Read The Surprise Conti Child for Free Online Page B

face of her declaration, said something else entirely, she realized with a little panic.
    He circled the room, moving a thing here and there and finally, leaned against the bed. “How are you here, today?”
    â€œI don’t understand.”
    â€œHow did you come to be here at the villa, tonight of all nights? Did you know—?”
    â€œAbout the party? Of course not. You think I wanted to make a spectacle of myself in front of your exalted family? Valentina must have decided tonight was best.”
    One haughty brow rose on his face. “For what?”
    â€œI hinted, pretty heavily, that I wanted to say hello to you and Luca. She assumed that I was eager to renew my friendship with Luca.”
    â€œAnd Luca?” The two words rang with his displeasure.
    Frustration made her voice sharp. “What about Luca?”
    Something flashed in his gaze, the first sign that maybe he wasn’t so composed. “How did you arrive on his arm?”
    Of all the things he had said and unsaid today, this annoyed her most. “He was kind enough to escort me to you when I insisted on seeing you.”
    â€œYou told me that night that you were protected.”
    The sudden shift in the conversation caught her off guard. “I was. I began the pill a few weeks before I left for Italy.”
    â€œIn preparation for your fling abroad?”
    His barb pricked her, but she’d rather he believe that he’d been the convenient choice. The one man she’d picked out of a lineup to have her supposed holiday fling with. “I was in over my head from the minute I saw you, yes.” Resentment she’d swallowed for years flared. “What’s your excuse then?”
    â€œYou think I blame you for that night.” The idea seemed to shock him.
    What else was she supposed to think , she wanted to throw back at him. Even now, he looked at her as if she was his worst nightmare. There was no point in scraping old wounds however. “Even the pill is not one-hundred-percent foolproof.” He remained silent again and it began to scrape Alex raw. “If you don’t believe me, then—”
    â€œSince I’m still feeling the consequences of that... very activity seven years ago, I believe I will refrain from it.”
    â€œThat’s not an invitation. This trip isn’t a ploy to renew that...madness. You probably find this hard to believe but not every woman wants a piece of your esteemed Conti pie.” She was so angry she wanted to thump the man.
    â€œReally?”
    He made it so easy to despise him with his insufferable attitude.
    To pretend that her skin hadn’t prickled, her heart hadn’t raced, that even the thought of Izzie had disappeared in that moment when she had spied him again in that lounge. To act as though, for seven years, she hadn’t relived every moment with him a thousand times.
    â€œYes. I have too much self-respect to be attracted to a man who thinks I’m a liar and worse. To want a man who dismissed me like garbage back in my life.”
    Faint lines appeared around his mouth before he looked away.
    Bloodthirsty enough after that scene in the lounge, Alex felt feral satisfaction that she’d landed another one.
    â€œWhy did you wait seven years to...make this claim?”
    â€œCalling it a claim will not make it less of a truth.” The taunt was instant and yet...she had a feeling it had taken him this long to work toward the subject of Isabella, to acknowledge the ticking bomb between them.
    He pushed off the bed and Alex needed all her will power to not step back. “Did you think I would have no questions for you at all?” She remained silent and he continued. “Why didn’t you let me know immediately?”
    â€œBy the time I realized I was...pregnant, I was almost ten weeks along.”
    â€œIs that why you kept...the baby?” He raised a hand to cut her off. “You were twenty. I...cannot