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“And then what?”
Alessia caught her bottom lip between her teeth. This part wasn’t as clear yet. She was a career woman. Was it right to bring a child into a life like hers? To raise it without a father? Or was it better to give it up for adoption?
There were plenty of couples who were eager for a child—but could she do that without wondering about her baby for the rest of her life? Was he happy? Was he well? And yes, already, she thought of the baby inside her as “he,” a little boy with Nicolo’s features. His dark hair. His beautiful eyes.
“And then what?” Nicolo said again, his voice a low rumble. “After the baby’s born…what do you want to do with her?”
“With him,” she said, without thinking.
Nicolo smiled. “With him. What next, princess?”
Alessia took a deep breath. The answer had been there all along. She just hadn’t seen it clearly until now.
“I’ll keep my baby.”
“Good,” Nicolo said, gathering her against him. “That’s what I hoped you’d say.”
Ah. Now his questions made sense. He was going to offer to support the child. She didn’t want that. A clean break was best. She would work hard, earn enough money to give her baby everything he needed….
“It’s good,” he said, “because that’s what I want, too.” He cupped her shoulders, held her at arm’s length and looked into her eyes. “Alessia. Will you marry me?”
Her mouth dropped open. It made Nick want to laugh. Or kiss her and that, he decided, was the far better choice. Slowly, he bent to her, brought his lips to hers.
“Marry me, princess,” he whispered. “And we’ll raise our baby together.”
Alessia stared at him. “Marry you? No. It’s a wonderful gesture, Nicolo, but—”
“We owe this child more than a gesture.”
“I know. I mean, I understand that. But marriage…”
“Is it such a horrible thought? Marrying me? Becoming Mrs. Nicolo Orsini?”
Horrible? She fought to keep from saying the words singing in her blood, that she loved him, adored him, that spending her life with him would be the dream she’d been afraid to dream.
“Princess?”
He was waiting for her answer. She wanted to say “yes,” but could she marry a man who didn’t love her, no matter how noble the reason?
“What?” he said. “What are you thinking?”
Alessia touched the tip of her tongue to her dry lips.
“I’m thinking…I’m thinking, what about love?”
Nick captured Alessia’s lips with his. He kissed her again and again and when he raised his head, her eyes were glazed, her lips rosy and swollen.
“What about it?” he said gruffly.
What, indeed? she thought.
And then he began undressing her and she stopped thinking about anything but him.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
THEY would have a civil ceremony.
It was the fastest way to marry. Even so, Alessia said, they would have to wait two weeks.
