Accept My Baby

Amanda could not help but feel excited. It kind of felt the same way she did the first time someone she liked paid attention to her. Or maybe the first time she got to see her favorite destination or taste her favorite food. She did not really know what she felt except the fact that she was excited to be there with him.

“Hope you are ready for the ride of your life,” he said as he looked at her.

“Oh I got my camera ready,” she said as she patted her camera bag. “Now, on with it. We only have a few more hours of daylight and I really don’t want to waste it.”

“You can be a little bossy. Did anyone ever tell you that?” Rafael asked and she shrugged.

“There have been a few comments,” she said, smiling.

“And did any of the comments point out how hot it was?” he asked as he started the engines.

She rolled her head to the side to hide the fact that she was blushing.

“Take us up, Imperioli,” she said as she took her camera out of the bag. She took the first photo of an unsuspecting Rafael before he turned and smiled at her. She was not sure he knew it at the time but at that moment, she was having the time of her life. She was actually having fun for the first time in months.

*****

“That was amazing,” Amanda said when they landed back on the roof of Imperioli Enterprises.

“I’m happy you enjoyed it.” Rafael looked at her and waited for her to get her camera back in her bag. “To be honest, I was only too happy to do it.”

She looked at him and took a long deep breath to calm herself. She was still feeling like she’d had a shot of adrenaline or something of the sort.

“Thank you for doing this. I don’t think I have ever taken such beautiful shots…ever,” she said in a soft voice. “And recently I found a way to get all the shots I need in the same post and…” her voice trailed off when she remembered just where she got the idea. Sienna.

“What? What happened?” he asked and she shrugged.

“Just a few terrible memories…coming back to my mind,” she said, her face suddenly becoming gloom.

“Hey,” Rafael started as he lifted her chin using his index finger. “Where did you go?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be a party pooper…I just have this cloud over my head.”

He smiled.

“You mean a halo.”

She smiled and shrugged.

“To each their own, I guess,” she said as she looked at him.

“Come on. I’ll take you to the best spot in town for dinner,” he said and she frowned.

“I should really be getting home.”

“It’s only six thirty. And I am going to feed you.”

“Do we really have to go to the best spot in town?” she asked. “I mean, I really should be keeping a low profile around here and you do not exactly do the whole low profile thing.”

“Trust me, Amanda. This place I am taking you is not just the best restaurant in Turin but it is as private as you could ever want it to be,” he said, still holding her chin. “What do you say, Amanda? Can you trust me enough to come with me?”

She bit her lip and nodded after a long time.

“Good. Come on,” he said before he got off. He walked around and helped her out before he took her hand in his.

She slowly followed him into the elevator and breathed long low breaths as he held her waist. She could sense that he was somehow possessive with her. She could guess that he was the kind of man who got whatever he set his mind on and at that moment, it seemed like she was what he wanted. Who he wanted.

She could feel people’s eyes on her as they made their way through the front lobby to the front door. But he did not seem to care. As far as he was concerned, they were the only ones who were there at that moment and nothing else mattered. He led her to his white Lamborghini and waited for her to get in before he got in.

“Ready?” he asked as he strapped himself in and she nodded.

“Yeah, ready.”

“Good,” he said before he pulled out of the driveway.

Her heart was pounding in her chest as he drove off. She did not know why she felt so nervous. It might have been the whole pregnancy thing making her sick as a result of all the motion but it could have also been just nerves. She could not wait to get to the restaurant and have a ginger ale to settle her stomach.

As they drove through the streets, she could not help but notice that the street they were driving down was a little too familiar. It took a while but eventually, it all became clear to her. They were driving towards his house. She turned to look at him and drummed her fingers on the camera case.

“Are we on the road to your place?” she asked and he nodded. “But I thought you were taking me to the best restaurant in Turin.”

“I am,” he said. “And believe me when I tell you that no one makes a better linguine than I do. Plus I also made my grandmother’s spicy carrot cake last night. With the frosting all perfectly set, I’m sure it will be a great treat for dessert.”

She smiled and looked at him as he pulled up in front of his house. She could not help but wonder why a single man would need such a big place. What she didn’t realize was that she had actually wondered out loud.

“Because Italy is my home and this is where my heart is.” He looked outside his window at his well manicured lawn. “And this is where I want my family to call home.”

“But your family already calls this place home,” she said. He laughed and got out of the car. She stepped out before he could walk around to help her out. He was a perfect gentleman that way. He took her hand and slowly led her towards the front door.

“When I say my family, I do not mean my parents or my brother. I am talking about my own family. My wife and kids…maybe a dog too,” he said.

“I’m sorry but you don’t look like a family person,” she said as he opened the door.

“Whoa, judgmental much?”

“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be judgmental or anything…it’s just that after the party the other night, I checked you out and all I saw was that you are a billionaire with a weakness for models and socialites.”