Fifteen minutes later, I arrived at the suite in a calmer state.
“You’re five minutes late,” Paolo muttered as he opened the door to my suite. It was so strange having a large Italian man standing guard outside of my room. “I was about to go search for you.”
“Don’t speak to me like I’m a child. I needed a few extra minutes to myself.” I slipped past him, rolling my eyes.
“Everything okay?”
I stopped and faced him. “Do you honestly care?”
He reared his head back and stared at me like a deer in the headlights. My question had obviously caught him off guard. But honestly, Paolo didn’t care about me. All that mattered was performing his duties to Ciro’s high standards.
Paolo took his job very seriously and stayed detached from everyone. Distractions were something he avoided. But I often wondered if his aloofness had anything to do with his position in the family. He was Ciro’s cousin, and his father had gambled away his fortune. Ciro’s family had taken pityon him and his mother, and they gave Paolo a job to earn a living and to pay back his father’s debt.
After several awkward seconds, I broke the silence. “I thought not.” I went to shut my door and his hand jetted out, stopping it.
“What happened?” he asked with a slight growl.
“Ask your boss.” I made a beeline for Pippa and Alba. “How’s my lovebug?”
“Perfect as always.” Alba lifted my baby off her lap, but her narrowed gaze was on Paolo.
“Of course, she was.” I held my baby girl against my chest and kissed her. Noticing Paolo lingering I turned my back toward him. “You can go now.”
“If something happened, I need to know.” He stepped closer. “I’m responsible for you and the baby.”
“As you can see, we’re both fine,” I told him honestly. “Totally fine.”
He grunted and paused briefly, then retreated to his post outside the suite. I was confident he’d call Ciro, but I didn’t care.
“What was that about?” Alba asked.
I sat with Pippa and put her on my breast. “Apparently, I was five minutes late.”
“You’re joking right? He gave you crap over five freaking minutes?”
“Mhm.” I caressed Pippa’s sweet cheek and stared into her dark-brown depths. “I’m not a child. Just because Ciro left Paolo to guard us doesn’t mean he can boss me around. We don’t need a bodyguard. We were doing just fine until Ciro showed up.”
“Honey, what happened? You were in such a good moodthis morning. Dare I say you were glowing like the drought had finally ended for you.”
“Yes, we had sex, but I haven’t heard from him. Not a phone call or a text.” I raised my gaze to hers. “It’s like he’s already forgotten about us.”
“I’m sure he hasn’t forgotten about either of you. But he is a jerk for not even sending a text after you were intimate.”
“It doesn’t matter. This is typical Ciro, and I want no part of it.” I kissed Pippa’s head.
“Sweetie, don’t overreact.”
“No, Alba. He had Rosa call and do his bidding. He didn’t have the time for me, so his sister handled it… Handled me. She even told me that no matter what happens between Ciro and me, I’ll always be family.”
“Yikes.”
“Like what did he tell his family? That I trapped him? Because I sure as hell didn’t. He came looking for me. I was doing great on my own. Pippa and I don’t need anyone.”
“That’s right. You are an amazing mother and provider. I’m so proud of you for not giving up and doing what is right for your child.”
“Thanks.” I exhaled a heavy breath. “I need to be prepared for anything.”
“What are you thinking he’ll do?”
