The Italian Boss's Secret Child(30)

'Much more important … '





EPILOGUE





WHAT a day! Damien turned off the highway, loosening his tie as the hot  air blew through the open top. He could have kept on the roof and the  air conditioner-the temperature sure warranted it-but now that he was  out of the city he wanted to feel the air around him, he wanted to smell  the scents of the baking, crisp countryside, he wanted to feel a part  of it.

It was a great day-two o'clock in the afternoon and he'd decided that being home was more important than being in the office.

He'd been making a habit of that lately, Enid had been quick to point  out. Not that she minded; she'd scolded him half-heartedly as she'd set  about rejigging his timetable. He'd spent much of the last two years  taking the time to feel things and the novelty was yet to wear off. He'd  never have believed he could have found satisfaction in a life outside  the office, but then it was only just over two years ago that he'd met  Philly and she'd changed everything.

He looked at the clock on the dashboard as he pulled into the driveway.  Great, it was still early enough to see little Anna before she went down  for her afternoon nap.

He found the women sitting out on the veranda, shaded from the sun and  where the breeze cooled naturally as it filtered through the hanging  wisteria covering the pergola alongside. A small paddling pool sat  between them, a dark-haired toddler sitting within an inflatable safety  seat inside, splashing at the shallow water with obvious delight.

She squealed as soon as she saw him round the corner of the home,  raising her chubby arms high and calling 'da-da, da-da' in her sweet  baby voice. She bounced up and down in the seat, her toothy smile  stretching wide across her chubby cheeks.                       
       
           



       

He swept her up, naked and wet, and she shrieked with delight as he blew raspberries over her skin.

'You're home early,' said Philly, laughing as he reached down to kiss  her, the giggling infant still in his arms and replying with raspberries  of her own.

'How could I stay away, knowing how much fun the three most important women in my life are having?'

He ruffled the curly black locks of his daughter's hair as she yawned  widely, her eyelids suddenly droopy. 'Is it sleep time for you, little  lady?'

'I'll take her,' said Daphne, looking slim but healthy in a cool sundress. 'I could do with an afternoon siesta myself.'

She wrapped the infant in a fluffy towel and let her kiss both her  parents and wave goodbye wearily before she turned into the house.  Damien watched her go before he pulled Philly to her feet and walked  with her to the veranda railing.

'It's remarkable, the change in your mother. She could never have been strong enough to lift a child before.'

'I know,' said Philly. 'The doctors are amazed. I know she's far from  being out of the woods, but they say it's because she's had a change of  attitude; she's allowing the drugs to work.'

Something in her tone twigged in his mind. 'And what do you say?'

She turned from the view to face him. 'I say it's a miracle and that  miracle has a lot to do with you and what you've done for my family.'

'You're my family now,' he said, gently lifting her chin. 'Always and  for ever. And I thank the stars for the day you walked into my life. I  love you, Philly.'

His lips brushed over hers even as she said the words, 'I love you,  too.' She caught his intake of air before his kiss deepened, as if  powered by the words she'd spoken. When at last he pulled his mouth  away, he smiled and reached a hand down to the firm swell of her  abdomen.

'And what of our other miracle? How does my son progress?'

She laughed. 'You're so sure he's a boy. Well, maybe you're right, the  way this baby is kicking. I think he's practising for when he's the  boss. He's going to be just like his dad.'

He wrapped his arms more tightly around her, pulling her close. 'I hope  you're not mocking me,' he warned. 'To think I once thought of you as a  shy little mouse. You know I'll make you pay for any insubordination.'

'And just what did you have in mind for my punishment?'

His eyes twinkled down at her, the love within them aflame with desire.

'Slow, delicious torture,' he said, tugging her towards the house, his  lips curled into a wicked smile. 'I'll have you screaming for release.'

And he did.