Page 21 of Baby Mine

“You don’t fly it, do you?”

“I have a full-time pilot.”

“Should have known!” She scraped back her chair. “How am I going to handle this? I don’t know. I can’t—”

Renzo swept her into his arms and held her as close as he could without hurting her stomach. He seized her chin and made her focus on him. His dark gaze mesmerized, and she lost herself in its depths. “There’s only you and me, cara mia, a man and a woman who love each other more than life itself.”

She gasped when he reached inside his pants pocket and pulled out the tiny box. “You carry that around?”

“Always, in hope.”

Tears filled Jada’s eyes and spilled down her cheeks. She allowed him to slide the diamond ring up her finger and wasn’t surprised when it fit to perfection.

“I love you,” he told her in earnest. “With all of my being. If having you at my side meant giving up everything, I would have in a heartbeat.”

She knew they weren’t just words. Renzo living simply with her over the last few months was a testament to how he felt. In some ways his devotion scared her, but she would never let him get away because of that. He had moved past his comfort zone to win her, and she would do the same to stay with him.

“I’m ready,” she murmured, and Renzo kissed her until she let all else go but him.

* * * *

Jada sat on the side of the bed she shared with Renzo. Footsteps sounded outside the bedroom door, and she knew Marie would be in soon with a pre-breakfast treat. While she no longer suffered morning sickness, Renzo hadn’t allowed her spoiling to go by the wayside. She didn’t mind it so much as all the rest of the crazy in this household. Zita still wanted to use her to get Renzo to lighten up. Ettore still kept his distance but smiled as if they were old friends. Renzo’s mother spoke to her in nothing but Italian, and Uncle Gianni…well she expected a check any day now to bribe her to get lost. Then again, he did seem to fear Renzo’s anger even if he was the elder.

She smiled, thinking of her soon-to-be husband, but then winced as the pain that had awakened her earlier than usual rolled across her belly. Unless she missed her guess, she was going into labor. Fear tightened the muscles in her throat, and she swallowed compulsively.

“Good morning, Miss Jada. Did you sleep well?” Marie asked.

“Fine, thanks.” Since the contractions were so far apart, she decided not to mention them just yet. “Renzo left already?”

“He has, ma’am. He told me to tell you he will be back at lunchtime to eat with you.”

Warmth spread over Jada’s being. He’d kept his word on that subject as well, making sure not to work so much that he didn’t have time for her. She ignored the plate Marie left and drank the fruit juice. After showering and dressing, she checked that the bag for the hospital was ready and walked downstairs. Meeting Mrs. Mariani, she greeted the older woman.

“Buon giorno, Mamma.”

The woman narrowed intelligent eyes on Jada and looked her up and down. Jada felt her back getting up at the scrutiny. If she was going to act like that, they were going to have a problem. To her surprise, the old woman smiled and laid a hand on Jada’s belly. “Bambino.”

She uttered some other words

Jada couldn’t interpret and then called for Marie. The maid appeared in seconds as if she’d been lurking just around the corner. After Renzo’s mother spoke to her in rapid Italian, Marie’s eyes widened in alarm. Annoyed that she didn’t get what they were saying but knowing it was about her, Jada put a protective hand over her belly and opened her mouth to give them both a piece of her mind. Later, she and Renzo would need to have a conversation about his family.

Before she could say two words, Marie cut her off. “Ms. Jada, I’ll call Mr. Renzo right away.”

Jada stared at her. “Why?”

The maid’s expression told her she thought Jada had already taken leave of her senses. “Because, Mrs. Mariani says you’re having the baby today!”

Jada gaped. “No, the contractions…” Then she realized she’d been wincing more often than she’d done when she first woke up. She’d hidden it when she greeted Renzo’s mother. How could the old woman know?

Mrs. Mariani cast her a knowing look once again and took her hand. Dazed, Jada followed and sat down in the living room with her soon-to-be mother-in-law at her side. The older woman never let go of her hand. When Zita appeared in the doorway, excitement in the eyes so like Renzo’s, Jada concluded the maid had spread the news.

“We’re having a baby!” Zita swept into the room, almost squealing in delight. She took the spot on the opposite side of her mother and grabbed Jada’s other hand.

Tires screeched in the driveway, and Jada picked up the sound of the front door opening and banging shut. A man’s purposeful step echoed in the hall. Jada’s heartbeat picked up, and she took in a deep breath expecting to see the love of her life. Instead of Renzo, Ettore appeared.

“It’s time?” Worry creased the skin between Ettore’s eyebrows. Jada couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She’d thought he didn’t give a rat’s ass about her. “Did anyone call my brother?”

“He’s on his way,” Marie announced, walking into the room with the bag Jada had prepared for the hospital.

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