Valentino's Pregnancy Bombshell by Amy Andrews Read Free Book Online

peace offering.’
    Paige stiffened. Did he really think she could relax over a glass of wine with him? ‘There was no need. I’m fine.’
    Fine she may be but all Valentino could see was a woman who was starving, both physically and emotionally. Shutting herself off, denying her body the things it needed. The things every body needed. Denial was not good for anyone.
    He crouched down to McKenzie again. ‘What do you say, McKenzie?’ he said as he signed. ‘Can I come in?’
    McKenzie smiled at him and nodded, holding out her multicoloured hand. He took the little girl’s offering and rose, quirking an eyebrow at Paige.
    Paige glared at him. ‘That was low.’
    He smiled and took a step forward as Paige fell back passively, like she feared his nearness. He took full advantage as McKenzie led him into the apartment. ‘You need to eat,’ he said, moving past her. ‘Lucky for you I’ve found the most amazing delicatessen near where I’m staying.’ He looked down at McKenzie and moved his hands as he said, ‘Kitchen?’
    Paige stared at him as McKenzie pointed and then happily led Valentino to where he wanted to go. How had that happened? It was a few moments before she registered the drift of Valentino’s chatter coming from the other room and the fact she was still standing like a powered-down robot in the hallway, staring after them.
    She sighed and shook her head as she followed. How long would it take to get him out? By the time she’d reached the kitchen Valentino had seated McKenzie on the bench beside him, poured two glasses of wine and was supervising as her daughter distributed a variety of olives into little bowls.
    She leaned against the jamb. ‘Making yourself at home, I see.’
    Valentino looked up at an unsmiling Paige. Her shirt had fallen off a shoulder and he could see the distinctive hollow above the bony ridge of her collarbone. He also noticed the lack of bra strap. Not that he could make out anything interesting beneath the shapeless shirt.
    â€˜McKenzie is very helpful.’
    It was strangely sexy to see him in her kitchen, laughing with her daughter. His broad shoulders stretched the confines of his white T-shirt as his hip rested casually against her counter. Even more sexy was the way he signed and talked without conscious thought, as if it was completely natural.
    McKenzie, noticing Valentino’s interest had wandered elsewhere, turned and grinned at her mother, and Paige’s heart rose in her throat. Her daughter never tookto anyone this quickly. Trust her to take to a guy who, like her father, was never going to stick around.
    Absently she noticed that Valentino had had the good sense to wash the paint off McKenzie’s hands first.
    Valentino removed the still warm baguette from the bakery bag. ‘Ah.’ He held it to his nose and inhaled the yeasty fragrance. ‘Quello sente l’odore di buon.’
    He offered it to McKenzie to smell as well, which she did mimicking him perfectly. ‘You like?’ he signed, and McKenzie nodded. He located a knife in a drawer near his hip and sliced the bread into thick discs before arranging them on the plate next to the olives.
    â€˜Is there somewhere we can eat this?’
    Hell!
    Paige, also used to signing and speaking while her daughter was around, followed his lead. ‘Will the deck be good enough for your lordship?’
    He looked at McKenzie and winked. ‘Perfect.’
    Valentino scooped McKenzie off the bench and she skipped after her mother the second her feet touched the floor. He loaded the food and wine onto a nearby tray and followed the women through the house.
    They passed through an airy lounge room cluttered with children’s toys and framed photographs. Valentino’s gaze fell on a largish one standing on top of the television. It was Paige with an older couple. Her parents? She was younger, her figure fuller,