His Merciless Marriage Bargain

“He’s out,” she said. “I think he’ll sleep the rest of the night without any more tears.”

“That’s good.”

“It is,” she agreed, kissing the baby again before crossing to his crib. Bending over, she carefully placed him on his back. In his sleep, Michael sighed and stretched, tiny fingers opening and then relaxing. She watched him a moment, suffused with so many different emotions. Love, tenderness, worry, hope.

Across the room she heard a soft click. Rachel looked up only to discover that Gio was gone.

* * *

Rachel woke up to a still dark room that was quiet and cool. Far too quiet and cool. Glancing to the door separating her room from Michael’s, she saw that it was closed. Throwing back the covers, she raced from bed to yank the door open. The curtains had been drawn and the room was filled with a watery light. She’d taken several steps into the green room when she spotted Mrs. Fabbro walking past the tall arched windows, talking away to Michael in Italian, while Michael babbled back, as if the two were deep in conversation.

Rachel’s pulse still pounded, and yet her lips curved into a faint smile.

Michael seemed to adore the older Italian woman.

Mrs. Fabbro spotted Rachel. “Buongiorno,” she said, nodding her gray head.

“Is it very late?” Rachel asked.

Mrs. Fabbro didn’t seem to understand the question, but she crossed to the wall, and pressed a button. “Signor Marcello vi aspetta.”

Rachel didn’t understand Mrs. Fabbro, either. She walked over and held her hands out, gesturing that she’d like to take the baby.

Mrs. Fabbro seemed most reluctant to hand Michael over, but after a hesitation, she did.

Rachel nuzzled Michael’s warm cheek. He smelled sweet and fresh. He must have had a bath this morning. “Has he eaten?” she asked. “Uh… Bottiglia di latte?” she stammered, trying to remember the words for bottle, or milk.”

“Si. Due.”

“He has.” Gio’s deep male voice came from behind her. “Two.”

“Two?” Rachel said. “He never drinks that much when he wakes up.”

“It’s nearly noon. He’s been up for hours.”

Her jaw dropped. “I had no idea. I can’t believe I slept that long.”

“I told everyone you weren’t to be disturbed, and Signora Fabbro has enjoyed her time with Michael. You’re going to find it difficult to keep him out of her arms. She loves babies and children. She hates it when they grow up.”

“Did she come with good references?”

“The best. She was Antonio’s and my nanny.” His expression softened as he looked at her. “I didn’t tell her Michael was Antonio’s until today. But I couldn’t deny it when she asked.”

“She guessed?”

“She knew he had to be mine, or his. He’s very much a Marcello.”

“You see the resemblance?”

“I do.”

“Are you still going to run another DNA test?”

“It won’t change the outcome, will it?”

Rachel shook her head.

“You used a reputable company for the testing. It’s a company I’ve used before—” He frowned, a crease forming between his strong black brows.

“You must be hungry.”

His abrupt change of subject made Rachel curious. What else was he going to say? “You’ve done DNA testing before, then?”

“It’s getting close to lunch. We should talk, after we’ve eaten.”

He wasn’t going to tell her, was he? Rachel hugged Michael, savoring his sweetness, and the light clean scent from his baby shampoo. “I can’t think of food until I have my coffee.”

“Are you a big coffee drinker?”

“I live in Seattle. We like our coffee.” The baby clearly didn’t want to be held so tightly. He wiggled and pushed back against her chest. Smiling, Rachel loosened her hold. “He’s feisty this morning. He’s definitely feeling better.”

Mrs. Fabbro now held her hands out, wanting to take Michael back. Her thin lips weren’t smiling and the expression in her dark eyes was somewhat intimidating.

“She really was your nanny?” Rachel asked, glancing from Mrs. Fabbro to Gio.

Gio grinned. For a split second he looked boyish and young. “She was,” he answered, still smiling. “She spoiled us rotten. She’s a pussycat. Don’t let her stern expression fool you.”

Rachel handed the squirming baby over and Mrs. Fabbro triumphantly marched away, putting distance between them. Rachel watched her walk off. “She didn’t need to send for you.”

“She rang for Anna. I happened to be closer.” Gio was also watching Mrs. Fabbro and Michael. “You don’t need to worry about him, not with her. She couldn’t have children of her own. Antonio and I became hers. She was very close to Antonio, so close that when he opened his own home in Florence, she went to oversee the house for him. She was still in his employ when he died.” Gio’s expression shifted, hardening. “After his death, I tried to bring her here, but she wouldn’t leave his house. She’s only here now because we finally closed his Florence villa and there was nowhere else to go.”