Boss Meets Baby(87)

‘Lily, Vito!’ Luigi bundled over to them with an extravagant— flourish. ‘It is wonderful to see you again after so long.’

‘Luigi.’ Vito greeted the proprietor of the restaurant with a neutral tone.

‘Mamma mia! I see congratulations are in order!’he exclaimed— as his gaze settled on Lily’s very obvious bump.

‘Thank you.’ Vito guided Lily to her chair and held it for her himself.

‘And I am so glad to see you back in Venice after the last time we met,’ Luigi said, addressing his first words to Lily. Then he turned to Vito, a protective glint flashing unexpectedly in his eye. ‘You must have been so worried, to think that your love was roaming the streets alone that cold, foggy night.’

It was the comment Lily had been dreading. She couldn’t stand it. She’d worked so hard to make things right with Vito—for the sake of her unborn son and also for her own future happiness. Suddenly, at that awful moment, it seemed easier to bear the shame herself rather than have Luigi think the worst of Vito.

‘It was a silly misunderstanding,’ Lily blurted.

‘No, it was my responsibility.’ Vito spoke calmly and placed his hand over Lily’s, which lay trembling on the white-linen tablecloth. ‘And I wish to thank you for taking care of Lily when I was remiss.’

‘You must be so pleased to have her back,’ Luigi said. He still had an assessing look in his eye, making Lily want to move the conversation on as quickly as possible.

‘It’s—good to be here.’ She stumbled over her reply.

‘She’s my wife now,’ Vito added, his voice deep and intense.

‘Molte congratulazioni!’ Luigi beamed, instantly loosing all of his sternness. He called across to a waiter to bring out a bottle of prosecco.

Lily felt Vito’s hand pressing hers, and she lifted her gaze to his face. He looked as drop-dead gorgeous as ever, but she couldn’t read his expression. Was he telling her that he believed that she had not been involved with Luigi?

Or was he simply letting her understand that, despite the fact that he believed she had been unfaithful—if not with Luigi, then with some one else—this was all part of the act he was prepared to play to ensure his grandfather’s— happiness?

But, as glasses of sparkling prosecco were poured, and extravagant Italian toasts to the newlyweds were made, she couldn’t dwell on the problem any longer.

‘You look terrible,’ Vito said, rushing to help her up the last few stairs and onto the sofa in his study.

‘Thanks.’ Lily tried to smile, but she really didn’t feel very well.

‘I’ll call the doctor,’ Vito said, dropping down onto one knee in front of her to look at her properly.

‘There’s no need,’ Lily said. ‘I only went for a check-up— two days ago. Everything’s fine—it’s just I got so hot walking back from Ca’ Salvatore.’

With a muffled curse Vito shot across the room to the bar area, clunked ice into a tumbler and poured mineral water on top.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said as he handed the glass to her. ‘I should have thought of bringing you something to drink right away.’

‘That’s all right,’ Lily said, touched by his concern. ‘The first thing I needed was just to sit down.’

‘You shouldn’t be walking in this heat,’ Vito said. ‘You need to rest for a few days. Then, after you are re-covered,— if you want to visit my grandfather you must go by boat.’

‘I don’t need a few days’rest,’ Lily protested. ‘I’ll be all right by tomorrow. And I need to walk or I won’t get any exercise at all, and that can’t be good for me.’

‘I’m calling the doctor.’ From the decisive tone of his voice it was clear that he had already made his mind up. ‘I want to know for myself what it is all right for you to do. I won’t let you overdo it.’

Lily stared at him in bewildered consternation. At seven months pregnant she could still be working fulltime,— if she wasn’t in the privileged position of being married to a rich man.

‘Your ankles are puffy.’ Vito knelt down to pull off her sandals. He sat next to her on the sofa, turned her sideways and lifted her feet up onto his lap. ‘Is that normal?’

‘I think so,’ Lily said as Vito began to stroke gently along her feet, smoothing the slight indentations the straps of her sandals had made, and then massaging up her calves towards her knees. ‘Unless it gets too bad. The midwife always checks for it—but I don’t know what it means.’

‘I’ll ask the doctor.’

‘Really, I’m fine now,’ Lily protested. The glass of water had refreshed her, and she really did feel fine. Better than fine, in fact. The touch of Vito’s fingers, which she was certain he meant to be purely comforting,— was already doing things to her libido. Her progression— well into her third trimester had not done anything to curb her physical desire for Vito. ‘But I think I might feel better if I freshen up in the shower.’

Before she realised what he was about, Vito swept her up into his strong arms and, holding her cradled against the broad planes of his chest, carried her upstairs to their bedroom.

He took her through into the en suite and set her down on the marble floor. The small mosaic tiles felt deliciously— cool under her feet and, as always when she was close to Vito, Lily felt completely aware of her own body. And every inch of her skin or strand of her hair was conscious— of Vito—longing to touch or be touched by him.