Valentino reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet box. He opened it and pushed it towards her until it was sitting in front of her on the table.
Peyton blinked. The simple square-cut diamond nestled in the satin dazzled in the direct morning sunlight. It was simple and beautiful and perfect. The full engagement ring fantasy right there on her table. And a crazy part of her wanted to put it on her finger so badly it itched.
But she’d gone headlong into one marriage; she wouldn’t do that a second time.
Using her index finger to snap the lid shut, Peyton pushed it back. ‘I said no.’
She glanced at her parents. What the hell must they think? They were looking at the box then at each other. ‘It’s pretty traditional in our country to have the woman’s consent first,’ herfather joked. Her mother dug him in the ribs with her elbow as she fought a smile.
‘Which hedoesn’t have,’ Peyton said adamantly, glaring at Valentino.
‘Peyton, I know it’s old fashioned but I want our baby to be born within the security and stability of a marriage.’
The air around Peyton evaporated with apfftthat echoed through her head. ‘Valentino!’ she hissed.
Her mother gasped and turned goggly eyes on Peyton. ‘Baby?’
Raking his hand through his hair, Valentino muttered something in Italian that sounded very much like an expletive. ‘You said you were going to tell them?’
Peyton shut her eyes and slowly sat down. ‘I was,’ she said, utterly defeated. ‘Soon.’
‘Well… that explains the appetite,’ her father said, bemused.
‘Darling…’ Her mother reached out, sliding her hand onto Peyton’s arm and squeezing. ‘Are you okay?’
The worry in her mother’s voice was a blow to Peyton’s chest. She’d wanted to ease them into this, not have it blurted it out. ‘A little shocked. And ravenous.’
‘Maybe that’s a good sign?’ she suggested. ‘You couldn’t keep anything down with the twins.’
That was true. The nausea and vomiting had been awful. ‘Maybe.’ Peyton nodded. But the truth was she was still scared witless about the pregnancy. And she didn’t have to look at her parents to know they were too.
‘I’m going to be with your daughter every step of the way,’ Valentino assured them. ‘It is my solemn promise to you both. And to Peyton.’
Her mother gave a small smile as she squeezed Peyton’s arm again. ‘I believe you.’ But her tone was cautious because she, too,had been here before. ‘For now, though, I think we’d better leave you both alone to talk. We’ll take McKenzie out to the park.’
Peyton nodded, although throwing something at Valentino’s head right now would possibly be more satisfying. ‘Thanks.’
Her parents stood, her father holding out his hand to Valentino. ‘It was nice meeting you. And I appreciate that you want to do the right thing by our daughter.’ He dropped his hand after a brief shake. ‘It’s been a tough few years and it hasn’t been easy as a father to watch Peyton go through what she’s been through. I trust you understand our… tempered response.’
‘Of course.’
Peyton was grateful that Valentino waited till they had all departed before he spoke again. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t know your parents were going to be here this morning. Or that you hadn’t told them.’
Peyton picked up the velvet box and held it out. ‘That didn’t seem to stop you.’
He ignored it. ‘I’m serious about this,bella.’
‘So am I.’
‘You are carrying my child. It’s the honourable thing to do. My duty. My mother would disown me if I didn’t do the right thing.’
Duty and honour. Two things that Arnie hadn’t been big on. Still, they weren’t the words a girl wanted to hear when talking marriage. Arnie had said he loved her and couldn’t live without her.
That had worked a treat.
Fortunately, she was somewhat more evolved now, her heart hardened to flattery. But there was no way she was making the biggest commitment of her life based on anything other than love. And as she’d vowed to never be so stupid again, she just didn’t see how it could work.
Peyton placed the box back on the table. ‘Listen to yourself. This shouldn’t be about what’s honourable. Aboutduty. A child, marriage… those are long-term commitments. At least for me and you are not a long-term guy.’
