Page 81 of Bellini Born

Twin tears crested her lashes, and she burrowed her face in my chest once more.

It took some maneuvering, but I managed to stand while keeping Summer in my arms. Carrying her back into the hospital room, I gently eased her onto the bed positioned in the center.

That’s when it struck me that the patient occupying this room was an infant, and I frowned. “They didn’t have a crib?”

Summer’s eyelids fluttered shut—the emotional break in the hallway having drained her—so Enzo replied, “She said it looked like a cage and made them take it away. Told them she would hold Serafina all night if she had to.”

Adoration filled my chest for the woman who was quickly working her way into my heart. “Of course she did.”

My cousin chuckled. “The nurses weren’t overly pleased, but I’ll give the girl credit. She didn’t hesitate to point out that theBellini name is plastered all over this hospital, and if they ever wanted to see another dime, they’d do as she said.”

I raised an impressed eyebrow before peeking back at the sleeping beauty on the bed. Summer didn’t even know it, but her actions only solidified that she deserved the spot by my side. She hadn’t hesitated to advocate for my daughter, and her flash of fire in the hallway proved she had the strength to stand up for herself, to call me out on my bullshit.

The most successful men in positions of power had a partner they deemed their equal. That’s what made them such unstoppable forces.

There was no denying I’d just found mine.

Chapter 19

Summer

Therockingchairwasgoing to wear grooves in the carpet from the amount of use it had received over the past week since Serafina had been discharged from the hospital. The baby girl was on the mend, but she was still clingy.

If I was being honest, the constant snuggles were just as much for my benefit. Having my hand on her chest, so that I could feel its rhythmic rising, helped reassure me that she was actually breathing. It would be a long time before I recovered from the trauma of finding her turning blue in her crib.

Matteo had been surprisingly present. Electing to work from home, he’d even set up a little desk in his office for Bianca to complete schoolwork provided by her teachers. A preschool classroom was like a petri dish of communicable diseases, and we couldn’t take the risk with Serafina’s fragile health, so Bianca would be learning remotely for the time being.

While he was available to lend a helping hand with the girls, he never once questioned my need to keep Serafina in my arms,even going so far as to feed me from his plate during meals so I didn’t have to let her go.

Stuffy snores sounded from the infant tucked to my chest, but I kept us rocking, not ready to transfer her to her crib for the night.

Footsteps near the door had my head lifting, and my jaw dropped when I caught sight of Matteo. The impeccably tailored tuxedo, molded to his muscular frame, was a far cry from his standard attire of a T-shirt and joggers over the past couple of weeks.

“Are you going out?” I kept my voice quiet so as not to wake the sleeping baby.

He dipped his chin. “Unfortunately, it can’t be avoided. There’s an event that requires my presence.” After a brief pause, he said, “I’d like for you to accompany me.”

“Oh, I don’t know . . .” My gaze dipped to Serafina.

She didn’t know it, but she’d provided the perfect buffer between us, which was very much needed after the shit that had gone down with the tabloids and Matteo thinking that keeping his distance was the best course of action. It hurt that he chose to isolate me when it impacted both of us.

“We won’t stay long, but I at least have to put in an appearance.” He must’ve assumed my reluctance had more to do with not wanting to leave the baby.

One hand lifted to the greasy hair I had thrown up into the messiest of buns. “I haven’t showered in days.”

“We have time.” He batted down my weak excuse.

I gestured to his appearance. “And I’m not sure I have anything that can match the black-tie look you’re sporting.”

That devastatingly handsome man leaned one shoulder against the doorframe and shoved a hand into his pocket, the picture of casual grace. “You don’t have to worry about that. There’s a dress laid out on your bed.”

My eyes bulged. “There is?”

“Mm-hmm.” A corner of his lips twitched. “There’s something I want to show you.”

Heart rate kicking into high gear, I asked, “You do?”

Matteo stepped further into the room and flashed me with an uncharacteristically shy smile. “Please, Summer?”