Page 49 of Twin Surprise for the Italian Doc

The words didn’t need any translation. That expression on Matteo’s face was tearing at a part of Georgia’s heart.

‘You really love kids, don’t you?’ she murmured, as the video ended.

‘Of course. They are the most important thing in the world. I ask for nothing more than to have the gift of my own family one day.’ Matteo’s smile was still poignant. ‘No. I want more than that. I want to live to be a grandfather so that I don’t leave my family with the sadness that we have.’

‘You lost your father?’

‘Many years ago. But I miss him every day.’

‘And your mother?’

‘My mama—TeresaMartini—is the proudest grandmother on the face of the earth. She welcomes every new baby as if it’s the greatest gift possible. And she moves in with each of my sisters, every time. For at least a month after the birth.’ Matteo’s gaze was sombre. ‘I’m sad that you don’t have your mother to help you. It’s a time when family comes together. Not just to celebrate but to make life easier.’ He wasfrowning now. ‘How will you manage, Georgie?’

She swallowed hard. ‘I’ll manage.’

‘You must miss your mother so much.’

Georgia nodded slowly. As the birth of her babies drew closer she was missing that rock in her life more and more every day. She had to press her lips tightly together to cope with a stab of loss that was the biggest yet but she could still feel them tremble.

Only for a heartbeat,but Matteo must have seen her reaction because he lifted his hand and touched her lips with the pad of his thumb, his fingers cupping her cheek and jaw.

It was the most exquisitely tender gesture. In no way sexual but the response of her body and her heart had a kick that was far more powerful.

This...this felt like real love.

The kind that could last a lifetime?

‘It’s not long now, is it?’

‘Um...no...’ Her brain was too tired to try and do the maths that would keep her story straight but if she was a month more pregnant than she really was—as she’d allowed him to believe—that would mean she was due...

Oh, help...next week?

Was Matteo going to push her for an actual date?

No. He wasn’t even looking at her. He was staring at her belly. Looking down, Georgia realised why. She wasso used to the rippling sensations of her babies moving within her that she’d almost forgotten how extraordinary it was toseethat movement as well as feel it.

She had long ago given up trying to wear anything like uniform pants. She had some comfortable maternity jeans on today, with the silky, stretch fabric of the insert a thin layer under the uniform polo shirt. A shirt that was visiblymoving at the moment.

A look of something like reverence claimed Matteo’s features and his gaze, when it captured hers, was the most intense she’d ever seen it.

‘May I?’ he asked softly.

It was impossible not to grant permission with the spell that that look was putting her under, but Georgia had to close her eyes as she felt the gentle weight of his hand outstretched on her belly.

Her skinwas aware of the pressure on both sides. Her babies beneath and Matteo’s hand on top.

Their father’s hand.

It was too much. Toowrong...

He had to know the truth, didn’t he?

She turned, tilting her head upwards to catch his gaze, her lips parting ready to release the words he had to hear.

But Matteo’s head was closer than she’d realised. He had tears in his eyes as his gaze locked with hers.

And it took only the smallest movement for his lips to make contact with her own.

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