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Being with Cristiano out of the public eye, with no fanfare or spectacle, no socialising or s Finally they could sis and lovely, long nights, strolls around Capri and afternoons lounging by the pool Laurel knew it couldn’t last—in just three more days the requisite teeks would have passed since that first, fateful night Three nancy test

And what if she was pregnant?

It was a question she hadn’t let herself think too much about In those first difficult days she hadn’t wanted to think about it Hadn’t possessed the strength to iine that dreaded what if? scenario

No she dared not think about it for an entirely different reason Because part of her, an increasingly large part, was hoping she was pregnant with Cristiano’s child

Logically she knew she probably wasn’t pregnant She was fairly regular and her period wasn’t due for at least another week And in any case she knew a pregnancy wasn’t a good idea She wanted Cristiano to choose to be with her for her own sake, not just to provide for their child And yet…she wanted Cristiano to choose to be with her

That was the truth she had to force herself to face, the reality that crowded in during quiet ether, yet in the quiet of her mind she dreamed of for ever

‘You look deep in thought’ Lorenzo walked slowly towards the lounger next to Laurel’s and sat down carefully Laurel had noticed, over the last few days, holy he moved, how cautiously, and it made her wonder Worry

‘Not too deep,’ she said with a ser ‘It’s too beautiful a day for deep thoughts’ The infinity pool shie and le sea in the distance

‘Yes, perhaps it is’ Lorenzo settled hi Laurel another pang of worry ‘And where is ?’

‘Catching up on some work, but he promised to join us for lunch’

‘I’ve never seen him look so happy,’ Lorenzo said quietly ‘Thank you’

Laurel s’