Love Islands: Swept Away. Natalie Anderson
‘Yes, us. You and me. We’re virtual strangers. What makes you think we’d last a day under the same roof?’
He shrugged. ‘I’m inclined to think if we both know what’s at stake, we can make it work.’
And what was at stake was her son’s welfare. This was all for Lucca. She was merely the extra passenger along for the ride. The current situation had only made the claiming more urgent. The kiss that had happened was just residual hormones from their last time. Nothing more.
Lucca was the reason Romeo was here in the first place. She didn’t think for a second that saying no would send Romeo packing. Regardless of the Mafia code or a marriage of convenience, the man in front of her would claim his son. She knew it with a bone-deep certainty.
‘Maisie.’ Another hard command. She was beginning to recognise how he’d risen to his powerful status so quickly. He packed more imperious presence in his little finger than most men packed in their whole bodies.
‘I don’t know what to say...’
He waited.
‘Before I agree, I need your assurance that you’ll resolve this as quickly as possible.’
His nostrils flared, but he nodded. ‘Sì.’
‘That you’ll tell me if anything changes where protecting Lucca is concerned.’
‘You have my word.’
She sucked in a breath, but the enormity of what she was contemplating weighed on her with crushing force. ‘Okay...then I’ll marry you.’
A golden light flared in his eyes, and he nodded once. ‘I’ll take care of the details. You don’t need to worry about anything.’
With that, he strode to where he’d draped his coat over the sofa and shrugged into it. Surprise scythed through her.
‘You’re leaving?’
‘I have a few phone calls to make. I’ll be back in the morning.’
Maisie was still reeling from his words and from what she’d committed herself to hours later when she realised that sleep would remain elusive.
She was still awake at 6:00 a.m. when firm knuckles hammered on her door.
* * *
‘Is there a particular reason you feel inclined to break down my door at the crack of dawn?’
Romeo raised an eyebrow at the scowl that greeted him from beneath the cloud of auburn hair.
‘I would’ve called, but I didn’t want the phone to wake Lucca.’ He also hadn’t wanted to give her a chance to back out of what he’d convinced her to agree to yesterday.
Nothing would get in the way of him claiming his son. Attempting to give the child who was a part of himself the one thing that was denied him—a chance to choose his own path, free from the stain of illegitimacy.
Romeo might not know or even believe in love. But he could grant Gianlucca the acceptance and security that was never given him.
And Maisie O’Connell wouldn’t stand in his way.
But she could, and continued to, glare at him. ‘I suppose I should thank you for that consideration.’
‘You’re not a morning person, I see.’
‘Great observation.’ She eyed the coffee and croissants in his hand before slicing him with those bright blue eyes again. ‘Is one of those for me?’ she asked in a gruff, sleep-husky voice.
It was then he noticed the shadows under her eyes. Perhaps he should’ve waited a little while longer before arriving. But he’d grown tired of pacing his hotel suite. And he hadn’t been certain that her yes had been from a place of belief that they were doing the right thing. The more he’d paced, the more he’d been sure she would change her mind given any more thinking room.
Romeo intended to give her none.
It had become clear very early on that her devotion to Lucca was absolute. It had been the only thing that had made him leave last night.
That and the need to push his investigators harder to find something concrete he could use against Lorenzo.
‘Is that a no?’
He focused to see Maisie sliding a hairband from her wrist. She caught it in her teeth, then gathered her heavy silky hair into a bunch at the back of her head. The action drew up her nightshirt, showing off her shapely thighs and legs. Heat trickled through him as his gaze trailed up to linger on her heavy, pert breasts, thrown into relief by the act of securing her hair.
She seemed to notice the thick layer of awareness that had fired up, and her eyes darkened a touch.
Reining in his libido and burying the recollection of how those breasts had felt in his hands last night, he held out the coffee. There would be no repeat of last night’s lust-fuelled encounter. Romeo had no intention of letting sex clutter up his plans.
He of all people knew one moment of madness could destroy a life. It was the reason he existed. It was the reason his mother had spent years blaming him for destroying her life.
It’s the reason your son’s here.
He accepted that sound analysis, just as he’d accepted that now he knew of Lucca’s existence, he would safeguard his upbringing with everything he possessed. He’d witnessed too many people fall through the cracks to leave his son’s fate to miracles and chance.
His own existence had been proof that miracles didn’t exist.
‘Thank you,’ Maisie murmured huskily, taking the proffered beverage before stepping back to let him in. He handed her the pastry and followed her into the kitchen. She placed the croissants on a plate but didn’t make a move to touch them. ‘It’s a little too early for me.’
Again he experienced a tiny bout of guilt, then told himself there would be plenty of time for her to rest once he got them away from here.
Her gaze flicked to him, then darted away. But in that look Romeo caught the hesitation he’d been dreading. He gritted his teeth.
He didn’t want to resort to plan B, but he would if necessary. ‘Second thoughts are natural. As long as you keep your eye on the big picture.’
She bit her lip. ‘I can’t believe this is happening.’
‘It’s happening, gattina. We’ll tell Lucca when he wakes up. Is there anyone else you wish to inform? Your parents?’ He vaguely recalled her mentioning them in the intermittent burst of chatter that had preceded him inviting her to his suite that night in Palermo.
Her expression shuttered and she took a large gulp of coffee. ‘My parents are no longer in the picture.’ A bleak note of hurt threaded her voice. ‘And even if they were, this wouldn’t be the ideal scenario to present to them, would it? Their only child marrying the father of her child because the Mafia were issuing threats?’ Her mouth twisted in mocking bitterness.
His eyes narrowed at the odd note in her voice. ‘They wouldn’t want you to do what is necessary to safeguard their grandson?’
Her gaze remained lowered and she crossed her arms around her middle in a gesture of self-preservation. ‘I wouldn’t know. Besides the odd birthday and Christmas card, I haven’t spoken to them in four years.’
Four years. The same length of time as his son had been alive. Certain there was more to the story, he opened his mouth to ask. But her head snapped up and she flashed him a pursed-lip smile.
‘How much time do I have to get my things in order? I’ll need a few days at least to talk to... You’re shaking your head. Why?’ she enquired curtly.
‘We’re leaving this morning.’
‘That’s