Page 45 of Secret Match
If he knew, he’d tell. He had the urge to shrug, but stopped and instead just said, “They’re going to investigate but had already decided it was a suicide.”
Caro dropped the phone in her pocket. “Is it possible Kiwi thinks you loved Piper?”
Love? He stood slowly and Tom,his son, stayed asleep. His hand tingled from how he was holding Tom but he hated to disturb the baby. “She asked me if I’d have married Piper, knowing she was pregnant. I don’t understand and don’t have time right now to figure out why she left me.”
“And you answered that yes, you would, to protect your son?”
“Yeah.”
His staff entered in a stream of efficiency; one carried a small rocking contraption and the second removed the tray. Caro directed the rocker be put next to him. “Okay, we’re helping. Victoria is already on the phone to find you that pediatrician. But Luke can check Tom’s general health now if you want.”
“Good.” He carefully passed Tom to his half-brother.
Luke silently took the baby but smiled brighter as Tom woke and flashed those deep blue eyes. He brought him toward the couch.
Caro tapped Gio on the shoulder to get his attention. “Serenity and Damien have twins, so they are with your staff to get you what you need for diapers, toys or formula. Maybe there is a woman in the village who can nurse, whatever you want.”
“That sounds medieval.” Though breast milk was probably healthier than store-bought.
She shrugged. “Formula it is. I put Peter in charge of finding you a nanny and ordering you baby furniture.”
“If I had a way to give Tom good for him food that will help him be stronger, I’d prefer that.” Caro’s texts had all been on his behalf. Good. He needed help and he’d wrongly assumed Kiwi would stay. He’d been ready to give his heart to her and she’d bailed because he had a son.
But he couldn’t think about that right now without falling apart so he buried the emotion. “Thank you, Caro.”
She pressed her lips together and he turned toward his son. Luke examined Tom’s tiny chest with his stethoscope as he made the boy laugh. Caro stepped beside him and crossed her arms. “I can’t ask Jennifer about what she heard. Anthony is packing to go to the airport, possibly with Jennifer.”
His brother couldn’t be leaving because of Tom—Anthony hadn’t even met the baby yet. “Why?”
Caro squeezed the bridge of her nose and said, “Jennifer wants Peter to marry her.”
Not important right now. Gio waved his hand in front of both of them as he said, “I don’t have time for that drama.”
Caro’s phone pinged and she quickly read the message. “One of your part-time maids, Francesca, is nursing. If you up her to full-time, she’ll nurse your son. The health benefits have been proven.”
At least one small prayer had been answered today. Everything else was still spinning in the air. “Done. Send her up and from now on she can bring her own baby to work so she’ll handle both feedings. We’ll figure out a nursery room upstairs. He’ll be hungry soon enough.”
Caro texted his response as Serenity walked into the nursery. Luke finished buttoning Tom’s onesie.
Serenity said, “I talked to Kiwi.”
“Where is she?” Gio couldn’t move a muscle—she’d left him.
He’d imagined their life together here at the villa, raising their family. Not going to happen now.
Granted Tom wasn’t their child, but soon they’d have a daughter too and he thought they were closer than this.
Serenity joined them and smiled down at Tom. “At the airport. She seemed scared.” She glanced at him. “Kiwi takes a while to open up. But she’s a loyal friend and relationships terrify her.”
His American brothers had chosen wives who had good heads on their shoulders. He’d clearly missed out on family day when their dear old father had taught that lesson. All he remembered from childhood was his father telling him to take whatever he wanted in life. He couldn’t imagine being like his brother Anthony but this didn’t make Gio inferior. His father had no power over him anymore.
Luke finished with Tom and stood up with him. Gio immediately reached for his baby, settling him in the crook of his arm. “That solves that then. She left me when I needed her the most.” He turned toward Luke and asked, “How is he?”
“I’d say he was healthy.” Luke patted Gio on the back. “Everything seems normal, but it’s good to get blood tests to see if anything is in his system and to make sure he’s as perfect as he seems.”
“I will.” Gio rocked his son, memorizing the button nose, and dark brows. He had so much to make up for. Was there ever such a cute baby?
Serenity’s heel tapped on the carpet. “Kiwi said you would have married Piper to get your son, and that you don’t love her.”
