“Like fuck,” Luca growled, stepping forward. “Meadow is carrying my baby and the only person she will be raising it with is me.”
Focusing back on me, Luca shocked me by dropping to his knees in front of me, his hands going to my belly.
“You look tired, baby,” he whispered, looking at me. Even on his knees, he was still tall enough to look me in the eyes, his height one of the many things I loved about him. I always felt protected with him around. The simplest touch, like his hands covering where our child lay inside me. This sent those all too familiar sparks shooting through my bloodstream. Awakening my desire like only Luca could.
“Of course she is tired, she doesn’t sleep. I have to cuddle her all night just to keep her from tossing and turning,” Jeff bragged, playing the part of my protector to the hilt. The lovers were painting a picture of a threesome situation, and while it was amusing, despite the severity of the moment, it was dangerous to poke Luca too hard. One thing Luca didn’t like was the idea of me with anyone other than him.
“Jeff please, enough,” I chided gently, “Luca thinks you are serious.”
“And he would have continued to if you had not let the cat out of the bag sunshine,” Michael chimed in, shaking his head at me.
“Oh Lord, save me,” I prayed, wishing that I’d gone to get ice cream instead of coming here to see Spring and help her with … she hadn’t actually told me why she asked for me to come to the shop, now that I thought about it. She babbled about stock and invoices, then shouted that she needed my help, and then hung up on me.
Hmmm, I smell a rat.
Michael and Jeff were on the same page, and that rarely happened; in fact, Michael hated it when Jeff lied, and he almost never instigated a confrontation. Especially with a man the size of Luca. A slight movement in the window of my shop caught my attention. Looking that way, I spied Spring and Ace, hiding behind the Venetian blind and the light bulb went off.
No wonder Jeff found his masculine side, taunting Luca with tales of sleeping in the same bed with me, cuddling and such. With Ace nearby, Jeff didn’t have to worry about Luca pounding him into the ground.
Suddenly, I felt bone tired. Tired of being played, tired of being alone … just tired.
“I think we should go to my appointment now,” I told Michael, moving back a step, so Luca’s hands dropped from my belly. I couldn’t think with him touching me and looking at me like I hung the moon.
“Baby, please.”
“No, Luca, not now. I can’t get into what happened with you now.”
“Then when Meadow? When the baby is born? Or should we wait until he or she finishes primary school?” His sarcasm was not lost on me, nor was it appreciated.
“How about when your mum says it is okay? When she gives you permission to be an adult and make your own decisions,” I countered angrily, instantly regretting my outburst when Luca gaped at me.
“Ha! Good one, sunflower,” Jeff crowed, poking his tongue out at Luca, showing the real Jeff.
Covering my face with my hands, I took three deep breathes. I did not want to be like Luca’s family, always throwing insults around, nasty tones and cruel taunts. That wasn’t Luca and me. He still thought there was a chance for us, and maybe there was, and maybe there wasn’t. But the fact remained we were having a baby together and life would be much sweeter if we weren’t at each other’s throats tossing out blame.
“Luca, if you want to come to my appointment, you are welcome to,” I offered, looking at the man I loved more than life.
“Michael, can we just leave now please, I have a headache all of a sudden.” Turning around, I headed back to the car.
“Meadow, let me drive you, I promise not to talk, just let me be the one to drive you.” Luca looked at me with pleading brown eyes.
Slowly I shook my head, putting a hand on the door handle.
“It’s the clinic on Eureka street, the new one.” Shaking off Jeff when he tried to open the door for me. “Don’t push it, buddy, I am not in the mood after your tall tale of our supposed love fest.” Yanking open the door, I plopped down into the soft leather, looking up when I heard the clatter of the Venetians moving.
“You, I will deal with later!” I shouted at my sister. “Be afraid, Spring, be very afraid!”
Closing the car door, I shut out Luca’s pleading as the tears I thought had all dried up flowed down my face.
I sat on the arsehole hand holder’s bumper to make sure he didn’t try something stupid like lose me on the way to the clinic. In the back of the car, I could see Meadow sitting straight and not moving, her blonde hair like a beacon. I resented every intersection when I had to look away from her to watch for traffic, taking my focus off my stunner.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw her get out of the back of the strange car. In the three weeks we have been apart, she’d lost weight too much weight. Her skin
