She sighed under her breath. “Our daughter is very resourceful. If she really didn’t want to be in that situation, she would have gotten out of it. When you and I—”
“I said, I don’t want to talk about this. Don’t make me repeat myself.” I grabbed the bottle and took a long drink, letting the booze burn my throat all the way down to my stomach. “You don’t agree with my decision?”
Button was quiet for a long time, pondering my question in silence. When she finally answered, her voice was gentle. “Does it matter? My opinion won’t change yours.”
“No, it won’t. But I want to know anyway.”
“I don’t like the pretense of their relationship. I don’t even like him…because of his father. But I really believe they love each other.”
I believed it too. I saw the way he looked at her, saw the way she looked at him. “She’ll love someone else. In time, she will.”
“I know. But I don’t think she’ll ever love anyone the way she loved him. If I had to move on from you…I certainly wouldn’t have forgotten about you.”
Her life would have been better off if she had. Most of our relationship had been spent in peace and quiet, but it hadn’t always been that way. There were times when we thought we wouldn’t survive. “This is the best decision for all of us. He doesn’t deserve her, and the Barsettis will never look past the crimes that have damaged this family. I will never welcome a man who forced my daughter into submission. I don’t care if he loves her. I don’t care if he’s rich or powerful. I only want a man who will love and respect my daughter—and he’s not that man.”
Four
Conway
I felt the Italian material in my hands, a fabric that was so soft against my fingertips it felt like silk. But it had the ideal elasticity to stretch in all the necessary ways. It would be perfect for my next piece, a maternity ensemble that would look great on Muse. Her pregnancy had aroused me in ways I couldn’t explain, and now the lingerie I made for work was used for personal reasons.
After measuring the material, I cut it in the precise place.
A knock sounded on the door before Muse walked inside. She wore a green dress that was loose around her stomach. Her pregnancy had swollen her belly, making her stomach distended and round. She’d gained some weight everywhere, but her stomach was the most affected. “Are you busy right now?”
I put down the scissors and measuring tape, ignoring her question because it was stupid. I was never too busy for her. Never had been and never would be. I rose from the stool and moved my hand to her belly, feeling the curve underneath my hand. I could feel our baby inside her, feel it kick in the middle of the night when she was asleep. My eyes lifted to her face, and I saw the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on, the woman who would become my wife. “Everything alright?” I kept my hand on her stomach, waiting for a kick.
“Nothing’s wrong,” she said. “But I just put on my wedding dress, and it doesn’t fit…” Her eyes fell in sadness, like that was something to be embarrassed about. “The baby is making me bigger at a much quicker pace now.”
“Good. It’s getting big and healthy.” I lifted up her dress so I could press my palm against her bare skin. Her belly was firm and warm, the curvature of her stomach sexy. I’d never had a thing for pregnant women, but when it came to mine, she made me hard instantly.
Her eyes held her sadness. “Yes, I’m happy about that. But...” She tilted her head down. “Never mind.”
My fingers moved under her chin, and I lifted her head. “Tell me.”
Her eyes were still hesitant, subtly fighting me. “I’m getting so big that I’ll never look good in a wedding dress.”
“You look good naked, so don’t worry about it.”
She hit my arm playfully. “I’m being serious. I don’t want to be insensitive to Vanessa, but I just hit my seventh month. If I wait any longer, I won’t be able to wear heels. And I want to be married before the baby comes…”
My mother told me what had happened with my father and Bones. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t relieved. I respected my father for making the right decision even though it made Vanessa angry. My sister deserved a good man, not an enemy to the Barsetti line. “What do you want to do?”
“I want to get married…”
My hands went to her lower back, feeling the sharp curve in her spine from the weight of her stomach. “Then we’ll get married.” My eyes looked into her blue ones, seeing the emotions running deep.