Page 70 of An Italian Wedding Adventure

‘Sophie,’ he began, sounding pained even to his own ears, ‘I would never do that to you.’

‘Look, I couldn’t have blamed you, if you two were… We broke up – again – three months ago. We were never back together.’

‘That’s not what you told Rory,’ he said before he’d thought it through.

Her eyes flashed. ‘Because you were right and it’s none of his business!’ Her chest rose and fell erratically. ‘I said I wanted a clean break and you are within your rights to sleep with anyone you want.’

‘I still wouldn’t do that, right in front of your eyes.’

‘Oh, come on, Andreas! You’re not going to be a monk for the rest of your life. One of these days, you’ll get together with someone and if we’re still occasionally working together, then it’ll be in front of my eyes. It wasn’t that much of a stretch to think it might be happening now.’

‘Except there’s no way it would be happening now!’ Something hot and uncomfortable bubbled in his chest. ‘I’m not overyouyet!’

If she’d been holding her mug of tea at that moment, he’d bet she would have spilled it.

He groaned and ran a hand over his eyes.

‘Please don’t, Andreas.’ She sounded hurt, but he had no idea how to undo what he’d said when it had been the truth. ‘Not now.’

‘Please don’t what? Think about when we were here together back in spring? It’s kind of hard when you show up.’ He collapsed into the chair opposite her. ‘But I am trying.’

She sipped her tea, clutching the mug like a defensive weapon. It pricked him that she looked vulnerable in her bedraggled state, her eyes glazed with stress that he was adding to. He wanted to ask her about Rory, what her ex-husband had meant by blaming their break-up on Andreas – to work out why that made such a difference to his own feelings – but now was obviously not the time.

‘I assume you didn’t come here to discuss our break-ups.’

‘No, definitely not.’ She paused for barely a breath. ‘Lily has just found out she’s pregnant.’

Oh. Was this why Sophie looked brittle? Staring at her hand, limp on the table, he knew he couldn’t hold it, but damn, he wanted to.

‘Are you okay?’ he asked quietly.

Her gaze snapped to his. ‘This isn’t the first time I’ve had a pregnant bride. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say anything to her.’

‘Of course not.’ He also heard what she hadn’t said:I’d appreciate it if you didn’t remind me that I told you.

‘But itisthe first time I’m supposed to take one up a mountain! I don’t even know if it’s allowed – if we’re insured. Do we have to change plans entirely now? That’s what I need you for.’

He nodded slowly. ‘I see. How many weeks is she?’

‘Only five. She doesn’t want any of the guests to know.’

‘Okay, I’ll have to talk to her and Roman. There’s nothing stopping us from going ahead as planned. Pregnancy isn’t considered a medical condition and at five weeks, she wouldn’t need any special equipment, but obviously a fall right now could have consequences – not that there’s much likelihood that she’ll fall.’

‘It’s an unnecessary risk,’ Sophie said quietly. Her gaze lifted to his, full of past conversations.

‘All of this has been an unnecessary risk – controlled, but unnecessary. Do you think they’ll want to go ahead?’

‘I’m not sure, but Lily was disappointed with the timing.’

‘Were you? When it happened to you?’ The question was out before he could stop it.

‘This isn’t about me.’

An ache started up inside him. He shouldn’t push it – pushher– but he did anyway. ‘No, but it might help me understand Lily.’It might help me understandyou.

Her brow furrowed but she didn’t immediately shut him down. ‘I certainly wasn’t ready, when it happened. Do you know people who climb while pregnant?’

‘I don’t know anyone who would stop, but…’

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