Stefan chuckled.“True,” he said, then kissed the top of the baby's head.“But that doesn't mean he can get away with hitting you.Nobody hits you, Francesca.”He looked down into my eyes—and my knees nearly gave out.I knew he had no idea of what he’d just said.The gravity of his words hit me and nearly bowled me right over.I wondered what he would have done if he'd been there when Raul's goon hit me.
Stefan set his hand on my arm.“Are you all right?You look like you're going to fall over.”His hands moved to my elbows and held me there.
I let out a short laugh.“I'm fine.Don't worry.Just tired.”
A loud, long, strained smoker's cough interrupted me.We turned our heads to see the priest smoking at the table while he scrolled on his phone.
“Not exactly the cream of the crop,” Stefan muttered under his breath.“I'm sorry.That was the best we could do on short notice.”He jerked his head in the priest's direction.
The priest pushed his chair back and kicked his feet up to rest on the table.
I stifled a giggle and raised my eyes.
“Giselle and Eve are going to have a shit fit if they see that.”Stefan sighed and shook his head.
“Where did you find him?”I asked, wondering if he was a family friend or related to them somehow.
“Let's just say—” Stefan hesitated for a moment, “he owes us.”That was all he said.It didn't sound like he wanted to get into it.And really, it wasn't any of my business.Although I was curious why a priest would owe them anything.Maybe they made a significant donation to the priest's church or something?I had no idea.Again, it wasn't my concern.
Maybe he'd make it easier for Stefan to get an annulment when the time came.
“We need a few more minutes,” Giselle declared as she bolted out of the house and walked up to us with yet another baby in her arms.“Dani just projectile vomited all over Nick.So, he's in the shower again.”She sounded exhausted.“Can you guys look after Marcello, too?Please?Carlo and I are trying to help with—”
Stefan cut her off.“Give him to me.”He reached out for the baby.The baby clearly knew who Stefan was.He nearly jumped into Stefan's arms.
“Thank you, thank you,” Giselle said gratefully.Then she turned to me and touched my arm.“I'm so sorry for all of this.We'll get everyone sorted shortly.I promise.”Before I could say anything, she turned and hustled back into the house.Then she turned back around and strode up to the priest.She gestured to his feet on the table and said something to him that was too low for us to understand.But I could tell from her body language that whatever she said, it wasn't kind.Her arms were stretched up above her head, and the priest immediately pulled his feet off the table.Giselle stormed into the house as she shook her head.
Exactly one second later, the priest put his feet back up on the table.
“Do you think we should go inside and help?”I asked Stefan.“I could help clean up or something?”I suggested.I felt guilty for staying out here while it sounded like complete havoc inside.
“In that dress?”Stefan's eyebrows rose as he nodded at me.“I don't think so.”
I rolled my eyes and rubbed the baby's back.“I can take it off, Stefan.I wouldn't mop the floor wearing this.”
Stefan chuckled while his eyes grew dark.“Oh, you'll definitely be taking it off—later.”
The way he looked at me made me shiver.And I was fairly sure it wasn't from the cool night.
“You're terrible.”I sighed and kissed the baby in my arms.He was blinking and rubbing his eyes.He was tired.And that was the cutest thing I'd ever seen.
“Why am I terrible?”Stefan asked in a cocky, confident tone.“You will be taking that dress off later.”He smirked.
I acted annoyed.But in reality—my lower belly got all achy.
Good grief.
“There are children around, Stefan.”I fake-frowned at him.Well, I really frowned at him.But I wasn't mad.
My arms were growing a little tired, though.How did Eve and Giselle do this all day?With all these babies?I didn't see any nannies around to assist.And surely Nick and Carlo weren't around every second of the day.
“I guess what I'm trying to say—” Stefan cleared his throat and loosened his tie slightly around his neck.“Is that I missed you, Francesca.”
Okay.
Now my knees were in real danger of giving out right here under the sparkly archway.
Stefan's words swirled through my brain, reminding me of how things had been between us all those months ago.Not that I'd forgotten.Because I could never forget Stefan.
