Page 194 of Modern Romance June 2025 5-8

Addie bit her lip and looked back at little Katerina. She knew from listening to Isabella and Marcus describe what a wrangle nappy changing could be that it would be a challenge. Katerina did not like staying still for the time it took to remove her nappy and get a new one on. Things got a whole lot more complicated when it wasn’t just a wet nappy. How could an elderly woman like Lucia manage it? She could barely keep up with Katerina as it was.

‘I don’t think Lucia can manage,’ she said. ‘Katerina hates having her nappy changed. We’ll have to do it.’

‘We?’

‘We’re in this together, right?’

He rubbed a hand down his face. ‘I don’t recall nappy changing as being part of our commitment as godparents.’

‘No, but we are currently in loco parentis, so…’ Painting a brave smile on her face, she hoped she could get through this episode without disgracing herself. Thank God, she hadn’t yet had breakfast. ‘Let’s get on with it.’

Vic released a sigh and walked over and scooped up Katerina off the floor, his nose wrinkling as hers had just moments ago. Katerina giggled and patted his cleanly shaven cheek with a dimpled hand. He captured her tiny hand in his large one and Addie just about melted on the spot. He frowned at her over the top of Katerina’s head of dark curls. ‘I can’t believe I agreed to this,’ he growled.

‘Nor can I.’ She smothered a laugh and followed him out of the room.

CHAPTER FIVE

Once they haddealt with Katerina’s nappy, Addie left Katerina with Vic while she had a shower and got changed. As much as she loved having a cosy pyjama day at home, there was no way she was going to spend any more time wandering around in her piglet PJs and duckling slippers in front of Vic Jacobetti. Sheesh. Talk about embarrassing.

She found Vic and Katerina out in one of the garden sections closest to the villa. The lush green lawn was framed on three sides by a waist-high hedge, providing a safe and relatively enclosed space for Katerina to run around in the bright sunshine. A trickling fountain nearby and the chorus of the birds in the shrubbery and the delighted squeals of the toddler filled the summer air and made her wonder why Vic was so intent on turning the villa into a hotel when it was such a wonderful place for a family. Large, of course, but what kid didn’t want plenty of space to run around and explore?

Vic must have sensed her presence as he turned from watching Katerina and the moment his eyes met hers, she tingled from head to foot. ‘Feel better?’ he asked.

‘Much.’

His gaze lightly scanned her casual attire—beige linen trousers and a white linen shirt and she wondered if he was comparing her to all the sophisticated and colourful and dazzling women he had dated.

‘Do you have a swimsuit with you?’ he asked.

Addie looked at him blankly. ‘A…aswimsuit?’

She said the word like it was something completely alien to her…which it was. She had spent the last twenty or so years avoiding swimsuits. She hadn’t worn once since she was a child.

‘I should have told you to pack one. No problem. We can pick one up at the shops later.’

She swallowed. ‘I—I don’t need a swimsuit.’

Vic studied her for a brief moment. She worked hard to keep her features neutral, but it took an enormous effort. She could feel herself break into a sweat, fine beads of it forming on her upper lip and between her shoulder blades.

‘There’s a pool on the level below this. I thought we could have a splash with Katerina.’

She folded her arms across her middle, her eyes assiduously avoiding his probing ones. ‘I’m happy to watch. I’m not much of a swimmer.’

Katerina toddled over and tugged on her linen trousers. ‘Simming! Want to go simming!’

Addie looked down at her chocolate-brown eyes sparkling with anticipation. She knew her brother and sister-in-law had regularly taken her to parent-child swimming lessons; she had even gone to watch once and marvelled at Katerina’s ability, not to mention her lack of fear. How was she going to get out of this?

‘We’ll go swimming after lunch and your nap,mia piccola,’ Vic said to Katerina.

‘Want to go now!’ Katerina wailed.

Addie crouched down in front of her and took her chubby hands in hers. ‘Sweetie, I know you’re frustrated because you want to go right now, but we need to have lunch, and you’ll enjoy it so much more after you’ve had a sleep.’

‘No fleep. No fleep.’ Katerina’s chin protruded in an obstinate manner, her eyes bright with defiance.

Scooping the toddler up in her arms, Addie began to straighten, but just then, Vic’s hand took her by the arm and helped her the rest of the way. His touch was light and yet she could sense the strength in his fingers, the power and potency of his touch sending her senses reeling. Katerina was not too happy about being carried indoors and Addie could sense a full-blown tantrum coming on. The toddler was tired and hungry, and Addie didn’t want to get her so worked up that she began to ask for her parents. What could they tell her? They still had no idea of when Katerina’s parents would be able to get to her and relieve them of their responsibility.

Fortunately, Lucia had food ready for them set up on the shady terrace. Addie strapped Katerina into her highchair, and she was soon busy sampling the array of tasty dishes set before her. She watched her enjoy her food and tried not to think of all the times her mother tried to control what she ate.

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