Page 47 of Expecting His Billion-Dollar Scandal

‘I love you.’ She smiled at Luca and reached up to kiss him very lightly on the mouth. ‘I feel I’ve spent my life sitting there by the sea, looking out at a horizon and imagining what might lie beyond it. I never, ever thought that I would find everything I could ever hope for and more.’

‘The mermaid who found her legs,’ Luca murmured, curving his hand against her cheek. ‘Mine for ever.’

His eyes slid past her and he smiled.

‘Your father is here,’ he said, ‘and I’m guessing that the buxom blonde clinging to him is none other than the woman he didn’t want around because he was too set in his ways?’

Cordelia stared and then burst out laughing because that was Doris, all right. Her case was bulging and Cordelia could only guess at what outfit might be inside. Doris had never been known for her modesty when it came to dress code.

‘I don’t believe it,’ she breathed as they headed down the stairs. She gave a little wave to her father and braced herself for the conversation that would soon be taking place, although, now, it was a conversation she wouldn’t be having with a heavy heart.

‘Didn’t I say?’ Luca murmured into her ear. ‘All’s well that ends well, wouldn’t you agree?’

Yes, she would.

There could be no better endings, in fact. She thought that as she looked down at the softly breathing baby in the basket next to the bed.

Three weeks ago, her contractions had kicked in, sending Luca into frenzied panic, even though he had been as cool as a cucumber as the time for the birth had drawn ever closer, wisely telling her when she should pack her bag for the hospital and assuring her that it was all probably going to be far calmer than she feared.

He had stayed with her for the duration of the ten-hour labour, had even helped to deliver their daughter and had only admitted afterwards that he had been close to passing out several times.

He was the most devoted father Cordelia could have hoped for. Now, she felt his arms around her as he shifted against her, levering himself up to gaze at their daughter, breathing softly in her basket, her tiny hands balled into fists. She had a mop of curly dark hair and was pale gold. She was the most wonderful thing they had ever seen and they never tired of admitting it.

Her father had flown over three days after Giulietta was born, along with Doris, and, after fussing over his granddaughter, he had shyly announced that he and Doris would be joining forces to expand the business.

‘When you sayjoining forces...’ Cordelia had encouraged and he had gone a deeper shade of scarlet.

‘Woman’s only gone and proposed,’ he’d said gruffly, while Doris had looked at him with such tenderness that Cordelia had wanted to rush over and give her a huge hug.

The solitary man who had spent a lifetime mourning the life that had passed him by was finally waking up and Cordelia couldn’t have been happier.

There would be another wedding in three months’ time and Luca was already making noises about having a proper honeymoon afterwards. Somewhere hot and sunny, with a private beach, where they could relive good times, specifically the good times that had brought their beautiful baby into the world.

‘She’s a miracle,’ Luca murmured, wrapping his arm around his wife and nestling closer to her. ‘In case I haven’t mentioned it, you girls are the two most important people in my life.’

‘I think you’ve mentioned it before.’ Cordelia smiled. She wriggled until she was facing him and their bodies were pressed against one another.

‘Have I mentioned, in that case, that I am already thinking that when it comes to family numbers, four seems a far more rounded number than three?’

Cordelia laughed, eyes gleaming. ‘Is that a fact?’

‘I never thought I’d hear myself say it, my dearest love, but loving you is the best thing that ever happened to me...’