‘Now I am certain I have made the right decision to take you back to Milan!’
Kate was magnetised by the hypnotic ocean of azure blue that stared back at her with such unarguable authority and intensity.
‘The sooner we get away from these shores the better! I cannot guarantee the weather in Milan at this time of year, but I can ensure that when we are there you will have the opportunity to rest and relax properly. I will make sure of it! No doubt you have been under more stress than you realize, Katherine!’
Crossing the room, Luca glanced outside at the now teeming rain and Kate thought she saw him shiver.
‘Perhaps…’
‘There is no “perhaps” about it!’ He shook his head in dismay, and his expression was resolute when he turned back to face her. ‘I am very relieved that I got you to stop working when I did! I only hope that the stress you were already under has not had a detrimental effect on the child. I personally do not want to take the risk that anything else might go wrong, so when we get to Milan I will arrange an appointment for you with a top obstetrician and gynaecologist to make sure everything is absolutely as it should be with your pregnancy. In my view it makes absolute sense to get a second opinion, and you can rest assured we will be taking no more chances where this baby or yourself is concerned!’
‘You sound as if you finally believe that the baby is yours.’
The statement was out of Kate’s mouth before she realised. The man who dominated her suddenly inadequate front room with his imposing presence and arresting good looks did not flinch—but he gazed at her with a glance that was unwavering and direct.
‘I do.’
‘What—what changed your mind?’
‘Last night.’ Those impressively broad shoulders of his lifted in a tense little shrug, as if his short comment needed no further explanation.
Kate’s blood zinged with hope. Suddenly she found that the prospect of going to Milan with Luca was not so daunting, and after the worrying scare she had had this morning a holiday was growing more and more appealing by the minute. It would also be a perfect opportunity for him to get to know her and for her to get to know him. Maybe if they spent some proper time together he would begin to see that she really was a woman he could trust. A woman who would fight tooth and nail to protect and take care of the people she loved and would never betray them! To have a family of her own was all she’d ever dreamed of. All Kate needed was a chance.
‘Will we still fly out to Italy today?’ she asked.
Checking the time on his watch, Luca nodded. ‘I rang the airfield just before I arrived here. They have managed to give us another couple of hours before we need to be there. Have you packed yet?’
‘I made a start late last night, but because of what happened this morning I’ve still some to do.’
‘Then why don’t you go and carry on with it now? As soon as you are finished we will drive to the airfield.’
Feeling suddenly weary, as well as relieved that the planned trip was still going ahead, Kate nodded. ‘Okay. Sit down and make yourself at home while you wait for me.’
‘Do you need any help? I do not want you overdoing things.’
‘I’ll be fine.’
‘Why do I get the feeling you have been saying that for a long time, Katherine? Too long, perhaps?’
Smiling awkwardly, Kate moved to leave the room before she gave way to the tears that were already stinging the backs of her lids and threatening to fall. She’d had a genuine shock and it was only hitting her now.
‘Katherine?’
For the most knee-trembling moment, as Luca walked towards her, Kate thought he was going to kiss her. The idea of him holding her close and being tender with her was heavenly. She realised she’d been craving just that since the moment she’d seen him waiting on the doorstep.
‘What is it?’ She dashed away a tear with the back of her hand.
‘This is the right thing we are doing…going to Milan. I do not want you to worry about a thing. It will all be all right, little one.’
As if trying to control the impulse to be closer to her, for reasons known only to himself, Luca gently grazed the back of his hand across her cheek instead of drawing her into his arms, and Kate could not deny she was bitterly disappointed.
‘I’d better get on with my packing.’ This time she moved with real purpose, and closed the door swiftly behind her….
During the flight to a private airfield near Milan Luca had barely been able to take his eyes off Katherine. She had dozed for most of the journey, but that had hardly reassured him. Ever since he had learned of the scare she had had that morning his stomach had been twisted with knots that yanked harder and harder, and filled him with a stark, cold terror that she might lose the baby.