Venetian's Midnight Mistress by Carole Mortimer

Author:Carole Mortimer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2008-09-05T04:00:00+00:00

‘This is nice,’ Dani murmured as she looked around the quiet bistro Niccolo had brought her to, his hand having lightly but firmly gripped her arm as he guided her well away from the tourist-busy St Mark’s Square to this small family-owned restaurant that overlooked one of the narrower canals. The owner had greeted Niccolo by name before showing them to one of the tables by the open windows.

‘Eat, Daniella,’ Niccolo instructed as the owner deposited breadsticks on the table, along with their menus.

Dani ignored his order and instead picked up the menu to use as a shield as she shot Niccolo frowning glances. He had barely spoken on the ten-minute walk here along the path-sided canals, but she knew from the slight pallor beneath his naturally swarthy complexion that this was only a temporary respite—that in actual fact Niccolo did have plenty to say, and was just choosing the moment when he would say it. Probably he would get started once she had eaten, as he seemed so determined to get some food down her!

‘Stop thinking so much, Daniella, and instead choose what you would like for lunch.’

Dani looked up, not fooled for a moment by the pleasantness of his tone.

‘Niccolo—’

‘I believe there are certain foods that pregnant women have to avoid?’ he prompted lightly.

‘Smoked meat and fish, pâtés, soft cheeses, uncooked eggs,’ she confirmed distractedly, having received a list of dos and don’ts from the doctor yesterday. ‘But—’

‘Then perhaps you would like the linguine with mushrooms and chicken?’

‘Niccolo—’

‘We will order our food before continuing this conversation, Daniella.’ His tone was steely, uncompromising.

She drew in a breath to reply, but was prevented from further argument by the arrival of the proprietor to take their order, and waited until they were alone again before carefully placing her hands down on the red and white checked cloth that covered the small, square table to lean forward and look Niccolo directly in the eye. ‘I do sincerely sympathise with the shock this has been to you—’

‘Do you?’ Niccolo drawled, perfectly relaxed as he leant back in his chair.

‘Well, of course I do.’ She groaned. ‘It isn’t every day you learn you’re going to become a father.’

‘No,’ he conceded dryly. ‘But it is not so much of a shock now as it originally was,’ he admitted, that dark gaze lazily assessing. ‘In fact, now that I have…adjusted to the idea, I find that the prospect of having a son or daughter is rather a pleasant one.’

Yes, Niccolo had certainly recovered from his earlier speechlessness, Dani acknowledged uneasily. And as she knew only too well, a totally self-possessed Niccolo was a force to be reckoned with.

What on earth had made her imagine that telling Niccolo herself about her pregnancy was the easiest option? What had possessed her to think that she could come here and tell Niccolo about the baby and that he would then just calmly allow her to return to England to continue her pregnancy without any interference from him?

Because the almost

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