Chapter 33


I contemplated on Alessandro's words as I got ready for the day and headed downstairs to meet the others. Alessandro had sworn me to secrecy but I couldn't help but stare down Luca when we met up. We were headed out for a morning of wine tasting and sightseeing in the Tuscan hills. Olivia wouldn't be doing the actual wine tasting part, obviously, but see seemed a bit more chipper this morning and ready to get the day started. In fact, even her body language with Luca had improved. She didn't shy away from him when he touched her and even let him peck a kiss on the top of her head.

"How are you feeling, Olivia?" I asked.

Her smile actually reached her eyes this time and she gave her oversized belly a rub. "We're much better, thank you, Lizzie. Luca insisted that I get the all-clear from the doctor this morning, so I'm sorry we're starting the day a little late."

We all piled into a waiting limo where champagne and orange juice awaited. Rain drizzled over the Tuscan hills throughout the day but even that didn't seem to dampen the amazing scenery that graced us. The land was washed green and silver by grapevines and olive trees as far as the eye could see. Roads lazily snaked over and around hills and valleys, providing the framework for an endless patchwork landscape. We visited wineries and olive plantations, and ate in a tiny family run restaurant in the town of Vinci – the birthplace of Leonardo Da Vinci.

As we wandered through the olive groves nearby, Olivia caught up to me.

"The way Alessandro looks at you, even when you're not paying him any attention, he's really in love with you."

I couldn't help but smile, shooting a glance in his direction. At this point he was laughing at something Luca had just said. He'd been a perfect gentleman and lover all day, holding my hand as we walked, pulling me aside and sharing covert kisses and sexy whispers.

"He is," I said. We made eye contact and my smile widened. "And I him. He is my heart."

I turned back to Olivia to catch the hopeful look in her eyes before she smothered it over with the lift of her chin.

"I was taught that sort of thing was the stuff of fairy tales. That my whole purpose was to marry a rich man because of my pedigree, and produce for him an heir. Preferably a boy. But seeing you and Alessandro together..." she said. Was that moisture in her eye? "He married for love, Lizzie. I want that. I want to marry for love."

I cocked a curious head. "You're not in love with Luca?"

But Olivia could only give a gentle shrug of her dainty shoulders. "I don't know what this is, to be honest, Lizzie. I mean, only a few months ago our whole affair was a complete secret." She indicated to her baby belly. "None of this was supposed to happen."

The ping of her phone interrupted us and fishing it out of her clutch, I watched as the colour drained from her pretty face.

"Olivia?" I asked. She was shaking like a leaf.

She glanced back at me, soft brown eyes wide as two moons. "It is my ex, Lizzie. He..." She swallowed. "He wants to negotiate. Not with me though. Luca. He's asked him to a meeting in Florence. Tonight."


Alessandro decided to accompany Luca into Florence, part as moral support and part as a buffer just in case things headed south for his cousin. They left with the promise that they would be back in no more than a few hours. They offered to bring back food since Luca's housekeeper had Sunday afternoons off but I told them I would have dinner covered.

That left just me and Olivia alone in the big house. I carried a tray of tea and biscuits into the living area after having rummaged through the well-stocked kitchen. I actually felt a little giddy at the idea of cooking for everyone tonight. Being married to a man who preferred to employ his own chef to feed us, it was a rare treat that I had the opportunity to take the reins in the kitchen.

Olivia sat on the same couch as yesterday. She was gently rubbing her stomach and judging by the lost look in her eyes, was worried about the potential outcome of this meeting with Luca and her husband. She stopped and smiled when I handed her some tea. Then placing the tray down on the coffee table, I took up a seat across from her.

"Did you rest, this afternoon?" I asked. I hadn't seen her since we'd gotten home.

"A little." Olivia nodded. She shifted in her seat, a look of disquiet falling over her face. "But I think something I ate isn't going down well. The baby is having none of it."

I frowned. Was it me or did her stomach look super low this afternoon? "Is there anything else I can get you? Water?"

Olivia shook her head and signalled to her tea. "This is fine. I think I just need to sit a while. Will you keep me company?"

"Absolutely," I said.

Olivia smiled that gentle, serene smile of hers. She was so stunning. She would make an amazing wife and grounding force for Luca's vibrant personality.

"I can see why Luca loves you," I said. "You are just so wonderful."

Then her smile vanished in an instant and I wanted to eat my words. She seemed to just sort of retreat back into herself. Oh god, had I read the situation wrong? What if Luca hadn't borne his soul to her just yet? She looked pained and I realised that, my business or not, she was a woman staying in a foreign country with no one else to truly confide in.

"You don't want to marry Luca?" I asked and she looked shocked for a moment before her gaze fell. I licked my lips. "You don't have to say anything. I just... I'm here if you need to talk."

Silence reigned and I considered changing the topic but then she spoke so softly that I almost missed it. "I'm scared."

I shifted in my seat. "Scared? Of marrying Luca?"

She nodded and when she looked back at me, there were tears in her eyes. She looked so vulnerable. So hurt. "It's all my fault, Lizzie." She swallowed and I reached for her hand.

"I fell for Luca the moment we met but, but I knew we could never be together. While Linus and I had been separated for some time by then we were still legally married and I knew how much he wanted to keep it that way. We lived in separate houses and barely spoke. I was so alone, Lizzie. And Luca…" A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "He was so charming and attentive. I would've given him anything he asked for back then. It was only supposed to be a shot affair. One weekend of endless romance and lovemaking."

"But you ended up with more than you bargained for," I said and Olivia nodded.

"I know the sort of person Luca is, Lizzie. He's a romantic. A charmer. Who am I to lock him into marriage? Into an arrangement that he might ultimately resent. Luca is only twenty six. People are already accusing me of making a play for his money. I'm sure you've read the newspapers. Linus may be junior royalty but he's also as bankrupt as they come."

"Oh Olivia," I said. "Ignore the papers of what others say. Is this something that you want?"

Olivia sniffled and hiccupped. Getting up, I located a box of tissues on a shelf under the coffee table and handed it to her.

"I don't think I have a choice in the matter," she said. "Luca may be a playboy but he's also adamant in his traditional values that he must be married to the woman who has his children. He would fight me for custody of the baby and given the power of the Zingaro family empire, he would probably win." Then she jolted, her whole body going rigid.

"Olivia?" Her hand went to her belly and I practically burst from my seat again. "Olivia? Oh god, what's wrong?"

"Oh..." was all she said. Her hand moved about her belly, her eyes were glazed over and focusing on nothing in particular and everything at the same time. "I... I think…" She glanced down at her lap and I realised she didn't need to finish her sentence. Her waters had just broken.