Page 102 of Modern Romance October 2025 5-8

What if Gio carried that same flaw? Would it be better for his child if hewasn’tin its life? Everything told him Stella would be a tigress when it came to protecting her baby. She wouldn’t need him.

But distancing himself meant leaving Stella free to be with someone else. A stranger would become his child’s father.

An inner voice howled in protest.

He wasn’t sure he trusted himself to be a father but he couldn’t relinquish that role to a stranger.

Tension tore at him as he levered himself out of the pool and grabbed his towel, drying his hair and body.

It wasn’t just a baby. There was Stella too.

His belly contracted at the thought of the woman resting upstairs. Even knowing who she was, he’d fallen for her charm. He’d convinced himself she was an innocent, until she’d run away, proving she had something to hide.

Yet instinct kept urging him to trust her. When he’d seen her so ill this morning, all thought of her machinations and her family had fled, replaced by concern and protectiveness.

A sound from the terrace made him turn. There she was, poised in the doorway as if conjured by his thoughts.

His heart gave a mighty thump. Her colour was better, courtesy of her rest or the red dress? She looked sexy and sophisticated.

He wanted her in his arms.

That made him pause.

As did the fact she carried his baby. For a moment he’d been too busy drinking in the sight of Stella to remember the child.

His gaze narrowed on the fit of her dress but from this angle he could see no baby bump.

Dropping the towel, he sauntered over, feeling a surge of satisfaction at the way her gaze clung to his body. She claimed to despise him but she was no more immune than he was to her.

‘Are you feeling better? Would you like lunch?’

‘A lot better, thank you,’ she said to his collarbone. ‘But I don’t need food, not yet.’ Her dark eyes suddenly snared his and fire filled his veins. ‘I need to clarify something.’

Was she going to make an admission of guilt? Crazily, he preferred the idea he’d got it wrong about her.

Because you’re enamoured with the sweet woman who ensnared you, despite everything you knew.

How he could hold two such opposing thoughts, he didn’t know. But the way she made him feel had been remarkable, right from the start.

‘Come and take a seat.’

He led her to the chairs clustered near the pool, with a view across the gardens and lake to the mountains beyond.

She sat and made a production of smoothing her dress.Wasthat a tiny bump below her waist? His pulse sped.

He looked up to catch her taking a survey of her own. Her gaze traced his bare torso, lingering in a way that stoked inner heat, then she looked away abruptly.

Gio wanted to haul her close. But this time he’d let his mind do the thinking, not his libido. Theyhadto talk. For the baby’s sake if not their own. ‘You were going to clarify something.’

‘I’ve thought over what you said.’ Her gaze caught his. ‘After I had a chance to process my outrage, I realised I need to explain some things.’

‘Go on.’

‘I still find it unbelievable you’d think me a spy. And I’dneversleep with someone to learn commercial secrets.’ Her eyes flashed pure scorn. ‘But I realise there were some seemingly suspicious circumstances.’

‘I’m listening.’

Stella smoothed her hands down her dress and Gio’s mouth dried as he imagined his palms stroking down her thighs. He swallowed and yanked his attention to her face.