Brunetti's Secret Son

His jaw flexed. ‘We’ll remain here until I find a way to fix this. Besides, the world thinks we’re on our honeymoon, so why not enjoy the time off?’ He glanced over to where Lucca was examining a spray of giant bright orange flowers. ‘I can’t imagine you’ve had any downtime since he was born.’

Maisie smiled reluctantly. ‘I don’t imagine I’ll be getting any until he’s at least eighteen.’

He watched her with a quizzical look. ‘But it will be a relief not to be burdened with him 24/7, sì?’ There was a hard bite to his tone that set her nerves on edge.

She frowned. ‘I don’t consider him a burden,’ she retorted.

‘Was he the reason you switched careers?’ he enquired.

‘Well...yes, but—’

‘Pursuing a career in criminal law to operating a restaurant in a quaint little village is quite a change.’

‘It was a choice I made both for Lucca and myself.’

He nodded. ‘You’ve proved you’re capable of adapting. So adjusting to our new situation shouldn’t be a big problem.’

She looked around. ‘I’m not built to lie about sipping cocktails. I need a challenge, even with Lucca around.’

‘Then we will find other challenges for you.’

‘Thank you. Now, is this interview of my mothering skills and commitment over? I’d like to get out of these travelling clothes.’

He continued to stare at her in that direct, invasive way of his, as if trying to see beneath her words to any truth she was hiding.

After several minutes he nodded and alighted from the buggy.

Double doors swung open and two women came forward, one an older Tongan native and a younger girl who approached Lucca with a smile. Maisie noticed she walked with a slight limp.

‘This is Emily. She’ll be helping you look after Lucca. And Mahina is our housekeeper.

Maisie managed to keep a smile on her face throughout the introductions and the tour of Romeo’s mansion. She even managed to make the right noises when she saw the Olympic-sized pool and the hot tub, and the man-made cave that opened up into a private waterfall complete with pool at the back of the property.

She smiled through giving Lucca a quick wash, with a helpful Emily unpacking his clothes. When the girl offered to take him away for a glass of juice, Maisie forced a nod, welcoming the opportunity to find Romeo and give him a piece of her mind.

After searching fruitlessly upstairs and knocking on over a dozen doors, she finally found him in a large, airy room converted to a study, with rows of books covering one wall, and an imposing desk and chair fronting a floor-to-ceiling glass window.

She shut the door behind her after his imperious directive to come in and stalked to where he sat, master and commander of his empire.

‘How dare you hire a nanny without consulting me,’ she fired at him when he looked up from the document he was perusing.

His brows clamped for a second before he rose and rounded the desk. Maisie forced herself not to step back from the broad-shouldered magnificence of his physique. He’d also changed from the suit he wore to travel, into a turquoise polo shirt and a pair of white linen trousers, into which he shoved his hands. ‘I didn’t think you would object.’

‘Why? Because I’m so eager to be lightened of the burden of caring for my son?’

‘Because I’m told every mother needs a break every now and then.’

‘And who, pray tell, enlightened you of this fact? It can’t have been your mother, since I’m guessing she wasn’t a contender for mother of the year?’

His cold tensing confirmed she’d gone too far. ‘We seem to be straying away from the issue under discussion. You slept for less than an hour on the plane and I’m sure you didn’t have much sleep the night before. The jet lag will kick in very hard shortly.’ He shrugged. ‘I thought you would welcome the help.’

She told herself not to soften at his consideration. ‘Is that all she is—temporary help?’ she pressed.

‘No. She helps around the resort when needed, but she’s the only one with childcare training.’

She shook her head. ‘Romeo—’

Narrowed eyes studied her closely. ‘What exactly is the problem here?’

‘The problem is you made a decision about Lucca’s care without consulting me.’

He exhaled with a rush of irritation. ‘This is an adjustment for all of us, Lucca included. Some decisions will have to be made with or without your input.’