Page 26 of Secret Match
“Yes?” She’d read all of this wrong. Footsteps echoed behind them as she asked, “So youloveJennifer?”
“Si.” He answered without blinking.
“Ohh.” Jennifer’s voice pierced through the conversation.
Kiwi, feeling like she’d interrupted something, stepped back to leave Anthony and Jennifer alone, and then circled around Jennifer and headed toward Gio’s side. She nodded her hello to the group while Gio shook hands with each of them. “Peter, Victoria, Colt, Caro, Luke, Serenity, Damien, welcome to my villa.”
Serenity was the first to pull away after a quick hug. “Kiwi, it’s good to see you.”
“We need to catch up,” Kiwi answered fast.
Jennifer cleared her throat for everyone’s attention. “Peter and I are going to take a walk in the gardens, if that’s okay?”
“Sounds lovely.” Gio gave nothing of his personal opinion on the matter away and directed the rest of his family the opposite way. “We will dine al fresco. My staff is preparing a dinner for us all now. Kiwi will lead you to the veranda where drinks will be served.”
Her spine straightened at the clear directive. “Where are you going?”
Gio ran his hand up and down her back, leaving a trail of heat in his path before he let her go. “Anthony and I will be just behind you.”
Kiwi walked with the others through the house toward the terrace that overlooked the vineyard. Once they were all outside, Serenity joined her. “You and Gio seem to be getting along.”
A long table with a red table cloth and gold chairs meant for nobility of some sort was set with white dishes and gleaming glasses. Her guests all claimed a chair though Serenity stayed beside her as Kiwi said, “With all the Morgan drama, it’s hard to squeeze in some alone time, but we’re doing our best.”
Serenity nodded though she kept her voice low as she said, “Well, Victoria thinks you’re going to be working with Gio. If you want your job back at the spa, it’s yours.”
At least Serenity offered an out if Kiwi didn’t want to be part of the Morgan plan. Kiwi hugged her best friend. “I love designing shoes and if the company grows, my shoes are available in more stores.”
“And they are beautiful. I’ve loved your shoes long before you became famous.” The warm wind tossed Serenity’s straight blonde hair in a gentle breeze. Kiwi’s curls didn’t move nearly so much as Serenity asked, “So, you’re staying with Gio for work?”
Kiwi glanced toward the house and saw Gio with his brother just inside the door. Her heart beat faster that they’d be together again in a moment. She took a step closer to the table with her friend and stared out at the green vineyard. “I’m staying because I want a chance for this to be my home, too.”
Instead of Serenity answering, it was Gio who said, “Glad to hear it.” He tugged on her waist for her to turn.
A bright beam of light felt like it shone through her soul and the rest of the world faded away in his arms. She laughed and said, “You weren’t supposed to be right there, Gio.”
Serenity backed away so it truly was the two of them. Everyone else was now seated.
Gio kissed her cheek. “I want to be part of you and our baby’s life.”
Another sliver of doubt formed in her mind as she paused. She needed to remember sex wasn’t romance though both seemed combined with him. “You could do that without living together with us.”
He quickly claimed her lips in a kiss—no asking or waiting, banishing doubt. Her own issues didn’t matter.
As the kiss ended, Gio grazed his hand on her backside and she laughed until he said, “You’re already mine Kiwi, even if you don’t want to admit it yet.”
Now she stilled. If they were married and raised their child together, then she would commit completely. She let out a sigh and fixed his shirt. “I want to date and see where the possibilities go.”
He walked beside her like they fit together at the hip. “Perfect, now let’s host this dinner, together.”
“It looks like you planned for a wedding feast,” she teased.
He frowned like she’d insulted him as he said, “The grounds and the setting sun make the terrace beautiful for drinking a glass of wine. I hope we can show my guests the vineyard.”
“Sounds lovely,” Victoria said and picked up her coffee cup, drinking what looked like cappuccino.
Gio held out a chair for Kiwi to sit and then took the seat beside her. Once Victoria put her porcelain cup down, Gio said, “I hope all the mergers between our families become lucrative arrangements.”
They all ate dinner. Her stomach stopped fluttering after the first few bites and her tummy settled.
