Page 47 of The Baby His Secretary Carries

“You got here fast,” Molly said moments later, when she let Rafael in. Neither of them bothered with greetings.

“I was in my car on the street, waiting to see him leave.” Rafael looked even worse than she did, wincing in pain as he came in on his crutches. He was still very handsome, wearing a suit for his meeting with Gio—the meeting for which he’d be late since he’d come to see her first.

“I don’t imagine we have much time,” Molly said. “Has she really lost her memory?”

“Yes. It’s a bloody nightmare.” He slouched on one crutch and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I hoped that when she saw you last night, something might be triggered. I should have talked to you sooner than this. I know that. It’s been hell—”

“It’s okay. I can imagine you’ve had a lot to deal with.”

“Between the surgeries and painkillers, I can hardly work, let alone prepare for—” His tortured gaze struck her middle. “Forget about me. How are you? How is the baby?”

“Fine.” She covered where the flutters had heartened her last night. “We’re both fine. Gio knows I’m pregnant, though.”

“You told him?Why?And why the hell are you two engaged?”

“I had morning sickness. He figured it out,” she cried with exasperation. “Then I fainted when I heard you’d been in that crash. I didn’t know what was going to happen to you! Gio has been going through some things. He needed me.”

Did he, though? Or was she still using his grandfather’s illness as an excuse to stay with a man who didn’t love her?

“He doesn’t know everything,” she clarified. Heck,Rafaeldidn’t know everything. He didn’t know Sasha was Libby’s birth mother. Tears of distress came into her eyes as she wondered what Sasha’s memory loss meant. “Rafael, what are we going to do?”

“I don’tknow. I told her we’re expecting a baby, but—”

A subtle beep was the only warning before the door was thrust open. Gio entered wearing exactly the thunderous expression that anyone might, when they walked in on what looked like brazen infidelity.

Molly’s blood went cold. She hugged herself and stammered, “Wh-what are you doing back here?”

“There was a traffic snarl. My driver had to circle back. He turned the corner in time for me to see a man on crutches entering this hotel.Thisis why you refused to tell me who the father is? Because he’smarried?”

“No. Gio—” She held up a hand. “Rafael, tell him.”

“No,” Gio said coldly. “The only thing he has to do is go home and pack whatever he can carry because I am pulling our deal,” he snapped at Rafael. “I know that knocks the legs out from under you. Think about that the next time you step out on your wife.”

Rafael swore sharply and tried to speak, but Gio spoke louder.

“Andyou—” He pierced Molly with his severest look. “You could have told me the truth. Iaskedyou if the father was married. I told you I wouldn’t judge. Rather than be honest, you’re still involved with him and sneaking behind my back to meet him? While wearing my family ring? That’s unforgivable. Give it back.” He held out his hand.

“Ican’ttell you the truth.” She wanted to throw up as she gave the ring a tug. Her fingers were still morning-swollen. It wouldn’t budge and only hurt her knuckle to wrench against it. “I’m bound by an NDA.Tell him, Rafael.”

Rafael’s fists were clenched around the cross bars of his crutches. His features were carved from granite as he returned Gio’s look of utter contempt.

“You’re right. The baby she’s carrying is mine,” he said through gritted teeth.

Gio raked in a harsh breath, as though the words had been a knife into his lung.

“It’s alsomy wife’s.”

Shocked confusion made Gio’s dark eyebrows crash together.

“I’m their surrogate,” Molly clarified, still struggling with the ring, but exhaling with relief as she finally,finally, was able to tell the truth. “The embryo was implanted through IVF. I’ve never had sex with Rafael. I told you I wasn’t romantically involved with the father.”

Gio looked between them with astonished disbelief.

“I would have my wife confirm all of this, but she’s lost her memory,” Rafael said with bitter humor. “Perhaps the word of the specialist in London will suffice?”

“Why would you agree to this?” Gio asked Molly with utter bafflement.

Here came the lie she had cooked up for Rafael’s sake, to protect Sasha from having to confess she’d given birth as a teen. Even now, she couldn’t reveal her true connection to Sasha.

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