Page 14 of Baby Mine

“You’re pregnant,” Zita murmured as if she didn’t know it.

“It was unintentional. We—” Jada had no idea why she thought to explain herself. She didn’t care what Renzo’s family thought of her.

Amusement danced in Zita’s gaze as she downed the last of her wine. She shrugged and turned to stroll in the direction where the server had disappeared. Jada considered Zita’s amusement at the way she stumbled over an explanation. From what everyone kept telling her, women arrived

by the truckloads on a regular basis trying to claim he got them pregnant. Their passion had lit up Venice, but she wondered if she was just another lover for him, while she had fallen hard for the man.

For the next hour or so, the wine flowed. Jada had overheard someone explaining that once a container had been opened, the wine had to be drunk within a certain amount of time. Air would change the flavor, so all the barrels in the storehouse were kept sealed. No one seemed to complain about drinking as much as they wanted, and Jada wished she could have sampled it. Maybe before she left, she’d request a bottle to take with her for after she gave birth. Renzo probably wouldn’t mind the gift.

“Why are you over here alone?”

She looked up from her glass and met Renzo’s reproving gaze. Her heart did a somersault. “You’re working, and I didn’t want to get in the way.”

He gestured with the glass he held. “As you can see, all of my family is here, and they’re mingling among the guests and friends that have come to support us. You will be a permanent part of my family, so I want you among them, at my side.”

Her juice went down wrong, and she coughed while Renzo thumped her on the back. The concern on his face almost made her tear up. “Sorry about that. I don’t know what you mean. I’m having your baby. That doesn’t mean—”

“Come on.” He took her hand in his and placed it on his arm while he led her around the room. They chatted with a few people, but Jada missed every one of the introductions because her ears rang with the words he’d spoken to her. She tried every which way to interpret what he said without the conclusion that Renzo expected they would be involved with each other from now on, but she failed. The moment they got time alone, she would demand he make it clear what he wanted from her. She’d already determined that she was going home the day after tomorrow.

Jada excused herself to go to the restroom and was glad the building housed one. She stood at the sink and wished she could splash water on her face to cool her skin, but that might ruin her makeup, so she didn’t try. Behind her, the door opened, and Nicoletta strolled in. Jada stifled a grunt of annoyance.

“Oh, I didn’t know you were in here.” The dramatic hand to the chest made Jada roll her eyes.

“Of course not, or you wouldn’t have come in.”

Nicoletta seemed to force a smile. “How are you enjoying the tasting?”

“Fine.” Jada didn’t want to encourage conversation. She nabbed a paper towel to dry her hands, but Nicoletta blocked her way. “Did you want something?”

“You know this is how it always is with Renzo. Tastings, meetings, people around him all day, every day. And he is away on business more often than he’s at home. It never stops. He never slows down—for anyone.”

Jada shifted her weight onto one leg and folded her arms under her breasts. “Is this some kind of warning against getting involved with him, because I have to admit you’re boring the hell out of me.”

Red tinged the woman’s hairline, straight up from her neck. “I’m saying I’m used to this kind of lifestyle, but maybe you aren’t.”

“This is the way you’re trying to get rid of me?”

Nicoletta licked her lips. “I heard you’re pregnant and Renzo thinks it’s his.”

“Don’t even go there.”

The bitch went on. “Do you want your baby to love a man who will never be there for him? Who will probably send him off to a private boarding school by the time he turns ten? A school in Europe, mind you.”

Jada froze.

The triumph in Nicoletta’s eyes said she knew she’d struck a nerve.

“You know what? Don’t worry about what’s between me and Renzo. You’re just mad because he doesn’t want you. Nobody will decide what happens with my baby, including Renzo. Now step aside before you get more than your feelings hurt up in here.”

Disbelief colored Nicoletta’s expression, but she dropped back a step so Jada could get past. Fuming, Jada marched from the restroom in search of Renzo. To her relief, the event seemed to be ending, and people drifted toward the exit. Her lover stood in the midst of a small group of men, each trying to talk over the other in their loud conversation. None appeared to be angry, and she put it down to just the way they were.

Jada headed toward the exit. She would catch up to Renzo later. Maybe someone outside could give her a lift back to the house, because the grounds were extensive. She stepped into the early evening air with the sunlight showing no signs of relinquishing the day just yet. Ettore stood next to a BMW, and she started toward him, but a beautiful Asian woman strolled over and hooked her arm with his. A coy smile and a few whispered words in Ettore’s ear, and the man was soon escorting the woman into his car. They pulled off, and Jada sighed.

“Ma’am, may I offer you a ride?”

Jada turned around at the voice behind her and smiled at the man who must be in his late twenties or early thirties. He wore a suit, but it appeared lived-in a bit, yet there was an appeal to him with his boyish good looks. “Sure. Thanks.”

An imposing form blocked the sun for both of them. “Ms. Thompson has a ride.

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