A Film Star, A Baby, And A Proposal (11 page)

"I don't believe I did," he said with a patience that was charming, but that made Eve clench her teeth. How the hell did he put up with this sort of pitiful adulation day after day?

Alexander just turn
ed his head and gave his wife big eyes.

She returned the l
ook, gave him an elbow dig. "I wasn't naked or anything."

He gave her a little poke on the shoulder. "Well, that's all right then."

She turned and beamed another smile to Matt. "I bet you receive tons of fan mail."

Matt flashed the dimple again.

"Not personally. I'm on the move a lot. My PR firm deals with fan mail."

Now Rosie pouted. "I bet my picture is languishing at the bottom of a pile of thousands."

"When did you send it?" Matt wanted to know.

Rosie sent an evil little look to her husband who was watching her while running the tip of his tongue over his top teeth
. He shook his head and at last his wife received the message.

"Years ago. Don't worry about it.
What's up next for you?"

Matt gave them the edited version of his vampire movie
set in New Zealand.

"I love blood suckers," Rosie said. "Who else is in the movie?"

He reeled off a couple of names and then added, "And Rupert Gillier's due to be signed up as the bad guy. He's a bit of a dog with women, but he does do a good bad guy."

Eve's fork clattered to her plate.

She hid her shock by gulping down her water.

Dear God.

What were the odds of her father and Matt in a movie together?

There was no way she c
ould go to New Zealand now.

No way.

She was aware of Matt's eyes on her, but kept her eyes glued to her plate.

Then Nico Ferranti unwittingly came to her rescue.

"Rosie, you are not drinking? I thought the Frascati was your favourite. I can open something else."

Rosie's face went pink and those
brown eyes again went to her husband. A silent message was sent and received.

Alexander pushed his chair back from the table and pulled his wife onto his knee. She buried her face in his neck.

"What is it?" Bronte demanded.

Over Rosie's head
Alexander stared at his sister for the longest moment and Eve's heart melted at the unconditional love she read from a brother to his sister.

Then he
smiled.

"You're going to be an Auntie in about seven and a half months."

Rosie grinned at Bronte's cry of joy. "We were going to wait until the end of the first trimester to tell everyone, but we can't keep a secret in this family."

"
Madre de Dio
," Nico said. "We have three women with child at the table. How fitting that it is only two days until Christmas."

Rosie's dark eye
s flew to Eve. "You too?"

"Yep," Matt said. He pushed back his chair and mirroring Alexander pulled Eve onto his knee. She
wasn't used to public shows of affection and felt the heat of embarrassment crawl up her neck and into her cheeks. Strong arms held her tight as he tucked her hair behind her ear to kiss her hot cheek. "I'm a lucky man." He kissed her cheek again. Under cover of the family hugs and kisses, he whispered in her ear. "Are you feeling okay? You went as white as sheet."

Vivid blue eyes searched hers and she felt emotion threaten to overwhelm her.
He looked so genuinely happy and excited. She read sincere concern for her and wondered how the hell she was going to tell him she was staying in England.

"It's lovely to witness such a happy moment in their lives. They're all madly in love. It's such a rare thing to see."

He nodded, seemingly accepting her words.

"They're great. Wait until you meet the kids."

Before she could respond Bronte slumped over the table gripping her belly.

"Oooooooh."

Immediately Nico was at her side.

Bronte gripped
his hand. "Phone an ambulance. My waters have broken."

The
lights in house stuttered before they went out.

Eyes filled with something like horror t
hey all stared at each other over flickering candles.

"Fucking hell," said Matt.

There was a flicker of electricity and then the lights came back on.

Nico started issuing orders.

"That's the back-up generator. Matt
, there are flashlights in the store cupboard in the kitchen. Rosie will show you where they are. Alexander phone an ambulance, tell them she's four weeks early. Eve, can you come with me to keep Bronte company?"

Eve was on her feet and went immediately to Bronte's side.

"I was a birth partner for one of my friends last year, so I know the drill," she told Nico. Something like terror had gripped her belly. The baby was coming too soon. Oh God. There was no point in fearing the worst until it happened. Perhaps the ambulance would get here in plenty of time.

The big I
talian's mouth was a tight hard line as he picked up his wife, but he sent Eve a nod. "
Grazie
. She was due to have an elected C section next month."

When Bronte cried out again his face went
white.

Nico carried her up the stairs with Eve following on behind.

She glanced at the time on her watch.

"There are extra sheets in that cupboard," he jerked his head as he laid his wife on the
ir huge bed and stripped off her clothes. Eve ran to the cupboard and collected a handful of crisp cotton sheets. She unfolded and slid them under Bronte who was now dressed in a huge white T-shirt belonging to her husband. Nico placed more logs in the fire place and it didn't take long for the flames to catch.

When he sat on the edge of the bed, Bronte's eyes were wild as she gripped his arm.

"It's too soon for it to be born," she whispered. And then went pale as another contraction gripped her.

Eve checked her watch. "Five minutes
between contractions. Try and breathe through it rather than holding your breath. That's it. You're doing great."

Poor Bronte's eyes were wild as they stayed glued to Eve's.

"I've never gone to childbirth classes. My midwife told me I should attend to understand what happens to a woman during natural childbirth, but I've been too busy with the twins, with the business." She bit back a frightened sob.

A horrible
oil slick of panic coated the back of her throat, but Eve swallowed it down.

And desperately tried to remember what the midwife had said to her friend
when she'd been in labour. She took Bronte's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"Just remember that your body is equipped to do this. I'll help you breathe through the pains. Listen to your body and focus on trying to remain calm."

The look Bronte gave her told Eve that was easier said than done.

Matt popped his head around the door and gave a chin jerk to her and Nico.

"The ambulance is on its way. But there's a blizzard blowing outside."

Nico cursed like a trooper
.

Matt nodded.
"A snow plough is clearing a path. They're at least fifteen minutes away. How's she doing?"

Anxiety in Nico's dark eyes was clear to see.
"The contractions are five minutes apart. This baby won't wait."

Matt didn't hesitate.
"Look, I don't know if this is going to help, but I attended a couple of real life deliveries when I was in the hospital soap. And I actually assisted at a birth two years ago for a movie."

Nico gripped Matt's shoulder and hauled him into the room.

Bronte groaned and Eve flew to her side.

She glanced at her watch, three min
utes.

"Breathe through it, Bronte. That's it."

By the time the contraction had passed Bronte was sweating and fat tears leaked into her hairline. The woman was terrified. That was so not good. The key to a successful delivery was to keep the mother calm and as relaxed as possible.

The atmosphere in the room was too tense and Nico looked as if he was going to explode with frustration and sheer terror. And if that happened Eve just knew Bronte would panic.

"Nico, could you sit behind her to support her back and take the weight?" Eve asked.

The big Italian
toed off his socks and shoes, climbed on the bed behind his wife and set her between his long legs. He bent his knees and just held her in his arms, his hands holding hers. Bronte endured another crushing contraction and Eve was relieved to see that even though Nico's eyes rolled back in his head when his wife nearly crushed his fingers, Bronte was coping a little bit better.

"That's it take a nice big breath as you go over the wave. Good job, Bronte."

Matt had washed his hands in the bathroom and came to the bed with a bundle of clean white towels.

"Bronte,
you need to listen to me," he said from the bottom of the bed where he was peering between Bronte's legs. "This baby's in a hurry to be born. But we don't want it born too fast because we don't want it shocky. Okay?" She nodded and groaned when another contraction hit her. "Do you need to push?"

She nodded and tucked her chin to her chest.

"Breathe nice and slow," said Eve. "You're doing great."

Her eyes went to Matt
and she read the fear and worry in his blue eyes, but he winked at her. "We need scissors and string."

"In the bottom drawe
r of the dresser," Nico said, looking terribly pale.

Eve found them and flew
back to Matt who was focused on what was happening with the mother. "Okay, I can see the head, Bronte. It's got black hair."

Bronte cried out and Nico held her hands and Eve saw his mouth move in silent prayer.

"Little panting breaths, Bronte," Matt said, absolutely focused even as Bronte screamed in a way that made her big husband close his eyes tight and just hang on to her hands. "That's it and just let your body do its thing. Okay. The head's here."

Eve pressed her finger
s to her mouth as she witnessed the miracle of life. Bronte's baby slid gently into the world. For a breathless moment the baby was floppy and blue and then it took a big breath as a wave of pink washed over its tiny body and let out a strong wail. Matt dried the baby before wrapping it in a clean towel of thick cotton and handing it to a sobbing Bronte whose body was shivering in reaction.

Tears were pou
ring down Nico Ferranti's pale face as he pressed his cheek to his wife's blonde head. "What is it?"

Bronte opened the towel to check and started to laugh
and cry all at the same time.

"A girl. Omigod, look at her Nico, she's perfect."

The sound of footsteps running up the stairs had Matt stand and he swayed at little with the adrenalin rush.

Christ, he'd never been so terrified in his entire life.

The door burst opened and two paramedics and a doctor entered.

"I see we m
issed all the excitement, Bronte," said paramedic Susan Bradshaw dressed in a pea green romper suit.

U
nder the watchful eye of the doctor, Nico cut the cord.

The baby was five pounds four ounces. She had ten fingers and ten toes, jet black hair and a very healthy pair of lungs.

After an hour the decision was made to leave mother and baby where they were with a nurse in attendance until the following day.

The baby had rooted to B
ronte's breast sucking on the nipple like a pro.

Watching mother and child
brought a hot lump to Eve's throat.

Matt threw his arm around her shoulder and let her have her little cry.

Nico wrapped his arms around both of them his dark eyes filled to the brim with emotion.

"
Grazie, grazie
. I will never be able to thank you enough, both of you, for what you did for us this night. Never."

Rosie walked in carrying a
beautiful toddler. A little girl with platinum blonde hair and big dark eyes. She was whispering in her ear, "Mummy's had the baby. You must be very quiet."

And Alexander
entered holding a little boy who had curls as dark as Nico with huge green eyes. As soon as he saw him his arms reached for his daddy. Nico took his son to meet his brand new baby sister.

After inspecting his new niece Alexander wandered over
to Matt and Eve.

"Hey,
the man of the hour," he said and punched Matt on the shoulder. "I bet you could do with a stiff drink."

Matt grinned. "I wouldn't say no to a whisky."

Eve touched his arm. "Shouldn't we be getting back and leaving them to enjoy the moment?"

"Roads are blocked," Alexander told them. "There's plenty of room
here. Rosie's been making sure the beds are warm."

Matt gave her a hot kiss on the mouth. "Seems we're staying the night."

"You are
la mia famiglia
," said Nico from his position in the big bed cuddling his son. "That means you are my family. My home is your home."

"Dontcha th
ink he sounds like Don Corleone?" said Matt as they left Nico and Bronte and their children and all trooped down the stairs.

Ale
xander led the way into a huge kitchen and living space made of oak and glass.

"Sit. He does sound like the Godfather at times." He poure
d two fingers of the golden water of life and handed a glass to Matt. "Cheers."

Rosie was in the process of making hot chocolate.

And when she handed Eve a steaming cup, she gave her a wide grin.

"Cheers.
I hope to God my child doesn't create a drama when it enters the world."

They clinked cups.

"Me too," said Eve.

Rosie took a careful sip
, brown eyes studying Eve over the rim of her mug. "So, how did you and Matt meet?"

The woman was
incorrigible. She had to give Rosie her due, she'd been absolutely calm in a crisis by taking control of the twins and keeping plenty of cups of tea flowing for the unexpected guests.

Eve wasn't sure she wanted to exchange confidences, but the ice had been
well and truly broken by the birth of the baby and Rosie was looking at her with big eyes filled with a mischief that made her laugh.

"He was filming an advertisement for a luxury car company in Japan and I was booked as his car date
in the ad. We had dinner and the rest is history."

"He's crazy about you," Rosie said wa
tching Matt and Alexander chatting on the couch.

When she didn't receive a response, Ros
ie stood.

"Let me show you the twin's
bedroom. It's awesome."

She led the way through the house and up the sta
irs.

Eve
gasped as she entered a child's paradise. One bed was in the shape of Cinderella's coach and another was in the shape of a rocket. "Isn't this fabulous? I love the wall mural." And Eve knew she would give anything for her child to have such a loving family and stable home.

Feeling terribly tired,
Eve sank to the edge of the step leading to Cinderella's coach.

"Are you okay?" Rosie sat beside her
.

"My life is a mess,
" Eve admitted and picked up a well-loved ragdoll from Sophia's bed, smoothed its bright red dress.

Rosie
gave her a shoulder nudge. "I'm a good listener."

"This pregnancy was unplanned. Matt
only found out yesterday."

"He seems to be taking it pretty well."

"He is. Matt's a wonderful man..."

"I hear a but..."

"Look at him, Rosie. He's sex on legs. Women adore him. You can't keep your eyes off him."

Rosie had the grace to blush. "Actually most of that was to wind up Alexander. Sorry if it bugged you."

"I suppose I'll need to get used to it," Eve admitted. Then she frowned. "Why do you call Matt,
Dick
?"

Rosie gave her wide eyes. "Didn't he tell you?" At Eve's head shake, she sighed. "Honestly,
men
. He's staying at the Hall under the name of Dick Champion." None the wiser, Eve simply stared and had Rosie grin before she continued, "Because he rises in the morning. Boom boom."

"That's just typical of his
puerile little brain."

"I thought it was funny," Rosie muttered under her breath.

Eve grinned at the girl's downcast face and decided that actually she liked Rosie Ludlow a lot.

After an endless moment
, she took a breath trying to unmuddle her mind. "He wants to marry me because I'm pregnant."

"And you said?"

"No."

Rosie's
dark eyes went like saucers. "You don't love him?"

"It's because I love him that I can't do it. He
says he loves me but..." She took a shaky breath. "He walked away from me once before. He wants to marry me because he wants to do the right thing."