Stefan set the bags on the floor.“They're right here,” he said, pulling out a small box with a purple ribbon around it.He didn't buy them for Dani.He watched me eat two of them and said, “I'm picking some up for later.All that cream is giving me ideas.”
So, yeah.
Stefan definitely hadn't bought those for Dani.
She let go of me and carefully rid her uncle of the box.“Thanks,” she said solemnly, clearly not over her big bad mad from only moments ago.
“What do you say we go eat some right now?”Stefan scooped her up in his arms, and she giggled.
“It's her bedtime.She can't have that much sugar right now,” Giselle piped in.
Stefan looked at her.“My reputation's at stake.”
Giselle put a hand on her belly.“Fine, but you're staying up with her until her sugar rush ends.”
He smiled at Giselle, then looked at Dani.“Sounds fun to me.”
Dani let out a cute little giggle—and off they went toward the kitchen.
“You really saved the day, Francesca.Thank you.”Carlo bent down and picked me up like I weighed nothing.He gave me a long hug before setting me on my feet.“What do we owe you for the things you bought?”
He kept his hands on me, even after I was already steady.
“Oh, I used Stefan's money.My purse and bank card are all back home.So, you'll have to talk with—”
Carlo cut me off.“It is your money, Francesca.He's your husband.What's his is yours.”His voice was firm as he frowned down at me.
“Oh, for Pete's sake, Carlo.”Giselle huffed loudly.“Would you give the poor girl a minute to get used to having more than five bucks at a time in her wallet?”
Carlo looked over at her, his frown deepening.“She's his wife, Giselle.She needs to learn how things work.”
Her head fell back, and she took a deep breath.Well, as deep as she probably could with a huge baby in her belly.“Are you kidding me right now?”Her voice rose higher.
A lot higher.
“I'm just your baby mama.And how long did it freaking take me to get used to spending your money?Huh?”she said sarcastically.“A lot longer than the five minutes these two have been together.And you know it still really bothers me that I'm not earning any money.But here you are, giving poor Francesca a freaking lecture.”Her hands flew out from her sides.
Yeah.
Giselle was mad.
Really, really, really mad.
“First of all, we talked about you—never,” his voice lowered, “using the term ‘baby momma’ in reference to yourself ever again.And secondly, no, you have not once told me how you feel about money.Not since we were first together.You haven't said a fucking word until now.”
I tried to sneak out of his hold, but his hands stayed on me.Tight.
“And,” he leaned over slightly, “there's no need for you to earn money.In case you haven't noticed, we're doing just fine.Or did the private plane we took over here not tip you off to that fact?”
Uh, oh.
Even I knew that was the wrong thing to say.
Giselle's face changed instantly.
Oh, boy.
“I should probably leave you two alone—” I started saying.
