Six Hot Summer Nights. Leslie Kelly
interrupted her thoughts. “You saw the paper.”
“You’re not carrying Bronson’s baby, Mia. Tell me you’re not.”
“I can’t do that.”
“You two have gotten close,” Anthony said. “Obviously closer than I thought you would. You didn’t …”
Mia came to her feet. “I didn’t tell him, Anthony. I told you I wouldn’t.”
His frustrated sigh resounded through the phone. “How did you get entangled with him at all? I warned you, Mia. You knew what a ladies’ man he was.”
She tried to block that from her mind, especially since she was falling in love with that “ladies’ man.”
“I can’t stop my feelings, Anthony. You of all people know that.”
He let out a bitter laugh. “I’m not talking about my rocky marriage. I’m worried that you’re getting in over your head here.”
Touched, Mia turned toward the beckoning, clear water of her pool. “I assure you, I’ve got everything under control.”
“So when are you due?”
“Valentine’s Day.”
“Really? That seems so far away.”
Mia glanced at her belly. “I have a feeling it’ll be here before we know it.”
“You sound happy.”
She couldn’t help the smile as she clutched her cell. “I really am. I’m not sure where we’re going, but I’m happy and for now that’s enough.”
“Just don’t sell yourself short.”
Mia pulled her sunglasses back down to block the bright rays. “When will you talk to Olivia?”
The pause of silence didn’t surprise her. She knew this was more than likely all he thought about. Well, that and how to keep his marriage intact.
“Anthony?” she urged. “You have to talk to her. I know this is your place to tell her, but I’ve gotten in deeper with this family. It’s way beyond employer/employee, and it’s putting a strain on me that I can’t afford.”
“I’d already decided to call her. Charlotte will be gone next week with some friends at our Tahoe home, so I’m going to call Olivia and set up a time to chat.”
“You tell me when and I’ll make sure her schedule is clear that day,” Mia assured him. “I know it will be hard, but I really think it’s for the best.”
“I know it is. I just don’t know what to say.”
Mia sighed, not envying his position—or Olivia’s, for that matter. “I’m sure once you tell her you know, she’ll do all the talking.”
Anthony talked for another few minutes while Mia listened. She knew he had no one else to talk to about this because he hadn’t even told his wife. He’d claimed he didn’t want to add any more of a strain on Charlotte and their marriage. She was already so sick of all the Hollywood hype. How would she react when he told her he was the biological son of Hollywood’s Grand Dane?
Once she hung up with Anthony, she felt a bit more confident now that he’d assured her he was going to confront Olivia. She prayed the outcome wouldn’t cause an explosion. She prayed even harder that Bronson would try to see a new side to Anthony and not hate her for keeping the secret.
Mia set her sunglasses and cell on the chaise and dove into the refreshing water. She loved relaxing by the pool and didn’t feel the least bit guilty for spending her day doing absolutely nothing. A girl deserved a little “me time” every now and then. And with all she had on her plate right now, she most certainly deserved it.
The cool water calmed her as she swam a few laps. The doctor had told her she should continue any forms of exercise she normally did and not worry about too many activities.
“Too bad I don’t have my trunks.”
Mia jerked to a stop in the pool, sending the water rippling around her. “Bronson. I thought you were at brunch.”
The tension practically radiated off his stiff shoulders, the muscle ticking in his jaw and the clenched fists in the pockets of his designer jeans.
“I was,” he told her. “But this looks like much more fun.”
Okay, so he didn’t want to discuss what was wrong. She could take the hint, but that didn’t mean she’d let it go for good or that his lack of openness didn’t hurt her feelings. She longed for the day when he could talk to her without feeling as if she was going to double-cross him.
“You don’t need a suit to get into my pool,” she told him, reaching behind her neck to undo the strings. “I’m game if you are, Mr. Dane.”
A wicked smile spread across his lips. “I never was one to give in to peer pressure.”
She flung her top, hitting him square in the chest with a sloppy, wet smack. “But you will now.”
“I always said I’m willing to try anything.”
And within seconds he joined her in the pool wearing only a tan and a smile.
Bronson drove home, top down on his sporty Mercedes, and reflected on the bits and pieces he’d overheard of Mia’s conversation with Anthony. Obviously, this was Anthony’s first inkling about the pregnancy.
A sharp pain had stuck in his chest when he’d come upon Mia’s patio and overheard her telling Anthony something about keeping her word and clearing a schedule—Bronson assumed that meant his mother’s schedule.
Did this have something to do with the film he and his mother were working on? Surely Mia and Anthony didn’t know about that.
So what else would Mia need to clear Olivia’s schedule for? And what the hell did Anthony have to discuss with his mother? Had she already told him about the film?
Something was going on, and Bronson had a sickening feeling that whatever it was, he wasn’t going to like it.
Now more than ever, he intended to keep Mia close. Every part of him wanted to believe her. In fact, he had started to, but how could he be so certain after overhearing that conversation?
He had to get her away from here. They needed some one-on-one time where he could tap into those honest feelings of hers and see just where they stood on the loyalty platform. He wanted to build from there, but he could go no further until he knew why she was having private conversations with his enemy.
But first he’d have to lay himself on the line and hope he didn’t get burned again.
Monday morning Mia knew something was up. Olivia, Bronson and Victoria all said they’d be unreachable for the next few hours. Well, Bronson told Mia she could call in an emergency, but other than that, the three were out of commission for the day.
What was going on? Had Anthony decided to talk to Olivia early and now they were all in a family meeting?
Mia didn’t know, and honestly, she didn’t want to know. She just wanted to do her work and try to remain stress-free so she could have the healthiest, happiest baby ever.
And just like every other time she thought of the baby, she began to daydream. As always she chose the best features of Bronson and her. Not just physical, but character traits, too.
She hoped the baby had her Italian skin tone and dark hair with Bronson’s blue eyes. She hoped their child had strength and determination from both of them. The classy, regal style of Olivia and the romantic and creative side of Victoria.
Mia’s desk phone rang, and she pulled herself from the fantasy and remembered