Page 41 of The Baby His Secretary Carries

Molly felt like the worst person alive. Even her mother gave her a fretful look when she had a private moment to catch up with her over the tablet.

“You can’t stay into August, Molly. You’re already showing.”

“I know, but I had to tell him something.” She understood Gio better now, and saw why he felt such an allegiance to his grandfather. Her heart went out to the neglected child he’d been and she was so filled with admiration for the man he’d become.

It made her crush all the more intense.

Oh, who was she kidding? She was way past crushes and infatuation. She was falling in love with Gio. Given his childhood, he could have turned out bitter and cold, but he was a man of strength and integrity, capable of kindness and even tenderness. If she hadn’t been pregnant with Sasha’s baby, she would stay with him as long as he wanted her to.

But her time in his world was evaporating.

“Still no word from Sasha?” her mother asked.

“We’re going to Athens tomorrow. Gio is meeting with Rafael so I know they’ll be there. If I have to walk up to their front door and ring the bell, I’ll see Sasha. Once I know where I stand with them, I’ll know whether...”

“What?”

“Whether I’m raising this baby myself.” If that happened, everything would change, but she didn’t let herself consider how. She would cross that bridge when she got to it.

“Do you think Sasha is having second thoughts?” Patricia asked with deep concern.

“I don’t know. I’ve texted so many times, asking them to call, to tell me what’s going on. She seemed extremely sure that she wanted this baby, when we were seeing that counselor in London, before the implant.” Sasha had admitted things between her and Rafael had been strained at the time, but blamed herself. She was upset about her fertility issues and not an easy partner to live with. “Perhaps her parents are there? Or her injuries are more serious than they’re letting on in the press?”

“That doesn’t explain why Rafael isn’t replying to you.”

“I know,” she murmured, disturbed by that. She couldn’t understand why they would give her the silent treatment when she wascarrying their baby.

“When you see her—” Her mothertskedwith distress. “If she seems open to it, let her know that Libby is curious about her. We would still love for her to be part of Libby’s life.”

“She knows, Mom.” Molly had made that crystal-clear the day they’d talked on the yacht. “I’ll tell her again, though. Oh, Gio’s back,” she said as she heard the door.

She smiled at him as he came into the sitting room.

“Would you like to say hi to Mom?” Gio popped into the frame behind Molly and her mother offered the smile of natural warmth that inspired such trust in pregnant mothers.

“Hello, Gio. Molly tells me your grandfather is improving. That’s good to hear.”

“He is, and he would love to meet you and Libby. Molly said you might have time before Libby goes back to school. Can I book you a flight? My treat.”

Her mother was briefly taken aback, as was Molly.

“I would have to ensure my colleagues could cover for me. Let me get back to you,” Patricia said, but Molly felt the pointedness in the way her gaze asked,How long will you continue this farce?

They ended the call a moment later.

“What was that?” Molly twisted around to ask with astonishment. “I’m only here until the twenty-first. I’m not taking that bonus you offered to double my time.”

Gio moved around the end of the sofa so he faced her and pushed his hands into his pockets. He stared over her head a moment, seeming to be choosing his words, then dropped his gaze to hers.

The weight of his stare landed so hard, she instinctually braced herself.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing. I’d like to make this engagement real.”

“Real?” Molly pulse skipped so hard she heard it. “What do you mean?”

“I’m proposing marriage, Molly.”

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