Page 31 of The Nicolaides Baby

“No. No. Stay and give everyone my regrets.” She then brushed her cheek over Charlotte’s. “Thank you for this.”

“Of course,” Charlotte said as she patted her other cheek.

“I hope you’re not rushing off on my account.”

Rowan straightened away from Charlotte and ignored Gia’s smirk when she faced her. “Of course not. Why would I?”

Mara’s, “Sleepy, Mama,” interrupted whatever Gia was about to say.

Rowan kissed Mara’s curly head. “I know, baby. Mama’s going to put you to bed.” She met Gia’s unwavering gaze filled with speculation and just a hint of triumph. “Please, enjoy the rest of the party.”

“Thank you. I believe I will… Now.”

Rowan walked as fast as she could through the dwindling group of people, only stopping at an occasional well-wisher or comment about the party. She couldn’t let her panic show at what Gia might be thinking. So, she smiled as if nothing was amiss before making her excuses to each and continuing on. She finally made it down the terrace stairs where Mara’s pram sat.

“She can’t suspect.”

She laid her daughter inside and started down the path leading to thedéfterosvilla, her heart and mind racing with the implications of Gia’s unwanted attention on Mara. Sure, Rowan saw Leo in Mara’s eyes all the time, but no one else had made the connection—not even after weeks of time the family had spent with her child.

So, how could Gia see something everyone else had missed?

“You’re panicking for nothing,” she murmured as she slowed down from the swift pace she was taking away from the main house. “You’re feeling guilty. That’s all.”

And the guilt was beginning to eat away at her. She needed to tell Leo and had been close to confessing everything to him a time or two the past few days. But then she would gaze up at him and search his smiling face that looked more relaxed than it had even all those years ago, and she couldn’t.

Would there ever be a right time?

There would have to be. She just needed to get through the next few days, get past the wedding, and then somehow find the right time to tell him.

With that decision made, she kept walking toward the lights visible through the trees from the smaller villa and pushed out of her mind any thoughts of Gia or anything she might suspect.

She was worrying for nothing.

* * *

“I know it’s late, but are you sure you don’t mind Mara staying here for a few hours?” Rowan sent a smiling glance over at her daughter who was busy coloring with Libby at the terrace dining table before their evening meal. “I just have so much to do to get ready for tomorrow.” She let out a small laugh. “I’ve even told Leo not to call or stop over when he returns to the island.”

Charlotte laughed. “You don’t have to explain a thing to me. In fact, she can spend the night.” She then wrapped an arm around Rowan’s waist and led her to the steps toward the lawn. “It may have been a long time ago, but I remember how much I had to do the night beforemywedding.” She gave her a slight nudge. “So, go. We’ll be fine.”

“If you’re sure?” She smiled when Charlotte nodded. “What would I do without you and Libby?” she said, giving the woman who would soon be officially her family a hug.

“Well, that’s nothing you’ll ever have to worry about.” Charlotte patted her back and gave her a swift kiss on the cheek before stepping away from her. “We’ll always be here for you.”

“Thank you.”

Rowan hurried down the steps and jumped inside one of the golf carts always available to save the time of walking and drove it down the wide path to thedéfterosvilla. She’d spent the morning running last-minute errands and then only part of the afternoon at the hospital with Lukas and Leo. She hated leaving them early, but she still had so much to do.

She just wished they could have gone ahead and brought him home. In her eyes, he seemed ready, but the doctor wanted to give it a few more days. Excitement mixed with sadness knowing he would soon be ensconced in the nursery Sierra and Andreas had taken such care in setting up. And while it would be bittersweet, she couldn’t wait to see him in the room and surrounded by the love of his parents.

Turning the curve to go down the hill toward the house, she frowned. What was a limousine doing in the front drive? Not many people used the road to this second villa. She wasn’t even sure how many people even knew there was one.

A slight grin spread over her face as she shook her head. Leo obviously hadn’t taken her seriously. She slowed the cart the closer she got and then stopped it just short of the front steps as a driver she didn’t recognize emerged from the front and went around to the passenger-side back door.

She got out, her grin faltering at the stone-faced driver as he opened the back door to the limo.

“Leo?” she queried, her tone hesitant as she stepped closer and her glance went from the driver to the open door. “I thought you were in Athens?” She bent to look inside. “And I told you I—”

“He is.”

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