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There was no longer just the feeling that I needed her near me. There was more. And that had not come about because we had slept together, and she spent every day with me in this house. No. That had come out of what we had been through. The things we had been endured shaped our relationship. The relationship we somehow had, although no one was forcing us to do be in one anymore.
Quietly, I let myself slide into the water and approached Amedea until I got hold of the air mattress and simply pulled it out from under her. She splashed into the water, only to surface two seconds later, gasping in surprise.
Her angry look hit me.
"You…!"
Water splashed my face.
Shaking my head, I grabbed her to pull her to me with a jerk. Her cool skin met my heated one. Water beaded off us. "Be careful what you say next, young lady," I murmured with a grin.
"Sei fortunato che mi piaci."
Epilogue
Amedea
Looking for help, I glanced at Emilio and then at Vincenzo, who were standing some distance away at the already set table, engaged in quiet conversation. I, meanwhile, was trapped on my sun lounger by the pool, Carlotta right next to me.
"Can someone please put me out of my misery?" I cried, an agonized undertone in my voice. "I can't take this anymore! You'd think she was having a damn baby and not me!"
Carlotta looked at me indignantly but then continued her lecture undeterred. "You should really use something with a high sun protection factor. Not that you'll get sunburn on your belly, and…"
Heavens, since the others had learned of the – admittedly unplanned – pregnancy, there were a lot of mothers among them. It was all the more reassuring that Enzo hadn't changed a bit.
No difference in the rough, sometimes brusque treatment he gave me, and certainly not when it came to the more horizontal activities.
Nevertheless, there were caring moments, but he caught me unprepared with those. For example, he ran me a warm bath or massaged my feet in the evening because I had problems with my joints from practically the first minute of pregnancy.
"Then we know who's tending the little ones," Emilio announced with a broad grin.
I knew what the result would be if the child grew up in this family. There were at least four men who would teach the child to handle weapons as early as possible. While Vincenzo would probably make sure the child was well versed in all the machinations within the mafia. Carlotta would introduce the child to the advantages of a life of luxury and money, and well, the list could be continued indefinitely; after all, the delivery was also a good three months away.
At least, that was the scenario in theory because, so far, everyone firmly believed that Vincenzo's first child would be a boy. I had not disabused them of the illusion because it amused me to watch them arguing over names or discuss which features of the de Archard family it would bear.
I wouldn't have been surprised if Fiero already had a stroller in the garage for the kid.
"Have you decided on a name, or should we give you more suggestions?" Natale asked, leaning on the back of my lounger. Of course, he had to join the clucky faction.
Again I looked silently pleadingly in Vincenzo's direction. If he didn't free me immediately, I would ensure he slept outside tonight! At least I had the soft bed for me alone and would not spoil his sleep with my continuing hot flashes.
"Maybe I'll call it pain in the ass after his godfather," I growled, giving him a sharp look.
The only reason I hadn't gotten up and run for the hills yet was my damn back, combined with my aching feet, which made it a real struggle to get myself into an upright position.
"You look like you're about to kill someone," said Dario, who had unexpectedly appeared at my side. He reached out his hand to me, and I gratefully grabbed it so he could pull me to my feet. "I would love to put my knife at your disposal. Pregnant woman hosting family massacresounds so damn tempting." He grinned wryly, making me laugh.
"Please tell me you're not joining all the over-the-top hoopla, too."
"I wasn't going to. Gia ordered me weeks ago never to tell anyone if she ever got pregnant."
"Wise decision from a wise woman," I replied.
I breathed a sigh of relief when I had successfully moved away from Carlotta and Natale and was close to Enzo. Dario was already retreating, which left me alone with the other two brothers.
"You're really making an extreme point of sleeping out here alone today," I muttered, my eyes on the food in front of us. I reached for a fork because I needed a piece right now. With a raised eyebrow, I watched Enzo out of the corner of my eye. "This borders on treason, leaving me in the midst of these… these people with rose-colored glasses."
He laughed. "They only mean well."
