Page 21 of Hidden Heir, Italian Wife

Jax had understood why his fiancée had chosen to stand by her brother. He would stand by his own family through nearly anything, but he wouldn’t stay silent and allow heinous behavior to happen.

He had had to make a deliberate choice about what kind of man he was: loyal, but willing to collude and hide the harm done to an innocent? Or someone who stood up for the injured, despite the cost to his relationships and social standing?

He’d chosen the latter, for better or worse. Paloma had broken their engagement, called him every vile name in the book, then her family had done their best to level his reputation. Jax had steered clear of serious relationships ever since.

Learning he was a father was not the same level of crisis. It was an adjustment, but he refused to call it bad news. It was big news. Life-changing. He was still straining under the weight of it, but his priorities were very clear. He knew exactly what kind of man he was. He had a sense of the kind of father he wanted to be—one like his own. Strong enough to be a firm foundation. A hand that guided with care, not heaviness.

Now that his shock was wearing off, he was starting to embrace the idea of fatherhood. He wanted to embrace hisdaughter.

The powder room door opened.

He turned to see Bree wearing a stiff, hostile expression. Her lipstick was fresh, but the rest of her makeup had been washed off. She avoided his gaze and picked up her blazer from the sofa, shaking it out, then draping it across her arm.

“I shouldn’t have said that,” he said. “I was angry, but that’s not why I kissed you. I wasn’t trying to prove anything.”

“Sure,” she said with distinct lack of interest. “But now I’m angry.” She glanced at him long enough he saw the redness in her eyes. “So I’m leaving.”

He’d made her cry. What an ass. “Don’t.”

She ignored him and walked to the door.

“Damn it, Bree, I felt exactly as threatened as you do right now so I said something mean. I won’t do it again.”

“Ithreatenyou?” She flung around to scoff. “I don’t want a single thing from you! Especially orgasms you deliver like an insult.” Her voice cracked and she looked away, blinking fast. “No. I lie. I do want one thing from you. Go to hell.” She reached for the door.

“There hasn’t been anyone else for me, either,” he bit out.

She spun back to face him. “Don’t you lie to me.”

“Where’s the incentive to lie about that?”

“I have no idea, but I don’t believe you.” Her expression was wounded. Persecuted.

The gulf of mistrust between them was as wide as the ocean that had separated them for the last four years.

“That happened because that’s how we react to each other.” He pointed at the sofa. “It would have happened even without this bombshell that has exploded both our lives. But I know she’s mine now, Bree. We can’t go back from that. So let’s reset and talk this out.”

She crossed her arms defensively, hugging the blazer that was still draped over her arm, staying where she was, mouth pouted with indecision.

Finally, she sighed and said in a tone that edged toward hopeless, “That’s why I wasn’t sure I should tell you.”

“You were afraid we’d have sex?”

“No. Yes,” she allowed with a harsh, humorless chuckle. “But I was afraid you would explode her life. When we met, I thought you were some bohemian expat running a hotel in Italy.”

“Flatterer.”

“Once I realized who you were…” She sighed.

A chill entered his chest.

“What?” he prompted, bracing himself for one of the ugly rumors Paloma’s family had circulated about him.

“There was a lot of press around Eve and Dom’s marriage. I don’t want Sofia subjected to that kind of attention. I’ve seen what happens to celebrity babies. People chasing them for photos. At the very least, there would be gossip at the office. She’sthree. It’s my job to protect her from things like that. From everything.”

“Ourjob,” he corrected.

“If you mean that, then tell me how you plan to shield her from those things.” She didn’t sound obstructive. It was an earnest question.

---