A Deal To Carry The Italian's Heir. Tara Pammi

don’t think you do. I don’t trust you with this, Leo.”

      He sat back slowly, trying to digest the shock those words caused. Disturbing him on more levels than he liked to admit to himself. “Then none of this will work.”

      “You don’t take this retirement thing seriously. You think this is some sort of temporary insanity phase. How can I believe that you’ll put my well-being before your need to crush Mario or your need to stop this... Cavalli guy?”

      True, he had mostly discounted her claims about wanting to walk away from an empire that had been built over two decades. He’d thought it was her need-to-be-in-control nature that was making plans for the future that weren’t quite necessary. But Leo had always been willing to admit to his faults. “Yes, I did think that. But I would never do anything to harm you. Especially now, when our future will be tied together forever, when I’m agreeing to have a child with you.

      “All I want to do is put the pressure back on Mario, get him to spill about Vincenzo before he does irreparable damage to my family.

      “The fact that you and I will have a child together is going to make Mario nuts.”

      “Do you want to risk infuriating him with the decision to retire on top of that right now?”

      “He’s not going to like it,” she said softly, running her hands over her neck. “Mario’s going to be apoplectic at our...new relationship.”

      Leo took her hand in his and squeezed, willing her to trust him. All he wanted to do was kiss that tension off her mouth, to hold her until he could feel those lush curves against his, until he could calm her down like she had done him so long ago. But...if he did that, it wouldn’t stop there.

      He would seduce her, and he knew without being arrogant that she would reciprocate.

      And then what? What would happen when he lost interest and moved on? When hers was the face he’d have to disappoint?

      Neha pulled her hand back slowly. He didn’t miss that she rubbed that palm against her hip. Or that she remained wary of the distance between them. “Okay. I agree to your plan.”

      “Good,” he said. He could always count on her to be logical and rational. “What’s next for your plan, then?”

      “You have to have blood work done. Mine’s done. I’ll have a couple of appointments with the IVF specialist first and then we can decide the logistics of when and where...”

      Embarrassment dusted her brown cheeks a slight pink, but Leo refused to break eye contact. There was something incredibly satisfying to his male pride to see her blush like that. To see that composure of hers falter at such an intimate subject at least.

      “When and where I make my contribution. Does that work?”

      He smiled when she nodded.

      “I don’t know much about it, but you have to take hormone injections, sì?”

      “Yes. It’s a...little bit invasive and painful but I want to do this.”

      “I’ve never doubted your resolve, cara. You will call me if it gets too much or if you need a supporting presence there.”

      “Will I?” she said, a naughty smile dawning in her eyes, unfurling a beauty that made his body hum with desire, ache for contact. “Don’t get all arrogant and commanding on me, Brunetti.”

      “Don’t forget this is a partnership, Fernandez,” he replied in the way they used to tease each other a long time ago. Dio, the woman had always been so strong. And it was the strength that attracted him, that will to keep going on in the face of adversity. “Everything will be all right, Neha. I’m glad you came to me.”

      “I hope so. I...”

      Eyes wide, breath hitching loud enough for him to hear, she came at him. And hugged him. Hard. The press of her body against his was a pleasure of mere seconds, gone before he could revel in it. The scent and warmth of her fleeting heaven. Her hands on his shoulders, she kissed his cheek, and a shiver of anticipation built inside him. Anticipation that would never deepen into more. “I don’t know how to thank you,” she said, pulling back. “I promise you, Leo. You’ll never regret it.”

      Leo pulled her arms from around his neck and took a step back. Putting distance between her and him. Giving his discipline a fighting chance.

      Every muscle in his body flooded with the awareness that here was a woman who was his match in every way. A woman who’d never ask him for more than he could give, a woman who would be the absolute best mother to any child they had, a woman that would always make him laugh and want.

      Awkwardness flashed in her eyes before she fiddled with her clutch again.

      As he watched her walk out of his bedroom, Leo stayed leaning against the bed. He turned his neck around, tension clinging to his frame.

      Cristo, now even his bedroom smelled of her.

      The rest of the day, he wondered if he would come to regret his decision. Because he had tied himself irrevocably to the woman he desperately wanted and could not have.