Page 29 of Surprise Baby for the Don

A few minutes later, my phone buzzes with her response.

I’m free tonight. Can you meet me at the diner? Oh, and do you think you could pick up a shift? We’re short-staffed, and it’sgetting crazy in here.

I let out a sigh, glancing around the luxurious bedroom. As much as I’d rather not work tonight, I can’t really say no to Cassidy, especially not when she’s been holding things together while I’ve been away.

Sure, I can help out.

Cassidy responds with a quick thumbs-up emoji, followed by a message that makes me smile.

Thanks, sis! Let’s have a girls’ night after your shift. I want to hear everything!

I grin, my excitement bubbling up. I’ve missed her, and I can’t wait to tell her everything. Reluctantly, I slide out of bed, heading over to the dresser where there’s a new shopping bag full of clothes. I blush as I realize someone must have brought them in while we were napping. After I change, I search through the dresser for the key Mateo mentioned.

Once I’m dressed, I head downstairs, only to find the older man who was here when I came with my father waiting by the front door. Mateo’s apparently out, so he must be my guard dog.

“Miss Ginny, is there something I can help you with?” he asks kindly.

“I need to go home for the day, Mr. …,” I trail off, embarrassed that I don’t know his name.

“You can just call me Rocco.” He smiles brightly.

“And I’m just Ginny,” I joke,

“Well, Just Ginny,” he says with a chuckle. “Mateo didn’t mention anything about you leaving.”

I give him a small, reassuring smile. “I’m just going to spend some time with my sister, help her out at her diner for a shift and grab some dinner after. I’m sure he’d be fine with it.”

He lets out a heavy sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. “Okay,” he concedes. “But I’m arranging a ride for you.”

When I arrive at the diner, Cassidy is already there, waiting for me by the entrance. Her eyes widen as soon as she sees me, taking in my new designer clothes and the sleek black car that dropped me off. I can’t imagine what’s going through her head.

“What the hell is going on?” she demands, her voice a mix of shock and curiosity.

I give her a sheepish smile as I grab her hand and lead her back into the restaurant. I have a change of clothes, my normal clothes, stashed in the office.

“I have a lot to fill you in on.” I laugh. “But first, let me get changed.”

Cassidy rolls her eyes but follows me inside, waiting as I slip into the restroom to change into my usual work uniform. When I step out, I feel more like myself, but there’s part of me that also feels like this part of my life is over.

As I tie my apron around my waist, Cassidy leans over the counter, her eyes narrowing. “All right, spill. Whose car is that and why do you look like you just walked out of a fashion magazine?”

I can’t help but laugh, the sound surprising even me. I haven’t laughed like this in ages, and it’s freeing. “Okay, okay.” I swat at her. “Mateo Rossi owns the car. And he bought the clothes.”

Cassidy raises an eyebrow, her expression hard. “Mateo Rossi is buying you couture and chauffeuring you around town? And what exactly is he getting from this arrangement?”

I know my full-body blush will give me away, but I can’t help it. I understand her wariness, but I want to assure her that Mateo is a good man.

“It’s not what you think,” I reply with a pointed eyeroll. “He’s a good man. He’s been really kind to me and he’s making my dreams come true.”

She gives me a knowing look, crossing her arms. “And are you makinghisdreams come true?”

I roll my eyes, though we both know she’s not far off. “We make each other happy,” I say vaguely. “He makes me really, really happy, okay? That’s all you need to know right now.”

She smirks, always satisfied to be proven right. Then I realize there’s something else she does need to know.

“Actually, there’s something else I wanted to talk to you about, completely unrelated,” I say in a quick breath, watching as her shoulders tense. “It’s about Dad.”

Cassidy’s face falls, and she lets out a sigh. “I was going to ask you about him, actually. I haven’t seen him all day, and he won’t answer his phone.”

---