The Baby Contract ((The women of Landry's Landing and the Fabrizio men)) (2 page)

Gigi raised one of her perfectly arched brows in a expression that would probably scare a

lesser man right out of his shoes, but whether she knew it or not he didn't intimidate easily.

“Then why don't you explain to me what you mean, Mr. Fabrizio?” She had a way of saying Mr. Fabrizio that made it sound more like an insult instead of just a name.

“I will and would you stop calling me Mr. Fabrizio like that, just call me Pierce.”

Gigi flattened her palms on the table.

“Why should I? That's your name isn't it? Look! Just tell me what you expect from me, while I still have an ounce of patience left.”

He was pretty certain she wasn't going to like what he said next. Taking a deep breath he exhaled slowly, as he ran a hand through his inky black hair.

“I plan for us to raise this baby, our baby together, under the same roof as husband and wife.”

Egypt almost fell off her chair in a fit of laughter. She laughed so hard she had tears rolling down her cheeks. People glanced over at the two of them to see what was going on. He must be out of his mind. He was a stranger it didn't matter that he was the baby's father; she'd just met him a few minutes ago.

She was final convinced that he really was crazy, either that or she was being punk'd. She glanced in his direction and saw that he was frowning and looking very annoyed. She stopped laughing.

“Are you done now?” Pierce bellowed through clenched teeth.

She covered her mouth with one of her hands to contain another fit of laughter that threaten to break free. She waved her free hand in front of herself to surrender.

“I'm sorry, you... you just caught me off guard with that under the same roof as husband and wife thing.” She said in a mocking voice, before continuing. She was trying hard not to laugh. “Really that was good, for a minute I thought you were serious.”

Pierce could not believe that she was still laughing. She thought he was joking with her.

“I am serious; I want us to get married.”

Her mouth gaped open from the serious look on his face. She recovered quickly.

“Are you crazy, we just met, how can we possibly get married? We're strangers, I mean you're a bit stranger than I am but that's beside the point.”

“Excuse me I'm strange, you’re the one that decided to have a stranger's baby, if it hadn’t been for the choices that you made, we wouldn't even be having this conversation now would we?”

He had her there. This was, because of the choices that she'd made. Now what? She hadn't planned to marry not after her last creep of a boyfriend, but she did want to be a mother that's why she'd decided on artificial insemination. Thinking that this was the only way, she wouldn't have to deal with a man's lying, conveying, sneaky habits. If she could’ve found a man that wasn't underhanded and was just a little bit trustworthy she would have happily chosen to marry him and have the baby she so desperately wanted.

Seeing as to how a good man was definitely hard to find. Now she was supposed to believe that this gorgeously, handsome man had dropped in her lap as the father of her child and he was offering marriage.

Yeah there has to be a catch somewhere. This didn't happen to woman like her.

“Okay what's the catch what do you get out of this marriage of convenience, I told you I don't have any money and this place won't pay for itself for years. Unless, are you gay?”

“What! No I'm not gay, and I don't remember saying anything about us having a marriage convenience, I said under the same roof as husband and wife.” He gazed at her through slightly hooded eyes as he licked his lips.

She gulped down a breath of air as her throat suddenly felt dry.

Chapter Three

Egypt could only stare at him, as she let his words sink into her brain.

This had to be a dream.

A man this hot couldn't really be here in her Inn trying to convince her to marry him. I mean sure the papers in her hand said that she was carrying his baby. Egypt imaged a baby with light gray eyes and silky black hair. A baby with his features would be beautiful.

When she'd chosen a donor or who she thought was the donor, her main request had been for a well educated, highly intelligent man at least six feet in height and attractive features. Race had not been a concern because these days most children were of mixed race, her father had been of mixed race and besides it's not like the father would be a part of her and the baby's life.

Well there goes that theory.

The father of her baby
was
in their lives and it looked as if he wasn't going anywhere. What in the world was she going to do about Pierce Fabrizio, the father of her baby? Why was he here and why wasn't a man this hot already married to a dim witted, pea brained, bimbo that looked like a super model?

She knew that a man like him could have any woman of his choice.

Egypt was quite sure that she couldn't be his usual type. She was attractive but she was no super model. Standing at only five foot, five she could never be mistaken for a super model.

She was
also
African-American, whereas he was,
well
she wasn't sure what he was. With his deeply tanned, olive skin tone, light gray eyes and dark wavy hair. He was a gorgeous man.

That accent of his was sexy as all get out.

She could swear that she'd heard his name somewhere before. She couldn't remember when or where she'd heard it, but she could bet money that she had. His type was well known somewhere; she just had to figure out where.

He could be a wanted criminal or a professional con man.

It's not like she hadn't fallen for a lowdown, good-for-nothing, snake before. She'd almost lost everything that she and her sisters had worked so hard for, because of her poor judgment in character. She'd gotten some of their money back with the help of her sisters, Asia and India.

They'd tracked down that crook and his deceitful little trick of a girlfriend. After a few threats and a little force, he had gladly returned the small amount of cash they hadn't spent.

Now she was up to her eyeballs in debt.

They'd had to take a second mortgage out on the Inn, in order to make payroll for the staff. She used the remainder of the money on the insemination procedure. She promised herself and her sisters that she would never fall for a handsome face, with a mouth full of pretty words again.

Pierce was watching her with curious eyes. She hadn't said a word since he’d told her their marriage wouldn't be one of convenience, but a real husband and wife commitment. She was just sitting there in a daze, staring off into space.

He wandered what she was thinking. Well only one way to find out. He cleared his throat to gain her attention. Confused eyes met his.

“What are you thinking?” He asked with curiosity.

“Frankly I don't know what to think, you came in here and laid this on me and expect, what? Am I supposed to jump at the chance to marry a perfect stranger I'm sorry but give me one reason why I should agree to this.” She waited for him to respond to what she'd said.

“It looks as if you've had a long day, why don't I leave you to think about it and we can talk again tomorrow, after you've had a good night's sleep.” He said as he stood and extended a hand to help her up. When she put her hand in his she felt a small charge of electricity travel up her arm. He didn't immediately release her hand from his. Placing his free hand over hers he said in a calming tone.

“I'm not here to trick you, con you or take your Inn from you, I just want us to raise our baby together, and marrying me could make things financially easier for you and your sisters. The three of you could turn this place into everything you've ever dreamed of. So think about it and I'll come by tomorrow. Now you need to get some rest do you want me to take you up to your apartment?”

“No thank you I can manage. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “Until tomorrow, have a good night Egypt Landry.” He turned and walked out of the dining room.

Egypt stood there her hand still hanging in mid air. His lips had felt warm and soft as he'd kissed her hand. That man was truly a hunk, she thought to herself as he walked away.

Later that night after Egypt had taken a long warm shower and slipped into her fluffy, plush bathrobe, she sat on the couch in the living room area she shared with her sisters. They'd converted most of the top floor of the Inn into private living quarters. Each had their own suite as well as a couple of extra rooms but shared a living room area and kitchen. The old house that they’d grown up in located on the other end of the property had been destroyed in trouble storm a few years ago.

The Inn and the property it was on had been left to them by their grandparents. Their parents had died in an accident when she and her sisters were still in school.

India was the oldest of the sisters Egypt was two years younger and Asia one year younger than her. That accident had also claimed the life of their parent’s best friends the Cramer’s who’d left behind their only child a daughter named London.

After the accident they’d gone to live with their father’s parents the Landry's, and because London’s only living relative was an ailing great grandmother she’d been raised right along with the three of them, by Trevor and Cynthia Landry. And she was always treated as a member of their family they’d even given her their last name making her legally a Landry.

The Landry’s were wonderful and kind people. The two had been so much in love, being an interracial couple in their time hadn’t been easy, especially living in North Carolina. Trevor a Navy officer at the time had met Cynthia while on leave in Virginia. He’d always said that she was the most beautiful black woman he’d ever seen and had fallen in love with her instantly.

Cynthia always said that it was his smiling green eyes that had grabbed her attention and how handsome he’d looked in his uniform. They’d had over fifty wonderful years together before Trevor had died of pneumonia four years ago. Cynthia being unable to get over losing her soul mate had died a few short weeks after her husband.

Trevor and Cynthia had put all four of them through college including London. Each of them ran a business within the Inn everyone except London she traveled a lot because of her job she was buyer for a major department store in New York. London had a degree in fashion design and hoped to one day design her own line of clothes.

Egypt had a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and was in charge of the Inn. India was in charge of their small winery, with her bachelor’s degree in applied science viticulture and wine science. And Asia was in charge of the restaurant, with her bachelor’s degree in culinary arts.

They all contributed to the profitability and success of the Inn as well as the businesses within the Inn. Lending a hand when and where, needed which is why Gigi had been working in the dining room. One of the waitresses had a family emergency.

So she'd volunteered, ignoring protests from both her sisters. Now as she sat on the sofa with an aching back and swollen feet, she wished she’d listened. Then maybe she wouldn't have been around for Pierce Fabrizio's visit. Yeah right he would have found her even if she'd moved all the way to Timbuktu. She had a feeling he didn't give up easily.

Egypt lifted her laptop, from the coffee table and settled it on what was left of her lap. She was just about to type Pierce Fabrizio into the search engine, when her sisters entered the living room.

They were both smiling liking Cheshire cats.

“So Gigi who was that fine looking guy you were sitting with tonight?” Asia asked in a squeaky school girl voice.

“Good gracious, Asia you are so nosy.” India said as she took a seat on the sofa next to Gigi.

“Oh don't act like you don't want to know who he was, just as much as I do.” Asia remarked sarcastically.

“I'm not sure if either of you wants to know who he was.” Gigi replied as she placed a hand on protruding stomach and rubbed gently.

India and Asia exchanged looks of confusion before one of them replied.

“Uh-oh what's going on who was he, and why don't we want to know about him.” India asked in a concerned voice.

Gigi took a deep breath and slowly exhaled before she answered. “His name is Pierce Fabrizio.” India's mouth gaped open as she stared at Gigi. Asia squealed excitedly as she took a seat on the other side of Gigi.

“Did you say Pierce Fabrizio, as in the Fabrizio's from Italy?”

Gigi raised one of her neatly arched eyebrows. “I'm not sure, but he does have a very sexy accent.” She said with a smile as she thought of the way he'd said her name.

Gigi glanced over at India whose mouth was still gaped open. “Why were you talking to a Fabrizio, what business would he have with you, please don't tell me you borrowed the money we made payroll with from the mob?”

“What are you crazy? India have you been drinking too many bottles of the wine your making?

I would never borrow money from the mob, and I don't think Pierce Fabrizio is with the mob? Is he?” Gigi turned to laptop and began typing. India and Asia looked at each other, confused. India spoke first.

“What are you doing? You're supposed to be telling us about your visit with Pierce Fabrizio.”

“I will but right now I'm searching the web, to see if I can find out anything about him.”

Not sure of what she would find or if she'd find anything at all, after typing in his name, to her surprise it returned multiple results.

“I’m pretty sure that an internet search won’t tell you if he’s with the mob Gigi.” India said sarcastically.

What she
did
find was information on Fabrizio Investments, Fabrizio Shipping and Imports, and a Fabrizio Winery and Vineyards.

She was certain that this could not be the same Fabrizio that had proposed marriage to her. She clicked on images to confirm, that this couldn't possibly be the same man that had been here tonight. The images that popped onto her screen were too many to count, but one in particular caught her eye, that of four men all similar in looks. The four stood arm and arm like they were celebrating and having a good time.