Defying Her Billionaire Protector

‘How far along are you?’ she asked.

‘Ten weeks.’ Helena frowned. ‘You know, you haven’t seemed like yourself since you came back from the island.’

Marietta tried to keep her smile intact but the very worst thing happened—her lips quivered.

‘Oh, Marietta.’ Helena reached for her hand. ‘What is it? Tell me.’

‘I slept with Nico,’ she blurted out, because she simply couldn’t keep it secret any longer. She needed to talk about it with someone or she’d lose her mind. She stared at her sister-in-law, waiting for the look of shock. Of censure.

‘Well,’ said Helena, ‘I can’t say I’m surprised.’

Marietta’s jaw slackened. ‘You’re not?’

‘No. I’m not.’ She let go of Marietta’s hand and refilled their glasses from a pitcher of homemade lemonade on the table. ‘I saw the way he looked at you on my wedding day, Marietta.’ She picked up her glass, sat back and smiled. ‘He couldn’t take his eyes off you.’

Marietta frowned. She remembered Nico from the wedding day. He’d been impossible to miss. Aside from her brother he’d been the tallest man there, and by far the most eye-catching in his tux. But she’d taken one dry-mouthed look at his powerful body and his chiselled features, reminded herself that men like him were out of her league, and then steadfastly kept her gaze off him.

‘I take it things didn’t end well?’ Helena said gently.

Marietta shook her head. ‘I ended up wanting more than he could give.’

Helena exhaled on a sigh. ‘Don’t tell me he’s one of those men who’s allergic to commitment.’

‘He’s a widower,’ she said, and this time her sister-in-law’s face did register shock.

‘I had no idea.’

‘Leo doesn’t know?’

‘If he does he’s never said anything. I’m guessing Nico has some issues, then?’

‘A few.’

She wanted to share more with Helena, but Nico was an intensely private man and talking about his past—particularly the gruesome story of his wife’s death—felt wrong. And then Leo appeared, carrying Ricci in his arms, and the little boy gurgled and squealed when he saw his mother.

Helena stood to take him, and he squealed again when she blew a raspberry kiss on his plump rosy cheek.

Leo put his hand to his wife’s back, said something in her ear. Helena looked at Marietta and frowned. Her mouth opened, but Leo cut her off with a few quietly spoken words and then urged her indoors. Helena resisted, gave her husband a stern look and walked back to Marietta.

‘I’ll be right inside if you need me,’ she said, squeezing Marietta’s shoulder, and then she took Ricci into the house.

Confused, Marietta looked to her brother.

‘Nico’s here,’ he said without preamble. ‘He wants to see you.’

Her brain stalled. Nico was here? She blinked, trying to process the fact. ‘How did he know where I was?’

‘He called me and I told him.’

‘Why didn’t you say anything?’

‘Because he asked me not to. And, frankly, he sounded...desperate.’ Leo scowled. ‘Do you want to tell me what the hell is going on, Marietta?’

She pulled in a deep breath, her heart pounding. ‘Not particularly.’

A muscle flexed in her brother’s jaw.