Casanova In Training (36 page)

“How long have they been here?” he whispered to her, loath to release her.

“A few days now. Why don’t you go say hi to them while I get Lexy settled.”

She removed his arm from around her and he rotated his head to follow her and Lexy as they made their way up the steps, past his descending family, to vanish inside.

His family swarmed him. After hugs and kisses were done, he rounded on his sister.

“What in the hell did you think you were doing?”

She arched a plucked eyebrow. “What the hell did you think I would do when you call me and tell me you want me to check on a woman you love, who we’ve never met, and who just happens to be carrying your baby? Keep my mouth shut?”

“Yes. I just wanted you to check on her, not bring the entire Cassano clan down here and invade.” He was livid.

“What’s wrong with us meeting her?” his mother demanded.

“Nothing, Mama. But you don’t understand Jaydee. She is very private and doesn’t like people encroaching on her space.” He shoved a hand through his hair, wincing at the thought of what she’d had to go through.

“Really? Doesn’t she have family who visit?” Valentino’s question was more than a bit on the snide side.

He whirled around and glared at his eldest brother. “No. In fact, she is barely on speaking terms with her father and her mother is no longer in her life.” He blew out a sharp breath. “Damn it!”

“Mind your tongue, boy.” His father finally spoke up.

Enzo talked next. “She didn’t seem put out. She offered us all rooms and has been a wonderful, albeit a bit absent, hostess.”

“Of course she wouldn’t kick you out. She’s spent her entire life pleasing people. I have to go talk to her.”

“Well, do it after supper,” his mom said. “Everything is hot and ready to eat now.”

Christ. He wanted to argue with her but he couldn’t. It wouldn’t matter how old he got, he would never be able to refuse his mother. And she knew it. “Yes, Mama.”

Everyone headed back in and he watched his mother and sister quickly set two more places at the table. It would be close and tight for the meal, just like he remembered them being. This was family and they were his.

“I’ll go get them,” he announced to no one in particular. He took the stairs two at a time and headed down the hall towards her room, his boots making noise as he moved.

“Where are you staying?” a voice behind him asked.

He veered around and sighed when he saw Valentino standing there, his bags in hand.

“I don’t know,” he said. With Jaydee would be preferable but who knew what mood she was in.
Or how much shit I’m in for this particular crapfest.

The bedroom door sat closed and he knocked before swinging it open. The space was empty. Which left one option. The third floor in her office.

“Seems like she’s avoiding you.”

He turned and drew the door closed behind him. He flicked his gaze over his brother from head to foot. He wore jeans and a sweatshirt with hiking boots. His black hair hung around his shoulders and around his neck hung the gold chain with the ring his first wife had been given. Ever since that fiasco, Valentino had become a bear of a man, losing himself in work and forgetting anything about pleasure.

“Yes. Well, I told you, she doesn’t like people.”

“What does she do?”

He frowned but was kept from answering by a sharp female voice. “She’s a doctor, not that it’s any of your business.”

Past his brother, Gio spotted Lexy and Jaydee standing there. Lexy had her arms crossed and she glared at his brother, fire flickering in the depths of her eyes. Odd really, he’d mostly seen her happy and flirty. He was pleased her ferocity wasn’t focused on him this time. Then all his attention zeroed in on Jaydee and he walked past the other two, gripped her hand and tugged her back to her bedroom where he shut them in.

“Sweets, I’m so sorry.”

“When are they leaving, Gio?”

He cupped her face in his hands. “I’ll tell them tonight.” Stress lingered in her gaze and he brushed a few kisses along her lips. More for him than her. “I never meant for that to happen. I’m so sorry.”

Stepping back, he stared at her and looked. Really looked at her. He could see the swell of her stomach and her breasts appeared fuller. Dropping to his knees, he slid his hands over her belly, under the shirt she wore and along her skin.

His fingers moved to the buttons on her shirt and unbuttoned the bottom three, exposing her belly. He placed his hand back over her and tried to imagine his child growing inside her. Gio smiled and brushed a kiss near her belly button before pushing back to his feet and gathering her close.

“You’re so beautiful, Jaydee.”

She ducked her head and he refused to allow her to keep it down, nudging it back up so their eyes could meet.

“I’ve missed you,” he whispered, lowering his mouth to hers. Scant millimetres from connection a knock sounded at the door.

“Come on, Giovanni. Supper’s on the table. You two can play kissy face later.”

Mothers. He sighed and pressed their foreheads together. “Have I apologised for them all showing up here?”

“I believe you have.”

“I only wanted my sister to come make sure you were okay, Jaydee. I swear I had no intentions of sending my entire family to your doorstep.”

Her smile was a bit sad. “We should get going or your mother will come in. She’s done that to my office before.”

He had a lot to make up for. “Okay, sweets. Let’s get you fed. Are you sleeping okay?”

“No,” she replied immediately.

He gathered her close and scowled when the knocking began again. “Give us a minute, damn it!” he hollered. “Five minutes.”

“Is that all you need? Hmm, well, that explains so much,” Enzo said in a teasing voice.

“I am going to break you,” he growled, moving towards the door.

Jaydee touched him on the arm and he froze. “Gio.”

Her voice was a mere whisper and his heart clenched. Immediately his attention reverted back to her.

“God, I love you,” he said. Before he took his next breath, he gathered her close and kissed the hell out of her.

“I love you too, Gio,” she murmured.

He pressed his hand to the back of her head and sent a prayer of thanks up to the Lord above. Her strong hands slipped around the back of his head and she tugged him down for another kiss. This one was different. Heated. Passionate. Needy.

And he wasn’t about to ignore her silent plea, for he wanted it as much as she did. No words were exchanged as he lowered her lounge pants and panties. Lifting her, he pressed her back against a wall and freed himself before sliding inside her wet, velvet heat.

“Shit!” he barked in a harsh whisper.

Christ, it felt so good to be back within her. It had been more than four months and she held him tight. Shuddering she moaned and tightened around him.

“Gio…please…I…oh, please…”

“Yes,” he breathed against her neck.

He began to move. Deep, thorough strokes which rocked him to the core as he relearned her body. There wasn’t enough time. He had to hurry but all he wanted to do was slow down and take his time with her. Kiss every inch of skin, become reacquainted with the body that belonged to the woman he loved more than anything in this world.

There was no way he would last long. Already his balls had drawn tight. “I can’t wait, sweets. Come with me.”

She did. She exploded around him and muffled her cry against his shoulder. He came moments after that and kissed her as they sailed over the edge together. Her body trembled as he stayed inside her, waiting for her to stop coming. So responsive. So electric.

Reluctantly he withdrew from her heat and placed her back on her feet. Gathering up her clothes, she slipped into the bathroom while he put himself away and sat on the edge of the bed.

As he predicted, a furious knock came on the door before his mother opened it. “I told you supper was…where’s Jaydee?”

He looked calmly at his mother. “She felt a bit nauseous. We’ll be down as soon as she is feeling better. Go ahead and start eating without us.”

She watched him with brown eyes and immediately she made to move towards the bathroom door. “I should see if I can help her.”

“Mama. I think she’d just prefer not to have this public knowledge.”

She nodded. “I understand. I feel bad—I thought you were up here having sex.”

Something about his mother talking about his sex life was all kinds of wrong but he managed not to wince. “Well, you see me sitting right here with all my clothes on. Trust me, I’d much rather be on the bed with her.”

His mother arched an eyebrow at him and shook her head. “As soon as she’s ready, Giovanni.” She spun around and left.

Once the door shut, he almost got up then paused, remaining there. As he’d suspected the door once again opened. His mother pointed at him. “You need to talk to Valentino.” Then she vanished again.

He flopped back with a groan and draped an arm over his eyes. When the bed dipped, he removed it and turned his head to meet Jaydee’s tortoiseshell eyes. He could see her face was slightly fuller, too. Some people believed pregnant women glowed and he had to agree. She looked positively gorgeous.

“Are you okay?” she questioned.

“No. I want to strip you naked and make love to you until we’re both too tired to move. But I can’t. Not right now. I have to take you downstairs for dinner.”

A small smile curved up her lips and she leant forward to kiss him. “There’s always tonight.” Then she got up and headed for the door. “Let’s go. Don’t want to keep everyone waiting.”

He popped up and twirled her back to him for another kiss. It was an intense, spine-tingling kiss and he was hard-pressed not to say to hell with supper and lock them both in the room. With a groan, he escorted her to the stairs and down to the first floor. The entire family paused in their meal and glanced at the two of them when they walked in. Lexy gave them a smile which erased the almost-scowl she’d been sporting.

“Sorry we’re late.” He held a chair for Jaydee, which put her beside Lexy, then made his own way around the table to sit between Valentino and Tiziana.

The meal was loud and familiar to him, yet he knew it had to be almost overwhelming to Jaydee. She could handle groups, she’d done so with the other pilots, but this…this was her sanctuary and it had been invaded.

After the supper dishes had been cleaned away, people settled down and Jaydee and Lexy left to take a walk. His sister was on her phone, again, so he went over to his brothers and jerked his head towards the door. They got up and came with him.

“What’s up?” Enzo asked as they headed down the front steps.

“As much as I love seeing you, you need to leave.”

Enzo laughed. “Need some alone time with your girl?” he punched him in the shoulder. “I told you five minutes wouldn’t be enough.”

He chuckled and slugged his brother back. “It never will be enough. But that’s not the point. She’s beginning to stress again and it’s not good for the baby.”

“You really think her pit bull is going to let you have any time with her?” Valentino asked.

“Her pit bull?” He frowned. “Do you mean Lexy?”

“Yes.”

Their mother hollered for Enzo and with a grin he jogged back up inside. Gio focused on his eldest brother. “Why do you call her that?”

“She read me the riot act on the way downstairs. Telling me how lucky you were to even have a shot at a woman like Jaydee.”

He bit back his smile at the disbelief in his brother’s tone. “She’s right. I am.” They headed around the house towards the dock. “Valentino, she is amazing. This woman can fly a B-2 bomber better than I can. She’s qualified to pilot the shuttle into outer space should the need ever arise and more. Not to mention she’s scary smart. And I mean
scary
fuckin’ brilliant.”

“She’s a pilot? I thought you said she was a doctor.”

“She’s both. Not only that, but she saved my career by going toe to toe with a pissed off brigadier general. Every moment I spend in her presence, I’m more than just happy. I don’t know how to explain it but she’s the one for me.”

“So why don’t you ask her to marry you?”

“I have, twice. She was under the impression I asked her because there was a chance she was pregnant.”

Valentino snorted. “And now?”

“I love her. I was coming here to ask her again. Lizard is arriving tomorrow along with a minister. I wasn’t going to leave until she agreed to marry me.”

“You know Mama won’t leave if she knows there is a wedding.”

He sighed. “I know. I just…man, I really wish…” He trailed off for he saw her and Lexy on the dock. A few solar lights illuminated them.

As if she knew he was there, she turned and glanced in their direction. Smacking his brother on the shoulder, he hastened down to her side. Touching her, he immediately felt better and, with a smile for Lexy, brushed his lips along Jaydee’s.

“Oh, it’s you.” Lexy crossed her arms and stared at his brother. “Don’t you have some small child to scare with your scowling?”

His brother mimicked her stance and glared right back at her. “Am I scaring you?”

A sharp, derisive snort. “I ain’t been a little child in a long time and it would take a lot more than that scowl to scare me.”

Arm around Jaydee, Gio escorted her away from the bickering duo. He led her to the backyard where he sat her in a swing then joined her. Her place was amazing. The back was lit with soft amber lighting and he tucked her close.

“Marry me, Jaydee,” he said. “Marry me.”

She turned her face up towards his. “What about work? I’m not anywhere near where you would be.”

“That’s not going to be an issue much longer.”

“What happened?” Her question was sharp.

“I refused a direct order to return to base on an op.”

“Why would you do such a thing?”

He tensed. “Because I wasn’t about to leave the plane with us flying support alone against six other bogies. Tower wanted me to come back and I refused. We stayed together and alive until the others arrived.”

“Everyone was okay?”

“Yes. The plane got a bit shot up but everyone made it back safely. Higgins, the new CO, was less than pleased with my…mine and Lizard’s decision. I don’t care. I was a fighter pilot and we don’t leave men alone to face those odds. Not if there is a chance we can help.”