Anthony, still holding his son, found the baby pacifier and pocketed it.
He must want a back-up.
He’d deal with his brother in a moment. Ashley moved the diaper bag closer to her and he followed her into the living area they’d set up together for the baby. “Ashley, be reasonable.”
She motioned with her hands for him to stay far away. Her body language was clearly defensive while she said, “Matt, you… you should have told me.”
Yes. She was right. His face was hot as he said, “I’m sorry.”
Her shoulders slumped as she looked from him, to Anthony, and back but she didn’t race out the door.
Hopefully Ashley would listen to his side and this wasn’t theend. Matt wasn’t ready for that.
Chapter 13
Ashley’s eyes stung with tears she wouldn’t shed as she stood in the living room of Matt’s house, and watched Matt and Anthony who had similar profiles, with Cosimo, in the foyer.
Maybe she should have let herself cry, but years of being ignored taught her that it didn’t change anything.
First one tear fell, then another. Since she wasn’t in the kitchen shecouldn’t blame the onions.
Matthew Morgan, the sexiest man she’d ever seen, touched, loved… he didn’t care about her.
He loved his family, but could never love her—he’d chosen his family over his legal contract with Jennifer, or her feelings.
It was obvious that wouldn’t change.
She also needed to do the right thing for her family, such as it was, and that wasn’t rollingover for any man, even if he made her spine tingle. She crossed her arms as they moved into a side room Matt used as his office.
The palm trees visible from his window were there to ensure Matt’s environment was peaceful, but inside her heart, nothing was peaceful.
Nothing at all. He closed the office door, Anthony and Cosimo out of her sight, and he returned a moment later to speakto her. She lowered her hands. “Matt, why didn’t you tell me?”
His hands went into his pockets and he met her stare as he said, “You’d have said no.”
“True.” She absolutely would have.
Her heart thumped that Anthony might be running out the door with the baby right now, though she heard Anthony cooing to his son in the office.
Her stomach flipped as she’d been leftin charge—her cousin trusted her. She widened her stance as Matt said, “I still meant to tell you before he arrived. I called him when I went for the Bentley.”
That had been hours ago. They hadn’t been separated. If he respected her, at all, and didn’t think she was the hired help, then he’d have told her. She sucked in her breath. “Then you had all afternoon.”
He reached for herhands. “I didn’t know spending time with you would feel like I had a family of my own. I knew I liked you. I didn’t realize how happy you make me feel.”
Wow. Her heart twisted. She’d loved him for a year. The past few days with him so far had been nothing but magical. But now… it was like he wanted to twist the knife he’d stuck into her back. She yanked her hands from his. “Not happy enoughto tell me what you were thinking.”
He closed his eyes and stood so close she could feel his breath, which gave her goosebumps. “I should have. Will you listen now?”
She wanted to scream no, but then she’d never get a chance at love with him. She’d come all this way, she could listen.
The rational part of her brain said if she truly loved him, then they needed to work outbetter communication. She lowered her arms and asked, “Are you sure Anthony won’t take the baby and run?”
“Yes. He’s my half-brother.” Matt spoke as if it wasn’t even a question in his mind.
The Morgans hadn’t grown up together. Matt had no idea about his half-brother’s character outside the door, but she heard Anthony talking to the baby with the wordsbambinoandcara. She liftedher chin. “That doesn’t make him trustworthy.”
Matt stood back and seemed more at attention like he was a soldier when he pointed toward the office chairs near his desk and said, “A Morgan never publicly fights with another Morgan.”
