Marcia was having their baby.
Dante was pacing the room like a caged lion. “I don’t know how you’ve sat through three other births. I’d never sleep with my wife again if it meant she had to go through this.”
Alexus smiled and clapped him on the back. “Children make her happy. She wouldn’t want this any other way.”
“What rot!” Marcia yelled. “If there was an easier way, I’d take it. I’m not a masochist.” Then she gave a smile that could light up the world. “The precious gift at the end makes this all worthwhile.”
The midwife interrupted the conversation. “One more push, come on…”
Everyone in the room held their breath as Marcia gave one final scream and their baby slipped into the world. The midwife looked at Marcia, who firmly said, “Give her to her mother.” And she nodded at Abby.
Abby held out her arms and took the squirming, slippery bundle of flesh.
“It’s a boy,” she barely heard the midwife say. Abby didn’t care what sex the baby was. She felt her heart flood with song, and she wanted to squeeze this miracle to her chest and never let him go.
Dante came to stand behind her and he wrapped his arms tightly around them both. Her throat constricted withemotions. This was her son. And Dante’s. A child she thought they’d never have. But thanks to Marcia’s surrogacy, they had a child. Their child. Her egg and Dante’s sperm. With Marcia’s help, they had their miracle.
“I can’t thank you enough, Marcia. He’s gorgeous.”
“Just make sure you ask Salice to do this for the next one. I’ve done my bit,” Marcia joked through her exhaustion.
Alexus stood proudly by his wife’s bed. He gently wiped her brow with a cloth. He looked up at Dante and Abby. “Have you selected a name for him?”
Abby smiled at her husband, and he nodded.
“We are naming him Marco, the masculine version of Marcia.”
Marcia took her husband’s hand and he raised it to his lips.
“It sounds perfect to me,” Alexus said. “Just as perfect as my beautiful wife.”
A few nights later,Abby, following Marco’s midnight feeding, put him down to sleep. Dante came around the side of the bassinet and swept her into his arms. He held her tightly against his chest as they stood looking down at their beautiful boy, their miracle, and he whispered in her ear, “He’s perfect. Like his mother…”
He took her lips in a reverent kiss while walking her back to their bed. He laid her gently on the sheets and came down next to her, pulling her tight against him. He gazed into her face with a look so serious it took her breath away. “I never thought I’d ever be this happy. You’ve made my life more wonderful than I ever thought possible. I am truly blessed, and I don’t intend to waste a minute of it.” Dante reached and pulled out a jewelry box from under the pillow. “Open it. I can’t adequately speak the words that fill my heartto overflowing, but I hope you’ll take this as a token of my adoration for you.” He stroked her cheek with his finger. “I might not always be with you, but I want you to remember me and this moment, every time you wear it. I love you, mio fiore. You and Marco, my family, are my everything.”
“You’ve blessed me, too.” Abby opened the box. A stunning diamond bracelet was inside. She gasped.
“Marco’s birthstone,” he whispered. “I love you.”
She swallowed back the tears. “I still can’t believe you took the risk and loved me after you learned I could never have children. You could have lost everything. Your family could have lost everything. The title, the company, the villa—your whole world. The surrogacy idea might never have worked. You might never have been able to hold your own child in your arms.” She gave him a brief kiss. “Standing by me means more than any jewels you give me. I’ll remember the man, not the bracelet.”
She moved closer, slid her hand inside his shirt, and ran a finger knowingly down his chest. “Speaking of remembering…” At her touch, Dante nuzzled her shoulder, pushed her onto her back, and set about proving just how very good life could be.
There will be morestories in the Italian series… Join my newsletter list to learn more.
While waiting for more Italian hunks. why not try my ice-hockey series Boston Bruisers.
Book #1 Pucking Tempting is an enemies to lovers, forbidden romance and damaged hero and heroine story.
He’s the captain they callThe Beast.
She’s the journalist who swore off players.
But when the ice melts, someone’s bound to fall.
Jack Callahanhas everything he’s ever fought for—captainof the Boston Bruisers, first-line center, and a shot at the Stanley Cup. But with his bad-boy rep and a lifetime of keeping his past locked down, the last thing he needs before training camp is a distraction… especially one with killer curves and a sharper hockey IQ than half his team.
Tara Collinsis a risingsports journalist determined to prove herself in a male-dominated field. Landing an exclusive “week in the life” feature with Boston’s infamous captain should be her big break—if she can keep her heart out of it. Because Tara doesn’t date athletes. Ever. Not after what happened last time.
