Page 43 of Secret Match
Tom wiggled and Gio tried to comfort him. “What are you talking about?”
This conversation had gone on too long already. Any moment that baby needs mattered more. And her heart was already on the floor being stomped on in the lobby by anyone who might glance in their direction. She needed to just walk now and preserve what little dignity she had left. She hugged her waist and asked point blank, “Would you have married Piper if she told you she was pregnant?”
Gio looked from his baby to her and said, “I need my son to have my name and protection that comes with being a Morgan.”
And there it was. The truth was, she’d been a fool who’d hoped for love. She felt a shiver washing through her as she took a deep breath. “That’s what I thought. Look Gio, I won’t stop you from seeing our daughter, but I shouldn’t go back with you.”
Tom began to fuss in earnest. Gio patted his back. “What are you talking about?”
This needed to be crystal clear and final. “I’m going to stay here and head to the airport, Gio.”
“Why?” His son began to cry and shove his tiny fist in his mouth—he must be hungry.
“Your son is beautiful and looks just like you. He’s been through a lot and you’ll have your hands full.” Gio didn’t seem to know what he was doing, but he had staff and family. “My daughter can’t ever think that any man’s actions is more important than honoring herself.”
“Can we talk about this at the villa?”
“No.” She widened her stance and kept her back straight as she said, “I want to get married because you love me and I love you. We were only together because our child and it seems I wasn’t the first. So go and feed your son because I’m out.”
Gio didn’t move as she tried to storm past him but asked calmly, “Does being first matter?”
This wasn’t about first, last or anything else. She turned on her heel and saw him as he stared at her with those wide brown eyes. “No, but you’d have married Piper just as you want to marry me. You don’t love me and I can’t let my daughter think that’s okay.”
Again Tom’s tears interrupted. Gio gently swung him but he looked at her with confusion. “Kiwi, he’s crying.”
And part of her wanted to help him. She fought her instincts to nurture and soothe the adorable baby. Her arms ached to take him and hold the baby and at the same time kiss Gio, but that would never happen. If she did though she’d never leave, and she shouldn’t settle for less than what her own baby deserved. They were better off on their own. She stepped backward and said, “He’s probably hungry and he might have a bad diaper. So go and take care of your son.” Finally she turned away as she said, “I have to go.”
“Don’t.”
She stared at him one more time. Gio was handsome, strong and sexy. Any woman would jump at the chance to be his. She ignored her watering eyes. “Goodbye.”
Without another word, she ran out of the hotel and down the block so he’d not find her.
With his baby, he was now too busy to chase her anyhow and she needed to protect her daughter and her own sanity right now.
Once she was on the street, she hailed a cab and hopped in the back, ordering the driver to take her to the airport.
It was time to go now. It was better to never see Gio again, if she could, but that probably wouldn’t happen. He had way too much money.
Once she was sure they were heading to the airport and she wasn’t being followed she settled into the backseat of her taxi and dug her phone out of the pocketbook. Her hands trembled as she searched the screen and then dialed her best friend, who was still at Gio’s home. At least he wasn’t there yet so she could talk. She closed her eyes as the phone rang and once Serenity answered, Kiwi quickly said, “I’m heading to the airport and I wanted to say goodbye. I might need that job you offered, especially if it gets me away from all things fashion and ever seeing Gio again.”
“Where are you going?” Serenity asked without lecturing her. Of course, this was why they were friends.
Kiwi opened her eyes and stared out the window to the sun setting over the city. “Home, right now. I want to say goodbye to my mom and then I don’t know. Somewhere far away where I can raise my daughter.”
“So you, of all people, don’t have a plan of action?”
Being pregnant meant she couldn’t go very far. Gio was going to insist that he be a part of their daughter’s life, but first she needed to get herself together. She shouldn’t fall for a man because he had more money than she’d ever seen. She needed to show her daughter that she needed to respect her heart too. “I don’t know anything right now but I can’t be there anymore. He had a baby with Piper. That’s why she put that tape out there.”
“What? Wait?” Serenity processed this information. “So you’re leaving because Gio has a son? That doesn’t sound like you.”
Every instinct in her body wanted to hold that baby of his. But her mind reeled. He didn’t love her and she’d clearly made a fool of herself. She’d never tried to let anyone in her life like this. She’d been anti relationship. She massaged her temples and said, “I’m leaving because he’d have married Piper if he had the chance. I shouldn’t fall for a guy that makes decisions for his life based on honor instead of love. And I’m not a brood mare that he needs to marry to stake some claim on our daughter.”
“She released a sex tape instead of talking to Gio which to me shows she wasn’t all there,” Serenity said and that was one point for her. Kiwi stopped massaging her forehead as Serenity then asked, “Are you sure you want to leave Gio when you were opening up to him? I’ve never seen you so sweet with any guy.”
Flutters grew in her stomach. She blinked as she stared at the sign for the airport. She held her breath and more quietly said, “I’m not sure about anything other than I need to protect my baby.”
“Think hard about what you want. Don’t rush the decision based on hormones.” Serenity closed a door behind her. Kiwi could still see Gio’s villa in her mind—the veranda and vineyard. His home was peaceful but that wasn’t her life. She couldn’t pretend and marry a man who didn’t love her.
