Page 27 of Secret Match
She had hot water with lemon while everyone else sipped espresso when Anthony straightened. “Peter and Jennifer are returning.”
“We have space for them,” Gio waved at the seats opposite them. Gio quickly whispered a question for only Kiwi to hear. “What happened to Peter’s wife?”
She tugged him closer and pretended to fix his collar as she said in his ear, “We don’t know—or, the Morgans aren’t saying. Belle apparently just left.”
“I see.” He sat back.
Everyone seemed welcoming to Peter and Jennifer, and poor Anthony stayed quiet. “Can we find time to sneak away and possibly design something together?”
He pressed his shoulder into hers. “That’s what you want to do?”
If they were alone, she’d want to rip his clothes off, but she couldn’t just live on sex when her entire happiness might be an option. “You said we were finding out what we have in common.”
“We’ll sneak away soon.” He waved to his staff to bring a red wine for Peter while Jennifer sipped her water.
Gio was the perfect host and a great boyfriend. Maybe, just maybe, she could be open and accepting, at least for him. Maybe her unborn child deserved it. And maybe, just maybe, she might be happy with Gio Morgan. He made her believe that anything was possible.
Chapter 10
Kiwi glanced over at Gio as he curled on the floor near a blazing fire in his study. His simple light blue t-shirt clung to his body, showing off all of his upper body muscles, while the loose lounge pants somehow made him even sexier though they didn’t cling at all.
He seemed comfortable as he drew on his tablet.
Gio caught her staring and she lifted her tablet, swinging her hips as she crossed the floor to sit beside him, the fire warming her back. “How are your designs?”
“Here, what do you think?” They traded their tablets without asking. He flipped through her pages and she watched his eyes widen. Her heart beat faster. She turned toward his designs to calm herself, and then tilted her head and tapped his thigh. “Wow, you’re making me rethink men’s shirts.”
A pleased smile grew on his face like he’d just been given his birthday present early. “I haven’t thought about casual wear for work in years as my suits are my money makers.” He switched the tablets back and said, “Your shoes are sexy.”
Red- hot fire burned through her at his compliment. She wanted to strip that shirt off him and show him her appreciation. She massaged her neck to cool down and stood as she asked, “Should we go and find your guests?”
His gaze went up her shorts that showed her legs and hips and chest as he stood. A thrill went through her as he already knew what she looked like under her simple white t-shirt and yet he still checked her out. He put his tablet on the desk in the corner and held out his hand. “I’d rather show you the vineyard.”
He directed her toward the bay window as they looked down from the second floor toward the green vines that went as far as her eye could see. “It’s beautiful.” A few weeks ago, she’d been a wreck, but now she was so different—she’d grown so much inside. She studied Gio and asked, “Would you want to know the sex of our baby?”
His brown-eyed gaze dropped to her barely curved stomach. “Do you know?”
She hugged her waist and ignored how her skin felt electrified. “I took the test but then told my doctor I was too scared to know.”
“Scared?” He unwrapped her arm from her side so he could hold her.
Next to him, her cheek to his chest, she felt steadier. “Yeah. This sounds dumb, but I thought that if I knew that I was having a boy or a girl, then the pregnancy would be real.”
“I understand.” He gently squeezed her. “You want to know now?”
She walked out of his arms and over to the table where she’d left her cell phone. She picked it up and held it in her hands, near her heart, as she blinked at him. “With you, yes. What time is it in Miami?”
He looked at his watch. “Let’s see. It’s 4 here, so it’s 10 AM.”
She bent down and sank to the floor before the fireplace and dialed. He retook his seat as the phone rang. Once he settled, she pressed a button and said, “Hold my hand. I’ll put this on speaker.” He curled his fingers with hers. The receptionist answered and after introductions, Kiwi quickly said, “Can I speak to the doctor for the gender?”
“One minute, ma’am.” The receptionist put them on hold.
Gio’s warm, strong hand on hers made everything feel real and grounded and perfect. Now she could know and not be worried that somehow she’d fail her baby.
Her doctor, the pleasant Dr. Bentley, came on the phone and she could picture his smile as he said, “Ms. Washington, you’re ready to know now?”
Her gaze flitted to Gio. His earnestness, his acceptance, his work ethic all combined to show that maybe they could be happy together and be a family. Her heart surged as she said to the receiver, “Yes. So, what are we having?”
