Passion's Mistress (22 page)

'Do you want to dress and go down to the restaurant, or shall I order Room

Service?'

She pretended to consider both options, then directed him a teasing smile.

'Room Service.' She was loath to share him with anyone, and although the

time was fast approaching when they must dress and leave she wanted to

delay it as long as possible. 'Besides,' she teased mercilessly, 'there's still the

champagne.'

Choosing from the menu and placing their order took only minutes, and

afterwards Stefano pulled her back into his arms and held her close.

She drew in a deep breath, then released it slowly. 'I've been giving some

thought to going back to work next year.'

His eyes took on a new depth, then assumed a musing speculative gleam.

'What if I were to make you a better offer?'

'Such as?'

'Working from home, maintaining order with my paperwork, liaising with

Renate?'

Carly pretended to consider his proposal, tilting her head to one side in silent

contemplation.

'Flexible hours, harmonious working conditions, and intimate terms with the

boss?' she teased.

'Very intimate terms,' he conceded with a sloping smile.

'I accept. Conditionally,' she added with attempted solemnity, and was

unable to prevent the slight catch in her breath. 'I'm not sure of your stance

on employing pregnant women.'

He didn't say anything for a few seconds, then he kissed her, so gently and

with such reverence that it was all she could do not to cry.

'Thank you,' Stefano said simply, and she smiled a trifle tremulously.

'If this pregnancy follows the same pattern as it did with Ann-Marie,' she

warned with musing reflection/'I'll begin feeling nauseous within the next

few weeks.' She wrinkled her nose at him in silent humour. 'How will you

cope with a wife who has to leap out of bed and run to the bathroom every

morning?'

'Ensure that you have whatever it is you need until such time as you feel you

can face the day.'

Carly blinked rapidly, then offered shakily, 'Did I tell you how much I love

you?'

Room Service delivered their lunch, but it was another hour before they ate

the food. Afterwards they slowly dressed and made their way down to the

car park.

'I'll follow you to the hospital,' Stefano said gently as he saw her seated

behind the wheel of her car. 'Travel carefully,
cara.'

'We really should stop meeting like this,' Carly declared with impish

humour, and heard his husky laugh. Her smile widened into something so

beautiful that he caught his breath. 'People might get the wrong idea,' she

said with mock-solemnity.

'Indeed?'

'Indeed,' she concurred with a bewitching smile. 'I think we should limit it to

special occasions.'

'Such as?'

She fastened her seatbelt, then fired the engine. 'Oh, I'm sure I'll think of

something.' With a devilish grin, she engaged the gear, then eased the car out

of its parking bay. '
Ciao, caro.'

She felt deliriously wicked as she cleared the exit and slid into the flow of

traffic. An exultant laugh emerged from her throat.

Anyone could be forgiven for thinking she was a mistress having an affair

with a passionate lover. And she was. Except that the lover was her husband,

and there was nothing illicit or furtive about their relationship.

Only mutual love and a shared bond that would last a lifetime.