Page 17 of Baby Mine

She had sent another text to Renzo and informed him that in no uncertain terms did it mean anything that she would accept this gift. She expected him to call and argue or at least try to push his claim, but he never did.

Preparing for her doctor appointment, she selected a powder blue sundress that reached mid-thigh. Somehow the dress was both comfortable, with its flair allowing her stomach room to expand, and sexy, showing off her still shapely legs. Charlotte had grown warmer, so she was glad for the outfit.

Dressed, she ate a light breakfast of scrambled eggs and fruit, drank some juice, and then left her apartment. On the street, the expensive black car parked next to hers was her first clue that Renzo had given up keeping his distance. When he unfolded his tall form from the rental, her heartbeat raced.

“Good morning,” he said in his deep, panty-wetting tone. “Sleep well last night?”

“Renzo, what are you doing here?”

He put his hand out, and she couldn’t resist touching his palm with her fingertips. When she did, his fingers closed over hers, and he guided her to the passenger side of his car. “You have a doctor’s appointment, don’t you?”

“How do you…?” She didn’t bother to complete the question. “Surely, you don’t intend to fly over here every time I go to the doctor. That’s insane—and expensive.”

He raised an eyebrow at her, and she flushed.

“Well, it’s still crazy. I mean when I’m further along, the appointments will become more frequent.”

“I travel quite often for business. There’s no reason I can’t be here.”

“It’s not sensible.”

“Being an absentee father makes no sense.”

Goose bumps rose on her arms, and she ran her hands along them as she sat in his car. The baby hadn’t been born yet, and he already began to prove he could and would spend time with him or her, but how long would it last? And what would happen when they couldn’t agree on some aspect of raising the baby? Looking across at him as he handled the vehicle with practiced ease, she admitted she still loved him, and because of it, she’d never felt more vulnerable.

Renzo caught her looking and reached across to stroke her cheek before smoothing her hair from her face. Rather than put it up in a tight chignon as she usually did, she had let it hang down around her shoulders. Over the last couple of months, it had grown at least three inches and now hung just past her shoulders. This aspect of pregnancy agreed with her.

“You are more beautiful than the last time I saw you, cara.”

She turned away from his touch. “Don’t flatter me. I’m beginning to swell in places that make me want to cry. I remind myself it’s temporary and all for the baby.”

“Are you showing yet?”

She clenched her jaw. “A little.”

His gaze brightened and dropped to her breasts and then to her belly. Although he turned back to the road, she knew he imagined her naked, and the knowledge both horrified and turned her on at the same time.

“Hm,” was his only comment, and Renzo proceeded to stay by her side for the entire appointment. He even asked the doctor questions she hadn’t considered. When they were done, he dropped her at work with a promise to pick her up at the end of the day. She ducked out from Leena and the lawyers five minutes early so she wouldn’t have to offer explanations about Renzo and headed down to the lobby. As promised, her baby’s daddy stood waiting for her and escorted her to his car. They picked up dinner on the way to her apartment, and Jada gave in to a moment of weakness to invite him inside.

“I know this isn’t what you’re used to,” she told him when he paused to look around, “but it’s home, and I like it. I have a second bedroom I plan to redecorate for the baby.”

Renzo made no comment.

“We can eat at the dining room table or in the living room if there’s something on TV you want to watch.” She hated how quiet he remained. “Are you going to say anything or what?”

“Ti amo, Jada.”

The bottle of ranch salad dressing slipped from her fingers and splattered on the carpet. She knew what those words meant.

He walked over and pulled her from trying to clean up the mess, then began to do it himself. Kneeling regardless of his suit pants, he scrubbed at the spot with a napkin. Jada saw that he made it worse, but the mere fact of him trying kept her where she stood. Well, not just that. His uttered, “I love you,” had robbed her of the ability to think. Even breathing normally took a bit of effort.

“W-why did you say that?” she stuttered.

He glanced up from his task, piercing her with those almost black eyes, which sent chills down her spine. “You know why.”

She raised a hand to her forehead and shut her eyes. A deep breath restored some of her equilibrium, but not all. “I’m not down on myself by any means. I’m cute in my way, and even pregnant, I’m okay. You can have any woman you want. Any one probably in the world. Me having your baby doesn’t force you to pretend you love me, so…why?”

He stood up and tossed the napkin on the table. When he approached her, she had a sudden urge to run but stood her ground. Renzo took her hand and led her over to the couch. They sat side by side, but he didn’t relinquish his hold. The touch of his skin burned, igniting a fire inside her belly she’d worked hard to put out over the last few months of being apart from him. In just a few short hours, here he was to undo all she had worked for. Aside from that, he had upped the stakes, claiming to love her.

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