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She could get to like this Come on, you already do When she lifted her head he atching her without the usual exasperation or questions Instead his face was soft: not sharp but kind, not wary but friendly It would be too easy to lean up and kiss him And completely out of line Instead she drew in air, leaned into those hands to gather strength from him and said, ‘I take it you accept Aimee is yours’

His hands fell away and he returned to his stool ‘Sì I do’

Phew That would save a lot of tilad’

‘I’ like that’ His smile was slow and his eyes were confused ‘It’s not that I don’t like the idea of being a father, I just hadn’t planned it to happen like this, if at all But then, that’s life’

‘Damned curve balls, eh? Didn’t you want children some time?’

Mattia reached for his wine, took a deep drink, his gaze fixed so he didn’t look at her ‘I was once engaged, going for the whole fa as I’d planned, and I’d started a charityall expectations People were donating money and time from all over the place It was incredible’ Then his voice took on an angry vibe ‘My fiancée ran the finances’

Oh-oh Trouble? Elene waited out his silence, knowing he’d finish his tale, no matter the pain

Finally, ‘Sandy was very good at what she did, and it took a year before anyone realised where those donations were going And by then it was too late to save Charity Napoli But facing up to her crioat and for a while it looked as though I’d be charged with fraud’ His hand shook and wine sloshed over the rilass ‘Eventually common sense and my family’s reputation for philanthropy prevailed and the truth caainst ave her the maximum penalty’

Elene’s heart squeezed for this proud ht and sentenced You didn’t deserve that at all No one does Thank goodness for families’ No wonder he didn’t do trust very well, if at all Soet close to hiain look at a woman twice

‘Without the back in his seat, he looked directly at her ‘Which is why I never thought I’d havethat involved with a woman is anathema to me Except it’s been taken out of my hands’ His mouth lifted into a small, wry smile

Clunk That was her heart dropping ‘You don’t have to treat h I’m Sandy reincarnated I am here for Aimee to meet you, and to put my side of the story’

Forking up a htfully ‘You’re worried how I’ deal with this’

‘Of course I am’

The sal guardian of Aimee?’

‘Yes She intended me to be Aimee’s mother’

Still watching her, he nodded abruptly, leaving her to wonder if he approved or not ‘Am I named on the birth certificate?’

‘No But I’ve brought copies of all the pertinent docuether so there wouldn’t be anything et them for you?’

‘Sì’

Elene had reached the door when the worry won over being fair Spinning around, she said, ‘I love Ai for her’

Except hand her over to you permanently Not because you won’t be the best dad, but because I can’t live without her

‘That’s obvious whenever you’re together’

‘I want to be there for her as she grows up All the time’

In an instant Mattia again stood before her, taking her hand in his, looking down into her eyes with nothing but compassion ‘I know that Give me time, Elene That’s all I ask of you for now There’s a lot to think about Apart fro that still shocks me and yet feels—’ His hand curled around hers as he tapped his chest ‘Feels right in here’

Some of the knots inside loosened Her hand ar one Her heart thudded Aian to shtened, and her lips froze in place Where did that leave her? Would she have to pack up and irl?

‘I won’t just walk away from her She’s a part of ed Aimee almost from the day she was born, who’d heatedthe night on every cry so Danielle htn’t wake