Page 42 of The Baby His Secretary Carries

He had done that already. She actually looked at the ring she wore as if it had been made of sugar and had somehow dissolved. It was there, though.

“You don’t mean... Like, have a wedding for your grandfather’s sake? Gio, I can’t.” And why was he torturing her this way? Did he not realize she was falling in love with him?

Or was that precisely why he was asking? Did he feel the same? She drew in a breath and held it.

“We’re good together,” he said in the same voice he used when he was negotiating across a boardroom table. It was the furthest thing from tender and made her throat tighten. “I’m not just talking about in bed, either. We’re well-matched intellectually. We have similar values. You understand my work demands and I’m supportive of your continuing to advance your career, if that’s something you want to do. I would like a family. Obviously, you do as well.”

No mention of love. The swell of hope in her chest shriveled.

“My grandfather likes you and I’d like him to have the reassurance of our being married.”

“Oh, yourgrandfatherlikes me,” she said facetiously. A semihysterical laugh was trapped behind the rock that was sitting inside her chest. She began to see how he had approached his first engagement,like any other merger and acquisition, and felt some sympathy for the woman who hadn’t been able to go through with it. “What do you feel, Gio?”

His expression grew stoic. “Liking. Respect.Desire,” he added in a tone that held a rasp.

“That’s not enough!” She rose to pace, trapped in this impossible situation and longing for escape.

“I disagree. It’s a strong foundation. We’re both sensible people, Molly. We’ll find a way to make it work. If it doesn’t, we can divorce after Nonno’s gone.”

“I told you how I feel about divorce.” She flung around to face him. “If you’re already considering it, then why bring up marriage at all?”

“Because I’m confident we’ll stay married,” he said with exasperation.

“You genuinely believe you want to spend the rest of your life with me?Me?”

“And your baby. Yes.”

Her chest knotted up. The baby. Oh, God.

“Whatever is going on with the baby’s father, you can tell me.” He came closer and tried to take her hands.

“I can’t—” She pulled her hands away. “You don’t understand.”

“No, I don’t,” he said with instant frost, withdrawing. “But I want to.”

She was hurting him with her rebuff. It went beyond the fact that no one ever said no to him. They were lovers. Close. He had told her about his childhood and why it was difficult for him to trust that people would be there for him.

She didn’t want to reject him, but she didn’t have a choice. She shook her head, filled with despair. What if she did wind up raising this baby? Would he understand? Would he still want her? Them?

“Can we talk about this in a few days? I need some time.” She needed the weekend. She needed to see Sasha and Rafael.

When she warily lifted her gaze, she saw his cheeks were hollow, his mouth tight with dismay. He nodded curtly. “Fine. We’ll revisit this after we get back from Athens.”

“Thank you,” she said through an arid throat, doubtful that she would have a better answer for him by then.

Her stomach was in knots when they landed in Athens the next day.

Yesterday, when she had worked out details with Rafael’s assistant for a meeting between him and Gio to finalize their business agreement, the assistant had tacked on a personal message to the email.

Mr. and Mrs. Zamos are hoping to see Mr. Casella and his fiancée at the art museum benefit on Saturday night. They want to congratulate them on their recent engagement.

Was it a coded message meant for her?

Molly was on pins and needles as she dressed in a one-shouldered gown of gold. Ruched silk formed the bodice. Gold leaves decorated the shoulder and the high waist. The skirt fell in narrow pleats that hid the thickening at her waist.

“Is the serpentine necklace in the safe?” she asked Gio when the stylist had finished her makeup. She wore her hair up tonight, with a few long ringlets dangling to frame her face.

His admiring gaze took her in, making her skin warm under his regard.

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