Page 38 of Tempting Kat (Lust & Luxury #2)
CONRAD
I watch my pregnant goddess waddle through the backyard, one hand supporting her lower back, the other cradling her swollen belly. Six fucking months of watching Katarina grow with my child, and I still get hard every time I see her.
“Stop staring at my ass, Conrad,” she calls over her shoulder, not even bothering to turn around.
“Not gonna happen,” I call back, taking a swig of my bourbon. “That ass belongs to me. So does the rest of you.”
She flips me off without looking, and I laugh. Even six months pregnant, she's still bratty as hell.
I scan the backyard, taking in the bizarre collection of people gathered for this baby shower Francesca insisted on throwing. Said we “needed” it. Bullshit. I could buy everything our kid could ever need ten times over. But my girl wanted to make her sister happy, so here we are.
Francesca stands near the ridiculous balloon arch, arranging gift bags with military precision. Her boyfriend Alexander hovers nearby.
Vivian's chatting with Santiago and his wife near the bar I had set up. Smart woman, heading straight for the alcohol. Matteo is flirting with the bartender.
And then there's my daughter, Contessa, standing awkwardly by the pool, nursing a glass of champagne. She's still getting used to the idea of having a sibling at twenty-four. Can't say I blame her. This wasn't exactly planned.
Well, not by Katarina anyway.
Turns out I didn't even need the pill swap. When we went for the first ultrasound, the doctor said she was already two weeks along when I thought I was being so fucking clever.
Poetic justice, I suppose. The universe has a sick sense of humor.
My eyes drift back to her, watching as she greets people I've never seen before in my life. Friends of hers, I assume. If they matter to her, they matter to me. Even if I'd rather have her all to myself.
“You look like you're plotting someone's murder,” Tessa says, appearing at my side with a fresh glass of bourbon.
I accept it with a nod of thanks. “Just thinking.”
“About?” She raises an eyebrow, looking so much like her mother it makes my chest ache.
“How fucking strange this all is,” I admit, gesturing to the backyard filled with people. “A year ago, I was alone in this house. Now I've got a pregnant girlfriend and a fucking baby shower in my backyard.”
“You going to join your own party, or just stand there looking homicidal?” Matteo appears on the other side of me, holding a glass of something amber.
“I'm contemplating murder. Give me a minute.”
He laughs, the fucker. “Your woman looks happy. Focus on that.”
I notice Matteo's eyes lingering a little too long on Katarina. Then his gaze shifts to Francesca, who's laughing at something Alexander just said.
“Stop noticing how happy she is,” I growl, my voice low enough that only he can hear. “And keep your eyes off Gallo women, old friend. Your dick will get you killed one of these days.”
Matteo laughs, but there's something off about it. A slight tension in his shoulders I haven't seen before. Interesting.
“Just appreciating the view,” he says with a shrug. “You're a lucky man, Conrad.”
I'm about to tell him exactly where he can shove his admiration when I feel a prickle at the back of my neck. The hair-raising sensation I always get when Katarina's eyes are on me.
I turn and there she is, looking straight at me across the yard. One eyebrow quirked in a way that means she needs me. Wants me. Her hand strokes over her belly in a slow, deliberate caress that makes my cock twitch.
“Excuse me,” I mutter, setting my glass down on a nearby table and kissing Tessa on the cheek.
I stalk across the lawn, my eyes never leaving Katarina's.
“Everything okay?” I ask when I reach her, my hand automatically going to her belly. Our daughter kicks against my palm immediately, like she knows it's me. Fuck if that doesn't make my chest tighten every time.
“Your daughter is using my bladder as a trampoline,” Kat complains, but there's no heat behind it. “And these fucking Braxton Hicks contractions are driving me insane.”
I slide my hand around to her lower back, pressing my thumb into the spot I know aches the most. She practically purrs, leaning into my touch.
“Want me to take you inside? Get you off your feet for a bit?” I offer, already scanning the quickest route to the house.
“No, I'm fine. Just needed to see your scowling face,” she teases, reaching up to smooth the furrow between my brows with her thumb.
I'm about to ask her if she wants me to get her something to eat when her eyes shift over my shoulder, narrowing slightly.
“Don't wanna add to your stress, but the eyes Matteo is giving Tessa right now are not friendly,” she says quietly, her hand squeezing my forearm. “He looks like he wants to consume her.”
My entire body goes rigid. I start to turn, but Kat's grip tightens on my arm.
“And so help me god, Conrad, if you cause a scene right now, I'm gonna go stay with Frankie and Alexander for a while,” she hisses. “Do not do whatever it is you're itching to do.”
I grind my teeth so hard I'm surprised they don't crack. “He's looking at my daughter like she's a fucking meal,” I growl under my breath.
“I know. But this is our baby shower. Our daughter's day,” she reminds me, her hand moving to cradle her belly protectively. “Handle it later. Like a civilized human being.”
I force myself to take a deep breath, every muscle in my body screaming to turn around and rip Matteo's eyes out of their sockets. “Going to have to kill my best friend for looking at my daughter,” I mutter darkly. “Then I'll have to deal with the fucking Del Mar family if I kill him.”
Kat's lips twitch despite her stern expression. “You're not killing anyone at my baby shower. Think of the cake. Blood is so hard to get out of fondant.”
Despite my rage, I find myself huffing out a laugh. “Fine. But he's fucking dead later.”
“Later,” she agrees, patting my chest. “Now get me some of those little cucumber sandwiches. Your daughter is starving.”
I press a kiss to her forehead, allowing my hand to linger on her belly for a moment longer. “Anything for my girls. All of my girls.”