He waited behind one and offered it to her with a pat on the wooden back.
A seat would be more comfortable and less confrontational. She sat wherehe asked. He pulled the second chair closer. “And that’s why you’re sure?”
“Yes,” he said, like the truth was obvious.
Trust was important, but she wasn’t sure how to move past being a former employee to love interest that he trusted. And she wasn’t sure she’d ever earn his trust as much as his family. “For a man who hated his father, you apparently trust his bloodlines.”
He leaned closer to her, with both hands between his knees. “I also trust you’ll hear me out.”
Love meant forgiveness. But she also needed to protect Cosimo, as her cousin had asked. Jennifer was many things, but she’d showed that she trusted Ashley. Ashley didn’t let people down. “Okay. Why didn’t you tell me? Besides the fact that you knew I would say no. Why did you do it in the firstplace?”
Matt’s blue eyes were clear as he said, “I’m in a hard position. My family wants to sue Jennifer and here I am, working with her.”
She knew that must be true. She’d delivered a baby she hadn’t seen and fixed Jennifer’s mistake, but she’d spent a lifetime doing exactly that for her cousin. That wasn’t the point here, not entirely. “Because of the baby lie?”
Matt scootedhis chair closer as he said, “Yes. It’s difficult because Peter and Belle can’t prove true harm. The fertilized egg would have been trashed so the worst is theft. But they don’t want their son to ever think he wasn’t wanted.”
Not wanted? Maybe she shouldn’t say anything. No one had asked her about her feelings, but for months her mind had been ready. She let out a sigh and told Matt herfinal secret. “If they hadn’t wanted that baby, I was ready to keep it.”
Matt’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Was that why you were afraid to see Cosimo? Because you wanted to keep the baby you carried?”
Her face was hot. He didn’t understand. She closed her eyes. She’d started this and she’d tell the truth, just this once. “I avoid all babies, and it’s not that I wanted to keepwhat wasn’t mine. But I had all these hormones running through me. I hadn’t intended to get pregnant. I hadn’t even done the usual fun part with any man during that time frame, but having someone to love… it was a nice thought.”
She glanced up as he massaged his chin. Did he understand anything about what she felt?
He backed up and stood taller. “Ashley.”
There were no wordsleft. She stood and pushed her chair back, which made a slight screech. “Look, I’ll get dinner on the table. It’s almost ready.”
Her adrenaline rushed. He didn’t understand her.
She had no other way to be clear. No more words flowed.
She needed to protect herself better, but how? She headed toward the door as he said, “We can order out.”
“It’s almost done,” she saidautomatically and reached for the handle.
She’d put her heart out there and spoken about something she’d never told anyone, and he’d had no response.
Love was a two-way street, right?
Her eyes misted.
Ashley shouldn’t cry anymore. But as she went to go, Matt reached for her shoulder. She turned around and he said, ““You could have explained about why you avoided children,before.”
“I guess.” Did she need to be smarter regarding this relationship? Maybe today was just about bursting those dreams that had sent her here from Miami. “Matt, if you might love me one day then you need to talk to me and confide in me.”
“Love?” His eyes narrowed.
Yeah. She’d had too many expectations and hopes and dreams.
Now she needed to figure out exactlywhat she wanted. “Too much?”
“I wasn’t expecting that.” He straightened his shoulders.
Once again, he was silent and the silence was like an ocean she had no sails to cross. They weren’t on the same page. Never would be. She’d been the one in love for the past year, not him. He’d been sad and lonely. “I know. To you, you just met me the other day. But for me, I’ve known you. I knowyour clothes sometimes smell of cinnamon because you love foods with that spice.”
“I do love cinnamon.” He stepped back.
