Page 20 of Thin Lines (Donati Bloodlines 2)

“Why not?”

“She had no man to raise her son, and I was the onlyone who could give Calisto what he needed. She didn’t want me around him, shedidn’t want him in the family business, but she wanted him to have a man in hislife. None of her family was around after Richard died because she was uselessto them without him. She had to depend on someone for her son—that happened tobe me.”

“Like a double-edged sword?” Emma asked.

“Sort of. You ask too many questions.”

That was Emma’s cue to shut her mouth. Turning in thebed, she pulled the duvet high enough to cover her shoulders, and hoped it wasenough to let Affonso know she wasn’t in the mood to spread her legs and actlike she gave a damn that evening.

“You have that doctor’s appointment tomorrow forbloodwork, don’t you?” Affonso asked.

“Sì.”

“Maybe I’ll come along.”

“Sure.”

Emma felt Affonso’s hand pat her hip a second beforethe lamp was turned off. Affonso shifted around in the bed until he found acomfortable spot.

Then, in the dark, Affonso said, “Should Calistohappen to come around more often because he feels like he needs to keep an eyeon you now, I’m going to let him.”

Oh, God.

Emma chewed on her lower lip, not quite knowing whereto begin. Affonso had no idea what he was letting in by doing that. Her ownhusband could very well lead her right back into the temptation she had triedto stay away from once, and failed miserably.

“Is that so?” Emma asked.

“Yes. And if I know Calisto like I think I do, he’llfeel like he owes the child something. He’ll want to be around to make sureeverything is fine, even if the baby isn’t born just yet. You’re to encourageit, Emma. I prefer Calisto close, as I told you already.”

Fucking hell.

“You want me to manipulate him. Is that what you’reasking me?”

“I never used that word,” Affonso murmured.

“You didn’t have to.”

He reached back and patted her ass lightly. Emma grither teeth, said nothing, and waited until his hand was away from her backside.

“Do with it what you will, but I want him close. Ifthat means you use the pregnancy as a way to keep him coming around more oftento check up on the baby and things around here, then so be it.”

“Fine,” Emma managed to say.

“Dio, Emma. Don’t sound so sullen. It isn’t youCalisto will care about, it’s the child. My child. He can’t help it,he’s obsessed with caring for his family. He thinks where I fail, he has topick up the slack.”

Except with you, Emma held backfrom adding.

“Why do you think I let him handle my daughters? Theydon’t need me, they have him.”

Emma didn’t correct Affonso, but he was wrong on adozen different levels. Affonso’s teenaged daughters would forever resent theirfather for being a distant figure in their lives, buying their love withmeaningless possessions and pretty things. Emma and her own father were theperfect example of how that kind of relationship would turn out. She hated herfather.

It didn’t matter.

Affonso’s games weren’t important for now.

“If Calisto even comes around, you mean.”

“He will,” Affonso said, strong and sure. “I know theman. He will.”