Italian Billionaire's Black Love (BWWM Interracial Romance) (7 page)

His grey eyebrows furrowed. “Where? Where
what
is?”

“The cancer,” she answered with resignation.

“Oh dear, you don’t have cancer,” he chuckled and tried to hide it behind the file in his hand.

“I don’t? Oh thank God. You don’t know how happy I am to hear that.” Her smile beamed wide and her eyes were clear. She experienced a burst of energy she hadn’t felt in weeks. “Dr. Walcott, you’ve just made my day.”

His smile was genuine, happy to see such a young and vibrant woman pulsing with life again. He’d been happy to read her results earlier today. “Eve, I do have some news to deliver.” She sobered and her smile dimmed, nodding at him to tell her. “The reason you’re fatigued with no appetite is because you’re pregnant.”

If anything could have knocked her for a loop it was that information. “What? That’s not possible. I can’t be pregnant,” the last part was spoken more to herself than the doctor.

“I’m afraid you are, dear, blood doesn’t lie. I’m assuming this isn’t good news?”

Her gaze wavered, and she didn’t know what kind of news it was. “It’s unexpected. I’ve always been careful, condoms
and
pills.”

“Ah yes. These things tend to happen. I can explain your options, but at your age I’m sure you’re aware of them.”

She nodded. “Of course.” But she knew it was exactly because of her age that she would have this baby. Keeping it meant telling Alessandro she was pregnant.
Well, you wanted to end it. This is a guaranteed relationship ender.
“Can you recommend an OB/GYN?”

Dr. Walcott gifted her with a bright smile. “Congratulations, Eve. I’ll have the receptionist set up an appointment for next month.”

Eve stood and waved goodbye before seeing herself out.
Now, I have to tell Alessandro.
She vowed that she would, but she just wanted one more night with him. One last night before everything turned to shit.

***

“What’s the occasion?” Alessandro asked when he spotted Eve in the kitchen stirring something that smelled like heaven on earth. “And why do you look so fucking ravishing?” He couldn’t take his eyes from the vision she created standing there with an apron covering a lacy rose pink bra and panties that only covered half her ass, she looked over her shoulder and cast him a cheeky glance.

“The occasion is I felt like cooking. The other answer is that I’d hoped to be ravished tonight, of course.”

He growled and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close and kissing her neck. “I can’t wait to ravish you,” he said and inhaled deeply. “I don’t know what smells better, you or the food.”

Her laugh was husky. “You better choose wisely.”

“Mmm, definitely you,” he nuzzled her neck, running his tongue along the long line and nipping her ear.

“That’s better. Now, go get cleaned up and then we’ll eat and I’ll let you ravish me all night long.” She leaned up and took his mouth in a kiss so heated he groaned into her mouth and thrust his hips against her. “Wow. Okay, go now or you’ll make me ruin dinner.”

Reluctantly, he pulled himself away from her and headed to the shower. Twenty minutes later he was clean, dressed in nothing but navy blue boxer briefs, and sitting at the table as Eve served dinner. The apron was gone and the pink lace barely covered anything. This would be a very tense dinner. He poured an Italian Lambrusco for each of them and couldn’t keep his eyes off her toned physique. “Damn, you are stunning, baby.”

Her smile was playful. “What? This old thing?”

He laughed and enjoyed their playful banter all through dinner. Things had felt more normal and relaxed between them over the past week. He thought they’d settled nicely back into an exciting relationship. He craved her body and her mind. He loved her laugh and honestly, he was halfway in love with her already.

The only thing that stopped him from mentioning it was that conversation he’d overheard. Eve was in love with him, but she didn’t want to be. She was worried he would break her heart and he couldn’t honestly say he wouldn’t. Still, he had to wonder at the effort she’d put in tonight. Something was on her mind. “So, how was your day?”

She shrugged with a small smile. “Good. The shop will open next month and the others are doing well.”

Hmm, she was never so tight lipped about her business, typically she was more effusive. Yep, something is definitely going on
. “That’s good.”

She nodded, “It is. So,” she ran her finger around the rim of her glass, “do you think it’s time for the ravishing part of the evening?”

He smiled because goddammit, he wanted her more than he wanted his next breath. But he couldn’t ignore the sadness in her eyes or the sick feeling settling in his stomach. “Oh, I think it’s beyond time.” In three short steps, he was upon her and she was tossed over his shoulder, and in a few more steps, she was tossed on the bed and Alessandro was kissing her. “God, I love your mouth.”

Her breath hitched and disappointment set in.
Stupid woman, hoping he’d say he loved you before he thrust inside you? Think again.
Eve squeezed her eyes closed and pushed the thought away. It didn’t matter that he didn’t love her because she would not allow herself to love him.
Liar,
her inner voice taunted. Her lips trailed from his mouth to his ear and down his neck. “And, my mouth loves your body.”

The husky tone of her voice had him instantly growing harder. She was so sexy and she didn’t trade on it, which he found even sexier. Kissing his way down, Alessandro stopped to worship the caramel breasts dipped in chocolate. They were sweet and succulent and tasted like a dream. She squirmed under him, gripping his hair to keep him where she needed him most. The noises she was making nearly undid him.

“Alessandro, please.” Her moans sounded like a plea – and they were. A plea for him to take her over the edge, to love her. To never leave her. He obliged her on one count, kissing his way down her stomach and nuzzling the moist hair at her center. “Ah,” she hissed when his cool tongue breached her lips. The slow sweet open mouthed kisses he placed on her drove her insane and writhing under his mouth. On and on the kiss went until Eve felt as though she’d jumped from a plane without a parachute. She floated down, swaying back and forth until she almost touched earth.

But that wasn’t in Alessandro’s plans. He crawled up and slid inside her wet heat. “Ah, Eve. This feels like home.”

His quick thrusts took her right back up and into that plane, but his words shattered her defenses. He pounded in and out, in and out, until she felt herself beginning to fall again. “Alessandro,” she warned as her body began to quiver, squeezing him tighter with every thrust.

“Let go, baby. I’ve got you.” And, he did have her. He held her hips and hammered into her until they were both screaming out their pleasure. He collapsed on top of her, whispering her name. “Eve. My sweet Eve,” he whispered as his breathing returned to normal.

A lone tear slid out at his sweet words and the genuine affection she heard in them. It would be hard to live without Alessandro in her life. He’d brought her heart back to life and she, like a fool, had given it to him without much of a fight.

He turned and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in tight. Whatever was wrong with Eve, he had to let her know she was important to him. He had to tell her his secrets so they could move forward. Together.

He would do it.

Tomorrow.

Chapter Nine

“Sweetie, call me back as soon as you get this message. It’s urgent. Incredibly, supremely important.”

Eve listened to the message her friend left with a furrowed brow. She’d never known Carla to sound so serious and stressed. As soon as she finished checking the inventory list for the new salon, she would return the call. In just a few weeks, the Diamond Bar location would be open and she needed everything to go perfectly. This location would solidify her business and her fortune, which she would need as a single mother.

She couldn’t stop thinking about the life growing inside her. Her life would change irrevocably from this day forward. Before she could think about any of that, she needed to talk to Alessandro. That thought made her sick to her stomach, sicker than she’d been the past few days. Her phone trilled. “Hello,” she said briskly.

“Oh thank God, Eve! I’ve been trying to reach you all morning. Where the hell have you been?”

Eve sighed, attempting to reign in her frustration. “I’ve been working, Carla, what’s up?” The other line went suspiciously silent, “Carla?”

“Yeah, I’m here. Look I need to tell you something and you’re going to freak out, but I’m nowhere near Diamond Bar, so I don’t want to tell you.”

“Dammit, Carla, now you’re scaring me. What is it?”

There was a reluctant sigh on the other end of the phone. “Have you seen the paper today?”

“You know I haven’t. If this is about some celebrity baby daddy, you know I’m not interested.” Like she had time to deal with the love lives and losses of the rich and too damn famous.

“Can you just ignore the media altogether until I get there? I can be to you in an hour or so.”

Eve could hear the stress and the worry in her friend’s voice and it was starting to worry her. “Carla, just tell me because I’m starting to freak out and I have to tell you, I hate it.” She waited.

“Okay fine. Go to the society section of the
Times
. You’ll know it when you see it.”

Her stomach fell. There was only reason Carla would be freaked out over a story in the society section. “Fine. I’ll call you back.”

“No! I’ll stay on the line while you read.”

She wanted to protest, but Carla’s tone stopped her. “Okay.”

Sources today report that billionaire development tycoon Alessandro Scotti is off the market! It turns out that Mr. Scotti, Preside and CEO of A.C. Scotti Development is married and has been for the past five years. Mrs. Sabrina Scotti, sources say, bewitched Alessandro from the moment he set eyes on her and six months later they were married.

How Mr. Scotti was able to keep this information from the gossip hounds is beyond this reporter.

But it turns out the billionaire playboy is a doting husband. A tragic accident four years ago left Mrs. Scotti comatose and like the dutiful husband, Alessandro visits regularly. In fact, he recently spent two weeks at her side at the Seattle Day Center, making sure his wife received top notch care, designer pajamas, and a professional hair wash! It looks like the ladies of Los Angeles have to start the husband hunt all over again.

One has to wonder…what does this mean for the stunning beauty seen around town on Mr. Scotti’s arm?

How could this be true? Eve felt her breathing increase and her breaths became shallower. Her ears buzzed as the blood rushed around her body. She closed her eyes and pushed out all the noise around her. Her thumb and forefinger pressed on the bridge of her nose, begging the burgeoning headache to stop.
I’m fine. I’ll be fine. Eventually.

“Eve, are you okay? Talk to me, girl.”

She inhaled a deep breath until she began to feel lightheaded and slowly released it. “I’m fine, Carla. Really.”

“How can you be fine? You love this asshole and he’s married! You are
not
fine!”

She tried to smile at her friend’s outrage, but her face refused to cooperate. "I am. I planned to talk to him today about…something else that would have turned into a break up, anyway. Now, I don’t have to worry.”
Coward
, her conscience taunted. She was a coward and she didn’t care. It’s bad enough to be the other woman, but to be the other woman carrying his baby? Nope, definitely not happening.
It’s still his baby whether you’re together or not
, she told herself.

“What were you going to tell…oh no. No, Eve. I’m sorry, so sorry.”

It was the mix of pity and sympathy in her friend’s voice that made her crack. It started as one tear, then two and then a deluge of tears rolled down her cheek and blurred her vision. “I can’t right now, Carla. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll call you later.”

“Okay, Eve. I’m really sorry. I love you.”

“Love you, too,” she said as she hung up. Unsure of what to do or what to say, Eve sat and stared at her laptop until the battery died. She blinked away the tears that still fell down her cheeks and looked around the mostly empty office. She couldn’t do this now, not today. She packed her bags and called Marcus to oversee the inventory and setup for the rest of the week.

She needed to get away from the city.

***

Shit
. Those damn society news vultures had well and truly ruined Alessandro’s life. Correction, his lie ruined it. He didn’t lie outright because she hadn’t asked, but Alessandro know that sometimes a lie of omission hurt worse than an outright lie. That stupid paper couldn’t have waited another twenty four hours? By then, he would have revealed the truth to her and they’d be fine. Probably.

Instead, he’d been ambushed by reporters at A.C. Scotti headquarters asking about his comatose wife. To say he’d been caught off guard would be an understatement. He was livid and ready to punch out a cameraman, which he would have done if not for his assistant. The first thought on his mind was Eve. He had to find her, to talk to her and explain everything.

But like everything else in his life, the universe was conspiring against him. One especially determined photographer had followed him around all day and Eve refused to talk to him. No, she hadn’t refused – she simply did not answer any of his calls. And she wasn’t at home. Or any of her shops.

He figured she would be at Carla’s so he’d driven across town to Malibu to be met with a raven haired pixie spitting fire at him. But no Eve. In fact, Carla looked surprised Eve wasn’t at home, which meant she was in the wind. He couldn’t bear it. He needed to talk to her, to wrap his arms around her and tell her everything would be alright.

“You have to find her,” Carla demanded, poking a finger in his chest. Hard.