The Italian Surgeon's Secret Baby

by Sue MacKay

  ‘Let’s go for a walk on the beach before having lunch, give Aimee some freedom after being strapped into her seat for so long.’ Mattia glanced in the rear-view mirror. ‘Though she’s happy enough, no grizzling at all.’

  ‘She never complains when she’s in a car. I think the movement past the window fascinates her. Dipping her feet in the water will have her smiling even more.’

  Mattia slipped into a parking space right at the beginning of the walkway down to the beach. ‘Perfect.’

  ‘How lucky can you get?’

  ‘Who says luck had anything to do with it?’ He grinned and got out.

  Watching Mattia unbuckling Aimee from the seat and setting her on his hip with such aplomb had a lump forming in Elene’s throat. Of course he was used to doing the same for his niece and nephew, but this was different. This was fatherhood. His hands were gentle as he settled his daughter just right, his eyes observant as he closed the car door and pinged the locks. Mattia was a natural dad. No denying he already loved Aimee.

  ‘You coming?’ he called over his shoulder.

  Give me a minute to get myself together. ‘Sure. Nothing like sand between my toes.’ The moment she reached the beach she stuffed her thongs in her backpack.

  Mattia took Aimee to the water’s edge, slipping her sandals into his pockets before standing her in front of his long legs. She clung to him, swaying back and forth, his hand on her arm steadying her. Her mouth was split into a wide grin. ‘Ma-ma-ma-ma.’

  Elene stood watching him, hoping her sunglasses hid the direction of her gaze. He was a sight. That masculine build, the covert strength and not so covert confidence—the perfect picture. A picture dreams were made of. Even hers. Until she acknowledged this hunk was Mattia Ricco, a man who could destroy her happiness if he chose to fight her for Aimee.

  But the dream didn’t fade, instead remained steady in her mind. Mattia was laughing as he held Aimee so her feet were in the sea, feet that were kicking and covering his shorts in salt water. He was bonding with his daughter. And that was as sexy an image as any Elene had noted about him.

  Sinking down on the sand, she pulled her knees up to her chin, wrapped her arms around her legs and watched father and daughter having fun. She couldn’t find it in herself to be jealous or worried. It was the perfect picture. It was how this trip was meant to unfold.

  Aimee shrieked with delight as she kicked more water in the air.

  Yes, Elene thought, Aimee’s meant to be with this man. As she’s meant to be with me. Which meant being positive and taking each day as it came, listening to Mattia as he worked through his role in all this and giving her point of view in return. So she’d try for relaxed and enjoying the moment.

  Reaching into the backpack, she tugged a small towel free. ‘You’re both going to need this,’ she called to Mattia, who was wearing an enormous smile as he dragged Aimee along the top of the water.

  ‘What I need is a pair of earplugs,’ he said with a laugh.

  When Aimee got bored, Elene changed her thoroughly wet clothes, then they headed across the road to a lunch restaurant where the staff had no qualms about a toddler joining them. This was Italy.

  The Margherita pizza they shared was fragrant and delicious. ‘You can’t beat this.’ Elene licked up a strand of mozzarella.

  Strolling along the road afterwards, Elene ducked into a shop to buy Aimee a cute sunhat, then herself an irresistible blouse at another.

  When Mattia said, ‘Let me get that,’ she scowled at him.

  ‘No, thank you.’ Then she remembered she was supposed to be positive and not looking for arguments. ‘But thanks for offering.’

  He saw through her. ‘It was genuine: a present, not a test.’ A hint of guilt was mixed with the honesty in his voice.

  ‘It’s okay. Buying clothes is my “can’t resist” passion.’ He’d struggle to believe her if he saw how few she’d brought on this trip.

  Mattia laughed. ‘Find me a woman who doesn’t think the same.’

  ‘Glad to think I’m normal.’

  ‘Define normal.’

  Now the man was joking with her? A good sign, surely?

  Another shop tempted her in. ‘I won’t be a minute.’ She was lying. She needed space to settle her emotions—she was getting too complacent with Mattia. Because today she’d started believing in the impossible. Had begun thinking they might have a future together, and not only one that involved Aimee. But she had to be fooling herself. It could not work.

  CHAPTER SIX

  ‘TOO MUCH SUN and excitement for one little lady,’ Elene muttered as she rocked Aimee on her lap once they were back home.

  ‘It’s been a big day for her,’ Mattia agreed.

  The look on Elene’s face as she gazed down at Aimee was pure love. His gut clenched. What were they going to do about this? Aimee had already lost her mother—to have Elene taken out of the picture was not an option. It would be cruel. But Aimee was also his daughter. How to make it work for everyone? So far the only solution he could come up with was working hard at convincing Elene he couldn’t leave Sorrento, not for his sake as much as for his family, who would hate for him to go so far away. More clenching was going on in his gut. Not that Elene’s family would thank him for coercing her into moving to Italy, despite her having roots here. One day at a time, he told himself. They needed to be sure of each other when final decisions were made and the only way to do that was getting to know each other thoroughly. But the days were going by fast.

  He poured a glass of Sangiovese and took it across to Elene. ‘How serious are you about working at the charity unit?’

  ‘If I can work out a plan for Aimee I’d like to help out a few hours each day, Monday to Friday.’

  Her lips on the edge of the glass were full, soft—the kind that hot dreams were made of. Trailing over his feverish skin dreams. The kind he could not have about Elene. At least not until they’d got through what faced them with Aimee. ‘Anna would be happy to mind her. So—wages. I’ll pay you the same as the other nurses get.’

  Her head jerked up, those love-filled green eyes now spitting arrows at him. ‘I won’t be paid, thank you very much. And if that’s another test you can stick it where the sun never reaches.’

  It had been a test, one designed to shut down the sudden hope and need that had surged through him as he’d dwelt on her mouth. Instead, he’d angered Elene all over again. He was wrong to keep pushing her. She was not interested in his wealth. Or she was aiming for the bigger package. Why was he so distrustful? Sure, Sandy had taught him a massive lesson, but he didn’t usually feel so driven to test women like he did Elene. Was there a need to protect himself from a sense of coming home he’d begun feeling around her? Because of that flare of longing she made happen? It was time he spent a night with a woman. Just not this one. He continued to dig the hole he’d soon be buried in. ‘Most of the nurses draw wages. There’s no reason you shouldn’t.’

  Standing up, she held a now quiet Aimee out for him to kiss goodnight. ‘I’m going to put her to bed.’ At the door she paused to look back at him. ‘You’re not the only person who likes to help others less fortunate. Who do I see to arrange hours that fit in with the staff and my other commitment?’ Her eyes dropped to her precious bundle, before returning to bore into him.

  ‘I’ll tell the staff you’ll be on duty nine to twelve, starting Monday. You can work out the days with them. I’ll also let Anna know.’

  Elene nodded softly. ‘Thank you.’

  As she stepped through the doorway Mattia felt the strings holding them connected pull and tighten. Their lives were getting more entwined by the day. At the moment Elene had the upper hand. It had been a long time since anyone had done that to him.

  ‘Elene,’ he called softly.

  Reluctance was in every angle of her body, in the steps she took to come back and confront
him. ‘Yes?’

  If only she’d relax fully around him. ‘Tomorrow I’m going to Napoli for lunch with my family, and I’d like to introduce you and Aimee to them. Will you come with me?’

  Her eyes widened. ‘Yes, of course.’

  ‘They don’t know anything about this situation yet.’

  ‘Oh, man, you’ve got to deal with that sooner rather than later.’

  ‘You’re right. I just haven’t been able to find the right moment so far.’ He wanted to snatch Elene to him, hold her close so he didn’t give in to the temptation to shake her until she smiled at him again, until she looked pleased to be meeting his family, till she stepped up beside him so they were united in whatever happened tomorrow. But he couldn’t show uncertainty to this woman. He had to be strong. It was all he had. While he believed his parents would accept Aimee—and Elene—without reserve, that thread of doubt lurking in the back of his mind was a leftover from the days of Sandy’s treachery and how she’d brought disrepute on his family, however briefly. Hurting them again would not be happening on his watch. ‘I’ll phone them now.’

  ‘I’ll wash my dress.’

  As in the dress she’d worn to dinner last night? Was that the only dress she’d brought? A woman who enjoyed fashion had one outfit to wear somewhere special? Come to think of it, she’d worn the same two sets of shorts and blouses every day, one set on the washing line, one covering her mouthwatering body.

  He’d remedy that as a way of showing her he was sorry for being such an oaf, of saying thanks for all she was doing for his daughter, and for him. It had cost her emotionally to bring Aimee to him. There was no doubt how much she loved Aimee so she had to be worried sick about the outcome. He needed slapping around the ears. He’d only been thinking about what was happening to him, and how to get her to fit in with his life.

  ‘Say goodnight to Papà.’ Elene held Aimee out to him.

  Taking his girl into his arms, he stared down at her and wondered how he’d believed his life was perfect before. He’d been so far off the mark, it was unreal. Then his gaze shifted to Elene. She was a part of this new picture. Now that they were in Italy, not Wellington, and he wasn’t having a fling with anyone, it was almost impossible to deny he wanted to know her better. Kissing Elene would make this day into something special. Instead he kissed Aimee’s forehead and hugged her lightly, before handing her back to her mother. ‘Goodnight, little one.’ Then to Elene, he said, ‘After I’ve talked to my father I’ll cook dinner.’

  ‘I’m not hungry,’ she called over her shoulder as she disappeared into her bedroom.

  ‘We’ll see about that.’ Carbonara was a favourite of hers, and he was a dab hand at putting it together. He picked up the phone slowly, staring around the casual lounge room. Baby shoes lay in the middle of the floor, a discarded tiny singlet in a crumpled mess on the couch. The scent of summer roses that was Elene mingled with the tang of the Sangiovese. He’d never taste that particular wine again without being reminded of her. From down the hall came baby giggles and adult chuckles, and inside he melted a little bit more.

  His house had never felt so—so enjoyable. A family home, not a huge house that echoed when he made a sound. He’d spent most of his life inside these walls with his grandparents and parents and brothers, as a child and an adult, enjoying laughter and in-depth conversations about anything and everything. Since returning from his year in New Zealand he’d lived here on his own, and not once had he felt alone, yet now, with Elene and Aimee here, he understood he’d been lonely. There were a lot of wonderful memories in each of the rooms—family ones, time with playmates and later with teenage friends. Even an occasional girlfriend came into that collection, but over the last few days a sense of missing out on what was most important had begun sneaking up, making him look beyond the comfort and effortlessness of his solitary life. Making him want to get involved with special people to share everything.

  Down the hall Aimee shrieked, bringing him out of his stupor. He had a phone call to make. Or he could go say another goodnight to his daughter. He’d still have to make that call, tell his parents what was going on, but—Dropping the phone back on the table, he headed for the bedroom which nowadays looked like a nursery and not a sterile area waiting to be messed up. He preferred it with toys and clothes covering all the surfaces. ‘Hey, little one. Got another goodnight kiss for Papà?’

  ‘Your phone call was over quick.’ Elene lifted Aimee up to him from the change table where she’d been buttoning up the all-in-one pyjamas covered in teddy bears.

  ‘I haven’t made it yet.’ He ignored the surprise on Elene’s face. The small, warm, wriggling body in his arms brought a large smile to his face. Tickling Aimee’s tummy, he laughed. ‘It’s bedtime, my girl.’

  ‘I think you’re waking her up, not quietening her for sleep.’ Elene didn’t sound hassled, just accepting.

  More accepting of him? That had to be good for whatever came next. ‘I’ll tuck her in shortly.’ When he’d had his fill. ‘She’s cute, isn’t she?’ He heard the pride in his own voice. He was in big trouble. Or on notice that he had to resolve all the difficulties between him and Elene so he didn’t miss out on time with Aimee. And Elene. His grin faded. Elene. He wanted lots of time with her. His eyes drifted from Aimee to Elene, scoping out that compact, curvy figure, those full lips, the orange-tipped toes.

  Thump. A small fist caught him a blow on the chin.

  ‘Hey, minx, careful.’ Mattia blew bubbles on Aimee’s cheek until she laughed and then he placed her in the sleeping sack and kissed her forehead. ‘See you in the morning.’

  Elene appeared on the other side of the cot and leaned over to do the same, except she said, ‘Night, night, gorgeous. Love you.’

  Together they left the room, Elene turning off the light and he closing the door softly. Walking side by side down the hall felt right, which only made it all the more awkward when what he’d like to have with Elene and what he’d get were very different things.

  ‘Sorry, I haven’t started on dinner,’ he managed around the sudden lump of annoyance at her for putting him in this situation—even when it wasn’t her fault. ‘And I have my parents to deal with first.’

  ‘You’re hungry?’ Green eyes met his. ‘I can prepare something.’

  He’d been going to do that for her. ‘You’ve got a dress to wash.’

  ‘I don’t think toasted sandwiches will take all night.’

  He stared at her. Toasted sandwiches? People came to Italy in their droves to eat pasta and pizza, not sandwiches. From deep inside a bubble built up, pushed upward, exploded across his tongue. Laughter filled the air. ‘You’re amazing.’ Then he spun away and with something resembling a spring in his step headed for that damned phone and the call he’d been putting off. Elene was doing strange things to him. No doubt about it. One moment he was annoyed, the next, happy. Bizarre.

  * * *

  ‘You’re amazing.’ Those two words bounced around Elene’s skull as she pressed the dress into warm, soapy water. Why had Mattia said that? They were poles apart in most aspects of their lives.

  You think Mattia’s wonderful about certain things, like his care for his patients. Oh, please. It’s his body and looks and kindness and fun that’ve got your knickers in a twist. Patients have nothing to do with it.

  He probably meant she was amazing because she’d offered to save him the effort of cooking when she’d said she wasn’t interested in food. Tell that to her starving stomach. It had been the thought of sitting down at the same table with Mattia while fancying him that put her off wanting to eat.

  In the kitchen she could hear Mattia’s carefully modulated voice through the wall, but not what he was saying. He’d shut himself in his office, presumably so she wouldn’t be privy to what he told his family about her unexpected arrival on his doorstep. Her heart squeezed for him. How did he tell those nearest and de
arest that there was another member of the family that no one had known about? It wouldn’t be easy, even when they seemed close.

  Tomorrow he was introducing them to her. Would she get an interrogation? Be hauled over hot coals for bringing Aimee over without warning? Her mouth dried while her pulse quickened. Looking around the kitchen, she focused on normality, regained her composure. She would not be afraid of their reaction. She had right on her side. She was looking out for Aimee, after all.

  Why did you make me promise to bring Aimee here unannounced, Danielle? What was wrong with phoning to tell Mattia he was a father? Did you want us to catch up, maybe get together for Aimee’s sake? As usual, there were no answers descending upon her. Not so usual, despair didn’t follow. Strange.

  Opening the fridge, she debated what to fill the sandwiches with. Not that there was a lot of choice, the contents being more suited for a pasta sauce. So—tomatoes, ham, cheese.

  An arm whipped around her and lifted out a water bottle.

  She sucked in a breath, got a wave of male smell. Snatching up packets of food, she twisted around and elbowed the fridge door shut and came to a halt, inches from Mattia. Being this close, so in his sphere, had her blood fizzing. He was bigger than she’d remembered, making her feel petite. Fragile almost. Breathing had become a problem. ‘Excuse me.’ She needed air, fast.

  ‘Certainly.’ But he didn’t move. Not a centimetre.

  Raising her head, her breath clogged her sluggish lungs. His gaze was fixed on her, his mouth barely open, those lips teasing and tempting. Too tempting. Careful what you wish for. A kiss from Mattia. And afterwards? When they still had a long way to go, sorting out Aimee’s future? She knew from last time how long it took to get over his kisses—and he hadn’t actually kissed her. He’d only have to crook his finger and she’d do whatever he wanted. ‘Move. Now.’

  ‘Certainly,’ he repeated, only this time he did as she demanded.

  Relief warred with regret. Regret that she’d never get to try out those lips, feel that mouth covering hers. Relief that he’d never make love to her and find her lacking. Because this man was experienced. Without a doubt. He’d played the field in Wellington, and there’d never been a bad word spoken about him. While she had had one long-term relationship with a man who’d put her down, no matter how much she gave of herself when making love. Letting Mattia find out her failings wasn’t happening. How humiliating would that be? But—If only. Those pecs were made for touching, caressing, kissing, licking.