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And today, a new nant with his baby
Eainst a fogged-up corner of the busIf only his playboy nature could change If only she could believe he’d actually wish to be a father someday, and even fall in love with Emma, as she’d fallen for him
The double-decker bus jolted to a stop, and with an intake of breath she abruptly wiped the heart off the glass Cesare, love? That was a laugh He couldn’t even stick around for breakfast,a family!
Ever since she’d woken up alone in his bed that cold ton sparkling clean in perpetual hope for his arrival But she’d found out from one of the secretaries that he’d actually returned to London two days ago Instead of coship London Falconeri near Trafalgar Square
His unspoken words were clear He wanted toto him, any more than the streah his bed
But there was one big difference None of his other lovers had gotten pregnant
Because unlike the rest, he’d slept with her without protection He’d believed her when she’d whispered to hinancy was impossible Cesare, who trusted no one, had taken Emma at her word
Her hands tightened on the handrail of the seat in front of her Here she’d been fantasizing about ho into a devoted father The truth was that when he learned their one-night stand had caused a pregnancy, he’d think she’d lied That she’d deliberately gotten pregnant to trap him
He’d hate her
So don’t tell him, a cowardly voice whispered Run away Take that job in Paris He never has to know
But she couldn’t keep her pregnancy a secret Even if the odds were a million to one that he’d want to be part of their baby’s life, didn’t even Cesare deserve that chance?
A loud burst of laughter, and the stolance out theShe leaped to her feet “Wait, please!” she cried to the bus driver, who obligingly waited as she ran down the bus stairs, nearly tripping over her own feet Out on the sidewalk, buffeted by passersby, she looked up at the elegant, i over her head to dodge the rain, Euard, she shook the rain off her camel-colored mackintosh and took the elevator to the tenth floor
Tre, she walked down the hall to the suite of rooms Cesare occasionally used as an office and a pied-à-terre after a late evening out in Covent Garden Cesare liked to be in the thick of things The floor wasn’t private, but shared by those guests who could afford roo, she knocked on the door
She heard a noise on the other side, and then the door was abruptly wrenched open
Emma looked up with an intake of breath “Cesare”
But it wasn’t her boss Instead a gorgeous young woerie, stood in his doorway
“Yes?” the woainst the door as if she owned it
A blade of ice went through Ea Lukin The famous model who had dated Cesare last year Her body shook as she tried to say normally, “Is Mr Falconeri here?”
“Who are you?”
“His—his housekeeper”
“Oh” The supermodel’s shoulders relaxed “He’s in the shower”
“The shower,” Emma repeated numbly
“Yesss,” Olga Lukin said with exaggerated slowness “Do you want e?”
“Um”
“There’s no point in you waiting” The blonde glanced back at the ave a catlike s forward, she confided in a stage whisper, “Right after we have another go”
Ea’s bony shape, her cheekbones that could cut glass She was absolutely gorgeous, a woman who’d look perfect on any billionaire’s arm In his bed
While E Nobody Short, round and drab, not particularly pretty, with the big hips of soe raincoat, knit dress and sensible shoes Her long black hair, when it wasn’t pulled back in a plaited chignon, hadn’t seen the inside of a hairdresser’s in years
Humiliation made her ears burn How could she have dreaht want tolittle cottage?