister-in-law know where their rooms are.” He turned and frowned meaningfully at Matteo. “I’ll see you at dinner.”

“No need,” Astra interjected, forcing her smile to brighten. “I’m done. You can do–” she fluttered her fingers in the air. “Whatever it is that you need to do. I’ll see you at dinner.” She hurried to the door, then paused. “Or maybe I won’t,” she said, suspecting that the housekeeper was back in her hiding place, still eavesdropping. “Eldora’s cooking is atrocious!”

And then she hurried from the room, enjoying the hiss that came from somewhere. Astra almost laughed as she hurried out of the room, relieved that she’d given at least one zinger that couldn’t be shot back at her.

Antonio watched as Astra hurried up the stairs. He heard someone hiss, but assumed it was Bailey. He tried to ignore the lust that surged through him as he watched the delectable wiggle of Astra’s very round and enticing bottom as she hurried up the stairs, but it was pointless. He’d never been able to ignore the magnetic pull of that woman.

But she’d made her position about their relationship very clear. After so many missed calls that had been returned in the middle of the night, he understood she wasn’t interested. Her failure to tell him about their future child was just another nail in the coffin.

Turning, he faced Bailey’s triumphant smile and his brother’s obvious concern.

“What?” he snapped, moving behind his desk to hide his body’s reaction to Astra’s retreat.

“You’re in love with her!” Bailey exclaimed delightedly, walking over to loop her arm through her husband’s.

“Excuse me?’ he demanded, hiding his shock behind a haughty expression.

“You’re in love with Astra!” Bailey repeated, then laughed, bouncing on her toes with her enthusiasm. “And I suspect that she has equally strong feelings for you.”

“That’s ridiculous,” he replied, as he tried to ignore the surge of hope in his chest. But he couldn’t stop his gaze from moving towards the staircase where she’d disappeared. “We were intimate,” he replied. “That’s obvious. But there’s nothing between us now.”

Matteo snorted. “Are you sure?” he asked. “Even I could feel the sparks flying between the two of you.”

Antonio chuckled, shaking his head. “That was between Edward and Macie. Who would have thought that our snobbish friend could be ensnared by Macie?”

“She’s beautiful,” Bailey chimed in. “And intelligent.”

“Yes, but she’s also so serious. Whereas Edward…is only serious about making his next billion pounds.”

“I think his playboy days are over,” Bailey sing-songed, beaming as her shoulders swayed back and forth. She was wearing some sort of wrap skirt made of silky blue material that highlighted the soft pink in her cheeks. She was practically glowing and Antonio wondered if Bailey might be pregnant again. They already had two young children, who Matteo absolutely adored . He was the most amazing father!

Which brought Astra right back to the forefront of his mind. What kind of father was he going to be? Would he continue with the misery his father had inflicted on both himself and Matteo? Or could he break the chains of the past and become the kind of father he’d always wanted?

“You’re going to be an amazing dad,” Matteo murmured, patting his shoulder. “Trust me, you would never do anything like what our horrific excuse for a father did.”

Antonio gazed at his brother, the tension in his shoulders dissipating slightly. Trust Matteo to know exactly what he was thinking. Antonio and Matteo had been raised separately. Matteo had spent the first ten years of his life in a loving home with his mother down in the village. Matteo had endured the scorn of the villagers, the ridicule of being a bastard son to a powerful man. Matteo had come to the castle only when their father decided to inflict more humiliation.

However, Matteo had been sent off to boarding school in the United States. For years, Antonio had been jealous of Matteo’s luck at getting away from their father’s abuses. But recently he’d learned that Matteo had been badly abused by the headmaster at the boarding school, enduring the same horrors that Antonio had dealt with.

Shaking off the shadows of the past, he vowed right then and there that he’d never hurt his child as Ricardo had abused himself and Matteo. He would be a lovely, supportive father.

“You’re going to spoil your children,” Bailey whispered, walking over to him and wrapping her arms around his waist.

Antonio hugged her back, but was only allowed a few seconds of comfort from the lovely woman before Matteo pulled her back to his side.

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