Page 42 of His Unexpected Heir

Astra didn’t understand what he was talking about. “Is that…do you think that’s what happened after Sidrina?” she asked. “Because…I returned your calls. You kept calling me in the middle of the night when I was sound asleep. I turn off my phone at night so that I’m not interrupted.”

He sighed, but didn’t release her. “Astra, I called you at…” he stopped and stared at her. “Wait a minute. Where were you after you left Sidrina?”

She was startled by the gruffness of his voice. “I went back to Philadelphia.”

His eyes widened. “You weren’t in London?”

She pulled back, confused by his question. “Why would I be in London?”

He stared at her as if she’d just told him she was a pterodactyl. “You were supposed to be doing an event for a woman in London after Zahir’s wedding.”

Astra’s mouth fell open and she stared at him. “Is that why you left messages for me at one or two in the morning?”

“Infierno, si. I was in Tokyo after Sidrina, but I tried to reach you when I thought you’d be awake.”

Astra stepped back and burst out laughing, then caught herself and stared up at him. A moment later, she lost the battle and burst out laughing again. But this time, she couldn’t stop the tears. Laying a hand on the wall, she bent over, holding her belly as she laughed and cried.

“Care to share the joke?”

She lifted her hand and laid it on his arm, still laughing as she wiped away a tear. “I left Sidrina and went back to Philadelphia. I worked two weddings and one charity ball.” She sighed, trying to control the rush of emotions. “I was so upset and hurt because I thought you were purposely calling me at odd times because you were trying to avoid speaking with me.”

There was a long silence, then he growled and pulled her into his arms. “I had the exact same thought,” he told her, then kissed her lightly, wrapping his arms around her waist to pull her closer. Leaning his forehead against hers, he said, “I was in Tokyo, but stayed up so that I could talk to you, needing to hear your voice, Astra. I wasn’t trying to avoid you. Just the opposite, in fact.”

“And I thought you were back in Spain. I stayed up until one or two in the morning some nights just so that I could speak with you in Spain’s time zone. I had no idea you were in Tokyo!”

He groaned and she laughed. When he lifted his forehead, he asked, “So you really weren’t trying to avoid me?”

“I was trying so hard to reach you. I desperately needed to hear from you, just to hear to your voice, Antonio.”

“Why?”

She blinked, her heart thudding against her ribs. She wanted to be brave, but this…Antonio…it was a lot to take in all of a sudden. But under the intensity of his dark eyes, she blurted out, “Because I was addicted to you. I needed to just hear your voice. Every day in Sidrina, you were there. You would tease me, talk to me. Calm me down when the wedding plans grew larger and more complicated. Every time I needed to speak with you, somehow, you were right there.” She looked at him, praying that he felt the same way. “And then you took me into your arms that night and…and it was such a perfect night. Everything was just so…amazing. I…I wanted more,” she whispered up to him.

He cupped her face and leaned in, as if the intensity of his words needed to be said closer to her. “I wanted every damn night with you, Astra. I was furious when I thought you were trying to avoid me.”

“I wasn’t!” she gasped, placing her hands over his and leaning into him.

“And then you showed up here. I had no idea that the company my assistant booked for the village events was you, and when you stepped out of the car, I couldn’t believe how…”

“What?” she prompted, placing her hand against his cheek. “Tell me, Antonio.”

“I couldn’t believe how badly I wanted to just kiss you again.”

She stopped, her heart bursting with joy. “You could kiss me now.”

He growled and pulled her into his arms, kissing her until he felt the tears slipping down her cheek. When he straightened, he said, “I know that we haven’t known each other for very long but…”

“I know you,” she argued. “I know that you’re a kind, wonderful, generous person.”

“Then marry me.”

“But…”

“We’ll figure it out as we go along,” he argued, not letting her put any other obstacles in their way. “Marry me and we’ll figure everything out together.”

She knew that this was insane. “Yes!” The agreement escaped her lips before she could stop it. As soon as she’d said it, Astra knew that it was right. He was right! He felt right and every time he kissed her or touched her, the entire world was right once again.

“Well, isn’t this nice and cozy!” Maria said, stepping out from behind the corner. She pointed a gun at them and her eyes looked wild. She was holding the gun in her left hand though, since her right hand was wrapped in a bandage. “But I’m afraid that I’m going to have to object.”

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