New Arrivals: His Expectant Mistress: Accidentally Pregnant! / One-Night Pregnancy / One Tiny Miracle...

“Don’t presume to tell me my own feelings, Irena. If it had been possible, I would have married you when you were here before.”

She took a shaky breath. “Without my having met your son first?”

“I would have introduced you. The three of us would have spent the day together before I asked him if he wanted to watch us get married.”

Irena averted her eyes. “Whether he approved of me or not, he would have said yes because he loves you. He’ll do anything to make you happy.”

“But I wouldn’t marry a woman unless she could make him happy, too.”

“You hardly know me, Vincenzo. We hardly know each other.”

“I know one of the most important things about you, Irena. You have an exceptionally kind nature that spoke to my son. After last night and today, Dino knows it, too. Shall I tell you what he whispered to me in the foyer before Mila appeared? He said he hoped you would be with me at the next visitation.”

Her eyelids smarted. “He’s very sweet.”

“You took the time to play with him and make him feel like he was an important person.”

“All children are important.”

“Not everyone feels that way inside. I watched you with him last night. You put him at ease.”

“I’m glad.”

“Glad enough to marry me and help me raise my son while I father our baby?”

She avoided his gaze and stared out the side window. “It couldn’t be that simple, Vincenzo.”

“Of course not. I never suggested otherwise. We’ll be one of those families of this generation that fits all the odd parts into one new whole. Hopefully it will work, but there are no guarantees.”

Irena let out a sad laugh. “We’re nothing alike.”

His eyes grew hooded. “You and Andreas came from the same world, but you didn’t make it to the altar. I wasn’t as lucky as you, Irena, and didn’t escape in time. My family thought I should marry someone like me, and you see what happened. I think being opposites with no expectations will be very good for us.”

He’d said that before.

“I was in lust with you the second you walked in my office. That hasn’t changed.”

Her heart jumped. His honesty shocked her, but it was also that quality which had first attracted her. And his looks…She couldn’t deny how physically appealing he was to her. Knowing he was already a father, having met his son, it surprised her that she found him more desirable than ever. But she couldn’t allow that magnetism to blind her to the realities of the situation.

“I don’t care what you say about Dino liking me. If we were to marry, he would feel another loss. You say you only get to see him one weekend a month and twice a year for a week. If we were to marry he would then have to share that precious time he has with you with me. The poor little darling would be so hurt.”

In the next breath Vincenzo pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her hair. “Once we’re married, everything will change for the better for both of us.”

“Vincenzo—we can’t even think about it without Dino having a part in the decision.”

“I’m way ahead of you, so this is what we’ll do.” He lifted his head, forcing her to look at him. “There’s a hotel nearby where I always take Dino when I’m in Milan on visitation. I’ll drive you there now and then I’ll bring Dino back with me. We’ll have an early dinner together and tell him our plans.”

Everything was moving too fast. “That sounds good in theory, but you’ve only just dropped him back with his mother. What if she has arranged something special for him? He hasn’t been home in a week.”

A tiny nerve hammered at the edge of his mouth. She noticed it appeared when he was unusually tense. “If she has plans, it will be a first. As for my needs, this time they’ll have to take precedence.” After pressing a warm kiss to her lips, he let her go with reluctance and started the car.

Chapter Three (#ulink_c52737a6-83df-5dd6-a355-799c6cec1595)

BE THERE, ARTURO.

“Vincenzo! I saw your name on the caller ID and couldn’t believe it. We haven’t talked in ages. What can I do for you?”

“I need my attorney’s help.”

“Of course.”

“I’m in Milan and am driving over to Mila’s villa right now to pick up Dino. It’s imperative I take him out for a few hours, then I’ll return him. She’s going to refuse because I only just brought him back from our holiday in Riomaggiore, but something’s come up and it’s vital I talk to him alone. Be the master counselor you are and call her attorney to let him know my special circumstances.”

“I’ll get on it right now.”

“Grazie, Arturo.” He clicked off.

Whether Arturo could reach Mila’s attorney or not, Vincenzo had no intention of letting his ex-wife thwart him. She was already worked up because Dino had told her about Irena. He could just imagine the fireworks when he showed up at the door in a few minutes, but this was one time he didn’t care, because hopefully it would be the last time he or Dino would ever be at her mercy in the same way.

“Signore?” The maid looked surprised to see him at the door.

“Would you tell Mila and Dino I’m here to see them.”

“Sì.”

He moved inside the foyer and shut the door. The noise resounded in the tomblike interior. Pretty soon he heard the patter of feet.

“Papa!” Dino came running into his arms.

Mila followed. “What are you doing back here?”

“Something important has come up. I need to talk to Dino for a little while. I hope you don’t mind.”

She had to think about it. “You can go in the salon.”

“No, I meant I need to talk to him away from here, Mila.”

“I don’t want him leaving the house.”

“Do you have plans for him?”

“We don’t, do we, Mama?” Dino piped up.

“That’s not the point, Dino.”

“Then it won’t matter if I take him for a few more hours. I’ll have him back in time for bed.”

“You’ve had your week with him, Vincenzo.”