Deceptive Desires by Lilly LaRue Read Free Book Online Page B

should be their daughter. Physical longings led to emotional complications she didn’t want to face. Falling in love with her husband was unacceptable. She couldn’t trust him to stick around, and what kind of loving relationship could a couple have without trust?
     
    Saturday morning, she woke early, hearing Cara babbling away. She smothered a yawn and slipped on her robe to pad down the hall to the nursery. As she stepped in the room, she stopped at the sight of Aronne sitting in the rocker, Cara on his lap. She was playing with the buttons on his shirt and talking away. Having spent so much time with her, Molly understood a lot of what the toddler said, but she was surprised to realize Aronne did too, as he responded appropriately to her comments.
     
    “Dada.” Cara beamed when Aronne let out a laugh that sounded like pure happiness.
     
    Molly tried to force back the sentimental tug at her emotions reminding her how she had felt the first time Cara said, “Mommy,” at eight months old. Her gaze locked with his, and the joy in his eyes made it difficult not to return his grin. “It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?”
     
    He nodded, hugging the baby closer. “Thank you, Molly.”
     
    She frowned. “For what?”
     
    Aronne nodded toward Cara. “For her. You didn’t have to have her. At your age, no one would have faulted you for choosing not to.” He flushed. “To be honest, I might have suggested that alternative, since it would have been easiest for me.” With a grimace, he said, “I can’t imagine not knowing her now.”
     
    Dammit. She blinked at the moisture in her eyes, unable to deny the love in his gaze as he looked at Cara. Their daughter seemed just as enthralled with her father. Her carefully nurtured fantasy of him losing interest and taking off once more disintegrated. If Aronne ever left the city again, it was obvious he would still remain in his daughter’s life. She hated the idea. Didn’t she?
     
    “I considered it,” she said, sounding less emotional than she felt. “It was my mother’s solution, of course.” She couldn’t hide her distaste. “Mother confided she’d had an abortion at sixteen, and it hadn’t done her any harm. I think it was the thought of turning into her that scared me away from a termination.” Molly walked closer to them. “When I saw her on the ultrasound at twelve weeks, little heart beating away, I couldn’t wait to hold her. It was instant love.”
     
    “I can relate.” His expression was one of wonder as Cara took his finger, trying to bring it to her mouth to suck. “No no, piccolino . I’ve felt your teeth before.”
     
    Most of the softness left his face when he looked up at her, though his eyes remained tender. “Papa called this morning. Mamma gets to go home today. She’s already insisting we all come for brunch tomorrow.”
     
    Molly smiled. “That sounds like Sophia. Who can tell her no?”
     
    “It takes a braver man than me,” he said with a wink.
     
    ♥♥♥
     
    Sophia looked much better the next morning when they sat down at the table for brunch. Molly couldn’t help wondering if Aronne had been right about their supposed reconciliation hastening her recovery. Feeling the burden of maintaining the charade that they were considering reconciling gave her an instant headache.
     
    To her surprise, Aronne insisted on feeding Cara as they sat down to brunch. He’d done so before, but always with a little guidance, and in his casual clothes. She winced at the first smear of tomato on his khaki blazer, which he shrugged off.
     
    “You’re a natural, caro ,” said his mother, her lips curving into a pleased smile.
     
    Molly missed his reply as she sipped a mimosa and hoped the headache would fade away. Her attention abruptly returned to them when she heard Sophia say, “Happy anniversary.” Stomach churning, she resisted the urge to grimace. Was that today? A quick mental calculation confirmed it was. Resisting the