Page 52 of Dante
He settled the tray with the soup and thinly sliced roast beef on the table before coming up behind her. She took a quiet breath when he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him.
"And what's your interpretation?"
She studied the painting for a few more minutes before she spoke. "Life in a rush." She nodded to the faint glimpses of individuals wandering around without direction. "It's beautifully orchestrated and presented. See how the colors mixed to form a unit?"
He gazed at the outrageously expensive art and saw nothing of the sort. "Just a bunch of colors to me. Looks like something a two-year-old could splash together."
Turning her head, she gave him a pitying look. "You're such a peasant."
He grinned, not in the least bit offended. "And proud of it." He kissed her roughly.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she turned back to look at the painting. "If that's your opinion, why did you buy it?"
"Jackson is a friend and it's an investment. All his paintings are." He turned her around towards the sofa in front of the table. "I have a few more in the different rooms. My favorite," he paused as he made sure she settled before removing the covers from the dishes, "is one where he painted a seething mass of white capped emerald water in a small pond."
He handed her the spoon. "It spoke to me and reminded me of a place I have in Ireland."
"I asked her to make vegetable soup, in case the beef does not agree with you."
Her heart just melted at his consideration. "Thanks."
He nodded and started eating. "Have any idea what you're having?"
"Pardon?"
"The baby. Boy or girl?"
"Too soon to tell." She scooped up chunks of vegetables and took a bite. "It's delicious."
"What's your preference?"
"Oh." She chewed and swallowed, feeling the queasiness disappearing. "As long as it's healthy, I'm fine."
He lifted a brow. "You're not secretly wishing for a daughter who looks exactly like you?"
Her laughter had him jolting as he stared at the transformation. She was so beautiful, he thought achingly.
"You caught me. Yes, I would love to have a little girl." She placed one hand on her belly. "I keep expecting to feel her moving around inside me, but the books say it's too early for that."
"You have books," he concentrated on the food and the conversation. If not, he was going to haul her into his arms and devour her.
"Tons. My brother bought some and I went crazy ordering some more on Amazon. And I've read most of them." She spooned up some more soup. "I want to know everything."
"Are you scared?" he asked quietly.
"No." She shook her head. "Just a little intimidated. I'm carrying a life inside me, one that I am completely responsible for."
"Any regrets?"
"Not now." She stared at him for a second before going back to her soup. "My baby comes first Dante. I was pissed off with the guy and thought for a few minutes that I should do something about it, but I have grown to love the life growing inside me." She looked up at him. "That's not going to change."
"And you think I would want it to?"
She shrugged. "You said that this is a first for you. I want you to know that it's strange for me as well. I don't know what we're doing here, and I don't know what it means."
"Beef?"
"What?" She blinked at him.
