From Wedding Fling to Baby Surprise Read online

  Laney could only guess the number of eyes that had to be on them. She didn’t care. After all, this is what they were after, wasn’t it? To put on a show of affection. To look as if they were two lovebirds who had just discovered each other and couldn’t get enough.

  She sucked in a shaky breath. The scary part was that it was so perilously close to being true on her part. She really was growing rather fond of her pretend boyfriend. A shudder ran over her skin as she recalled their kiss in the room earlier. The taste of his lips on hers still lingered, the tingling sensation in the pit of her stomach resurfaced. The pleasure of being in his arms right now as they swayed slowly to the music. Yeah, no doubt about it, she couldn’t exactly deny her developing feelings or her ever-growing attraction.

  So what was she going to do about it?

  Though she knew the risk, knew fully well the hit her soul would take if he wasn’t as attracted to her as she was to him, the way she felt right now in Gianni’s arms made all of that moot. Sometimes a girl just had to take a chance.

  “Do you remember what I told you about my breakup?” she asked, blurting out the words and clearly surprising him with the question.

  He faltered his step ever so slightly but quickly recovered. “Not particularly. Though I was rather hoping we didn’t have to discuss the ex as I’m holding you in my arms during a slow dance.”

  Did that mean he had feelings for her that perhaps bordered on jealousy? But his next words quickly relieved her of that assumption. “It’s not really great for my male ego.” Just his pride speaking, then.

  She shook her head. “This isn’t really about him. It’s about me.”

  He continued to lead her through the dance, but his attention and gaze was fully focused on her face now. “Oh?”

  “I was told I was boring. What do you think that means?”

  He tilted his head, studying her. “I think it means he was a brainless, inconsiderate buffoon who didn’t know what he had.”

  She wasn’t going to let the compliments go to her head. Gianni was a charmer. It seemed to be an intrinsic part of his personality. She couldn’t take his words to heart, even if he thought he meant them. “No, I mean, why do you think he used that particular description?”

  His hold on her seemed to tighten. “I couldn’t venture to guess, Laney. But does it really matter?”

  It did matter to her. It had stung to hear that description about her coming from someone she thought had loved and cherished her. Someone she thought was getting ready to propose. While she’d thought she may have found someone in Joseph who finally loved her and respected her for who she was, he’d ultimately rejected her for someone else.

  Gianni leaned his face closer to hers. She could feel his warm breath on her cheek, along her neck. The sensation sent a shiver of longing through her core.

  “I thought we established he was just making excuses.”

  Excuses to justify rejecting her. To toss her aside without guilt.

  Gianni continued, “He described you in a way that was a much more fitting description of himself.”

  Yet that was too simple of an explanation. “Hmm. Maybe.”

  He sighed. “You don’t sound convinced. I see no reason to give it any more thought. Unless...do you still have feelings for him?” he asked, nearly whispering the words. She might have been imagining the rasp in his voice.

  “No. Not in any real sense. More a feeling of disappointment in what I thought was real that clearly wasn’t.”

  “So why the questions?”

  “I’m just trying to understand. When someone tells you you’re boring, that typically means you’re afraid to take chances, that you’re scared of making a mistake.” It was so hard to search for the exact right words. She had to do better. “That you’re afraid of asking for what you want for fear of rejection.”

  An eyebrow raised in question. “Where exactly are you going with this?”

  “I guess I’m asking for what I want. Regardless of the consequences.” I want you.

  He inhaled a deep breath and then let it out slowly. “You’re going to have to be really clear here, sweetheart. I don’t want to be making any kind of incorrect assumptions. Not about something like this.”

  Maybe she was making a mistake here. One she might regret later. After all, it had been a long day and she’d had more than one glass of wine. Still, at this moment, what she was about to do felt right. And she wouldn’t question it any further. Perhaps it was indeed time she simply lived for the moment.

  She wanted what she wanted. And she wasn’t going to deny herself. “Then I guess I’ll spell it out in concrete terms. I’d like to go back to the room soon. And I don’t want you to sleep on the couch. Nor do I want you to drive back home.”

  If he was about to reject her, to tell her what she was saying made no sense, or that they barely knew each other, then so be it. She would find out once and for all that the attraction was one-sided and solely on her part. At least that way she would know that she hadn’t chickened out. That she’d taken her shot and gotten her answer.

  “I see. And exactly what do you want?” The thickness in his voice was unmistakable this time.

  “I’d like you to stay the night. With me.”

  * * *

  Gianni could tell by looking in her eyes what it must have taken for her to speak those words out loud. She couldn’t have any idea the effect hearing them had on him now. His heart pounded wildly in his chest. The urge to lift her in his arms and carry her back to the hotel had his muscles twitching. Somehow, he managed to contain himself to keep from doing just that.

  He had to try and think straight here, hard as that was to do. After all, he’d known, hadn’t he? All the previous moments of desire and longing had led them here to this very point in time. He couldn’t deny that he’d seen it coming.

  Laney squeezed her eyes shut and bit out a mild curse. “Oh, no. I’ve really stepped in it this time, haven’t I?”

  She’d taken his hesitation as rejection. How far from the truth...

  “Gianni, I’m so sorry. Look, if you don’t want—”

  He silenced her with a press of his finger to her lips. “Don’t even think about finishing that sentence.” She honestly thought he might not want her. There was no way he could let her think that for even so much as a moment. It was so far from the truth.

  She slowly opened her eyes to look back up at him. “Why?”

  “You beautiful, silly fool.”

  A long and slow sigh escaped her lips. “I thought maybe... Does that mean you want this too?”

  How in the world could he say no? It would be such a big lie.

  He glanced around the room to see who was left still partying. Unfortunately, all the important family members still seemed to be lingering about. As expected, Laney’s dad was even at this moment eyeing the two of them. Gianni knew he should care, but he couldn’t bring himself to. “How fast can you say your goodbyes?”

  Within moments, they were off the boat and onto the harbor walkway. Gianni couldn’t seem to let go of her, his arm around her waist, half carrying her.

  She pulled him to a stop under a streetlight, turning him to face her. “I want you to know, this isn’t characteristic of me.”

  “You don’t have to explain yourself, Laney.”

  Her lips tightened. “It’s just that I want you to understand. I don’t typically ask for what I want. There’s just something about you.”

  He tightened his hold around her. “Then I’m honored to have triggered the transformation.”

  Her response was to pull his face to hers. The kiss sent a surge of pure pleasure down his chest clear to his toes. For several moments, he just let himself indulge, to take her in fully, to taste the sweetness she was offering. Still, there were things he needed to say. Confessions he needed to make to her.
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br />   He forced himself to pull away.

  “Listen, Laney. Before we—”

  The sound of a loud giggle behind them interrupted his speech. “Get a room,” yelled a feminine voice with a teasing, amused tone.

  Laney gave the stranger a small nod before turning back to him. “I think she’s right. We should get to our room.” She took him by the hand and led him toward the hotel. The time it took to get from the sidewalk up to their room seemed to take forever. Finally, Laney swiped the keycard and they were through the door.

  Now. He had to tell her now.

  But she immediately wrapped her arms around him as soon as they shut the door behind them. Gianni could barely manage more than a low growl of pleasure as her lips found his once again.

  He started to speak against her mouth. “Laney, about that night at your club.”

  She shook her head, continued kissing him. She whispered softly against his lips, “Mr. Martino, I was really hoping to keep the conversation to a minimum.”

  The thickness of her voice, the sheer longing woven through her tone was his final undoing. When she eventually broke the kiss and took him by the hand to lead him to the bedroom, he could do nothing but follow.

  * * *

  So this was what all the romantic books and movies had been referring to. Laney slowly opened her eyes as thin rays of morning sunlight filtered through the blinds of the large bay window across the bed. She felt languid, more relaxed than she’d felt in a long time.

  Images from the night before flooded her mind and she felt heat throughout her entire body.

  She was going to take the memory of last night and cherish it for the rest of her life. The way she’d been held last night, the way Gianni had loved her and held and whispered sweetly in her ear, the way he’d simply made her feel was an experience she would never forget.

  What did it matter that it was only a fling?

  She felt him rustle next to her just as a set of warm, gentle arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer up against him, her back to his chest. Hard to believe just how right it felt to be lying next to him in his arms.

  “Why are you awake? It’s got to be early still,” he asked softly against her ear before trailing a line of kisses along her cheek, down her jaw and to her neck.

  A small purr of pleasure escaped her lips. She could get used to this.

  Except she really couldn’t. This was just one weekend. A simple fling. After the wedding was over, they’d both go their separate ways. Gianni had given absolutely zero indication that he was after anything permanent. Look how disdainful he’d been last night when talk had turned to family.

  She squeezed her eyes shut. She had no business even thinking the word. For one, she had some serious thinking to do herself about exactly what she wanted for herself in the future. There was no way she was ready for any kind of other relationship so soon.

  Moot point. She was getting way ahead of herself.

  Funny, she’d never considered herself to be the type to indulge in a no-strings-attached fling, but she’d never encountered the likes of Gianni Martino before.

  “I was thinking about calling room service,” she answered his question once she could find her breath and her focus. His hands were doing very distracting things at the moment. “I for one could use a strong pot of coffee.”

  “Yeah? Didn’t get much sleep last night, did we?” he said with a rather naughty hitch to his voice. It had her giggling like a schoolgirl in response. His lips found hers again and she allowed her hands to roam over the toned muscles of his arms the way she had last night. She couldn’t seem to get enough of touching him.

  It was much later until they got around to ordering the coffee.

  To her delight, Gianni had thought to order a variety tray of pastries and spreads. Dressed in the terry robe again, she tucked her feet under her on the loveseat as she bit into a rich buttery croissant. A steaming cup of Boston dark roast sat on the coffee table beside her.

  The cushion shifted as Gianni plopped down next to her. He ate what remained of a cinnamon roll that had originally been the size of a small dinner plate.

  “So, how did I do yesterday? Does your family think I’m good enough for you?”

  “Wrong question.”

  “Again, huh? I seem to keep doing that.”

  She patted his knee. “You are still learning,” she announced in a wise sage voice.

  He gave a slight chuckle. “What’s the right question, then?”

  “Whether they think you’re good enough for them. And they’re still deciding by the way.” It pulled her up short when she realized how that must have sounded. “I’m sorry. I know that’s not really fair.”

  He took another bite of his breakfast treat. “No problem. I like a challenge.” He certainly had a healthy ego. Good thing too. He would need it to get through the rest of the ceremonies, which included an early lunch followed by the wedding vows and finally the reception.

  “To answer your question. You couldn’t have done any better, as far as I’m concerned.”

  “Yeah?” He polished off the rest of his pastry in one big bite. “You think so?”

  “I do. You were quite charming, a big hit with both ladies and gents alike. And toddlers. Lisbeth seemed taken by you as well by the end of the night.”

  He grinned at her. “Charming happens to be my middle name.”

  “Well, it fits.”

  So did he. He really had fit in yesterday with a group of people he’d only just met. She really had to thank her lucky stars. Central casting at a major movie studio couldn’t have picked a better candidate for whom she needed by her side this weekend.

  To think he’d just walked into her life at the perfect time.

  Just when she’d needed him.

  * * *

  What a mess he’d gotten himself into.

  Gianni tried to keep the mood light and amusing for Laney’s sake as they ate their breakfast. But inside he was full of conflict. It was tearing him up inside that he was keeping such a big truth from her.

  Now, as he listened to her humming while she showered, he cursed in frustration.

  He had come perilously close to the precipice of spilling the entire truth to her last night. But the way Laney had told him that she wanted to be with him, the way she’d asked him to stay with her had made it impossible to find any kind of feasible way to even bring up the subject.

  What was he supposed to say?

  The reason I was even in your club two weeks ago was because I work for the family business and we’d like to buy you out. Now, where were we?

  Not exactly pillow talk. And how could he possibly tell her now? He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he ruined her sister’s wedding for her. The only reason he was here was to make things easier for Laney with her loved ones. Nothing would change if he kept the truth from her a little longer.

  As for last night, he’d like to think that had been inevitable, meant to be. From the moment he’d laid eyes on her, something deep within him had known they’d become intimate. Nothing had been going to stop what happened between him and Laney last night. The moment they met, they were drawn to each other in a way that couldn’t be deterred.

  No. He would have to find a better time to tell her the truth once this weekend was over. Surely, he’d be able to make her see where he was coming from. Business was business. Personal was personal. As a business owner herself, she had to understand that their personal relationship had nothing to do with any offer he may present her with in the future.

  He realized now he’d missed the best opportunity he’d had to tell her. The night she’d come over for dinner, he should have come clean. He’d just been enjoying her company so much he’d actually almost forgotten the circumstances surrounding their first meeting.

  Well, there was no u
se dwelling on mistakes of the past. It wouldn’t do him any good now. Now he had to focus on the best way to make things right and exactly how to do it. Laney was a reasonable woman. She’d accept his apologies for misleading her.

  He could only hope he wasn’t being overly and naively optimistic.

  CHAPTER NINE

  THE WEDDING WAS a big hit. Couldn’t have gone better, in fact. A beautiful ceremony had commenced into a massive reception at the grand ballroom of the Boston Harbor Hotel. Aside from sitting down to the gourmet dinner of braised salmon with sautéed root vegetables and fluffy whipped potatoes drizzled with truffle oil, she and Gianni had spent most of the evening on the dance floor. Despite what he’d told her that night at the club, he was a more than competent dancer. Laney had long ago kicked off her heels and removed her bulky gold leaf earrings. A slight sheen of perspiration covered her forehead and the back of her neck.

  She was enjoying herself.

  Sure, she had plenty of opportunity to dance in her daily life. Owning a nightclub meant it was a large part of the job description, but those times were more of a responsibility, a performance to wrangle clients onto the dance floor if it was too empty for too long. Tonight was different. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d danced just for fun, for the sheer joy that moving her body to music brought to her soul.

  Now, Gianni twirled her around in a semicircle before dipping her dramatically when the music hit a crescendo as the song ended. She couldn’t help the girlish giggle that escaped her lips.

  The DJ chose that moment to announce he was taking what had to be a much-needed break. As the music came to a stop and the lights in the ballroom turned up brighter, she leaned into Gianni. “You know, you lied to me the night we met,” she teased.

  Something shifted behind his yes. “I did?”

  She gave an emphatic nod. “You told me you weren’t much of a dancer.”

  He blinked. “Oh, that.”

  What else did he think she might be referring to? Before she had a chance to ask, he gently took her by the elbow and led her off the dance floor back to their table. “I could use a drink. Can I get you more wine?” he asked.