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Her head lifted. “Really?”
“Yes. Here you have the best protection. No one will get near you. And eventually the paparazzi will get bored.”
“I just don’t understand why this is suddenly a story. I haven’t seen Steven in almost three months.”
His eyes momentarily widened, but then in a blink, his expression was unreadable. “Then I would say that picture suddenly appeared because the wife planted it, just in time for her to file for divorce.”
“But the story made it sound like it just happened—as in yesterday.”
“See, that’s the thing. You were right here with me.”
“Wait.” She peered deep into his eyes. “You believe me?”
“Believe you? Of course I do. Why wouldn’t I?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I’m just a bit on edge.”
“Is this part of the reason you’re in Mirraccino instead of in Paris, Milan or New York?”
She shook her head. “It has nothing to do with that story. In fact, there wasn’t even a story until today.”
“Then quit frowning. Everything will be all right. Give it one or two news cycles and the paparazzi will be on to another bit of sensationalized gossip.” He reached out and pulled her into his arms.
She knew she should resist. She knew that things were complicated between them. But in that moment, she longed for the warmth and comfort she always felt in his arms. And so she let her body follow the pull of his arms.
Her chest pressed to his. Her arms wrapped around his trim waist. And her head landed on his broad shoulder. The stress ebbed away.
But then something happened that she hadn’t been expecting. She breathed in his masculine scent, mingled with a spicy cologne. He smelled so good. She breathed in a little deeper. Oh, yes, she remembered being here—being held securely in his arms.
And it wasn’t that long ago that they’d clung to each other like there was no tomorrow. Did he remember? Was that what he was thinking about right now?
Her whole body was alive with desire. It’d be so easy to turn her head just slightly and press her lips to the smooth skin of his neck. And then, realizing what she was about to do, she pulled away.
Luca gave her a puzzled look, and then he sighed. “Are you going to keep acting like this? Can’t we just forget about what happened in Paris?”
She shook her head. “I can never forget.”
“Sure you can, if you try. After all, we were friends a lot longer than we were lovers.”
“Luca, quit trying to diminish it.” That night had been very special to her even if it meant nothing to him.
He raked his fingers through his hair. “What can I do to make this better?”
“Nothing. Nothing at all.”
“So that’s it, we’re always going to be awkward around each other? I can never put my arms around you to comfort you?”
“You don’t understand. This isn’t how I want things to be, but it’s how they are.”
“I don’t understand. You’re talking in circles.”
He was right. She was being evasive on purpose. She was afraid to tell him that they would forever be linked.
“I’m pregnant.” She hadn’t intended to blurt it out, but at least it was finally out there.
“Pregnant?” Luca stumbled back a step as though the words had hit him with a one-two punch.
She nodded. The backs of her eyes stung with threatening tears. Darn hormones. She blinked repeatedly, refusing to play the emotional-woman card. She could get through the rest of this semirationally—she hoped.
