Secret Match

by Victoria Pinder

  Kiwi had watched that funeral for Mitch Morgan, more elaborate than that of a president, without realizing how closely aligned her own life would be to the people on TV.

  She carried Mitch Morgan’s grandchild in her belly.

  Anthony turned toward them, and his shoulders slumped as he asked his brother, “Did you know they were coming this evening, Gio?”

  Her entire body stilled as Gio said, “Not exactly, but I told you already they were invited.”

  “You didn’t say tonight.” Anthony pointed with disgust. “Peter Morgan is right there, on your lawn.”

  Kiwi glanced at Anthony, who had a vein throbbing on his forehead. She swallowed and turned toward the grass, but the movie star and the billionaire were gone. She stared up at Gio’s handsome profile. “Where did they go?”

  He kept her at his side. “They walked over to the fountain, still talking.”

  Gio kissed her cheek and went over to his guests while she waited with Anthony. He said, “Jennifer demanded I leave them alone.”

  Cold goosebumps went up and down her body. Anthony seemed to genuinely care. Gio rushed up the stairs to join them as the Morgans spoke with staff about their bags. Gio quickly said, “Let’s order dinner and arrange happy hour. I’m sure once things are sorted, everyone will want to sit down together.”

  Nobody argued, which was good. Kiwi turned to go but Anthony remained on the porch. If he stayed outside watching Peter and Jennifer, would there be a problem? “Anthony, come with us.”

  The moment they walked back into the house and headed toward the kitchen, Anthony told his brother, “I should have taken Jennifer and run the moment you arrived.”

  “I told you to leave.” Gio’s tone was defensive.

  Anthony stuffed his hands into his trouser pockets. “Yes, you did.”

  If he had, the rest of the Morgans would have still interrupted thanks to her own texting. Her face heated that she’d put Gio in this position. Perhaps if she helped Anthony, she’d fix this. Gio forgiving her that easy had been a blessing and she’d not make another mistake like that. “Anthony, don’t you want a woman who loves you and only you?”

  “Adoration is preferable, yes,” Anthony said while Gio left her alone to talk to his staff.

  Another sliver of cold rushed into her brain—she’d caused this drama, and it was up to her to help Gio keep peace in his own family. She bit back her retort on love versus adoration. Maybe if she and Gio worked out, then she’d truly believe in happily-ever-after. She took a deep breath before she offered her opinion. “Jennifer talks about Peter all the time, Anthony. When we arrived, she asked me about him.”

  “I see.” Anthony glowered.

  She pressed her lips together, unsure what else to say—she didn’t want to be hurtful. “Gio wants to see you happy.”

  Gio turned toward her, finished talking with his staff, and warmth filled her at the caring for her in his eyes.

  Anthony shrugged. “Jennifer is a beautiful woman to have on my arm.”

  “Do you want beauty or love?” she asked as Gio wrapped an arm around her waist.

  Anthony’s frown grew more intense as he eyed them. “Why do I have to choose? Gio didn’t.”

  Gio kissed her cheek, and she was sure she must have burned right through her face because she was hot as he said, “Dinner is ordered and drinks are being prepared. Let’s go check on our guests.”

  All three of them left the kitchen. Outside the evening sun was now almost orange and left a beautiful hue of light across the vineyard. She turned toward his brother as once again Gio took off to greet the Morgans gathered in the foyer. She waved at her best friend, Serenity, but held back. “Anthony?”

  “Yes?” She’d read all of this wrong. Footsteps echoed behind them as she asked, “So you love Jennifer?”

  “Si.” He answered without blinking.

  “Ohh.” Jennifer’s voice pierced through the conversation.

  Kiwi, feeling like she’d interrupted something, stepped back to leave Anthony and Jennifer alone, and then circled around Jennifer and headed toward Gio’s side. She nodded her hello to the group while Gio shook hands with each of them. “Peter, Victoria, Colt, Caro, Luke, Serenity, Damien, welcome to my villa.”

  Serenity was the first to pull away after a quick hug. “Kiwi, it’s good to see you.”

  “We need to catch up,” Kiwi answered fast.

  Jennifer cleared her throat for everyone’s attention. “Peter and I are going to take a walk in the gardens, if that’s okay?”

  “Sounds lovely.” Gio gave nothing of his personal opinion on the matter away and directed the rest of his family the opposite way. “We will dine al fresco. My staff is preparing a dinner for us all now. Kiwi will lead you to the veranda where drinks will be served.”

  Her spine straightened at the clear directive. “Where are you going?”

  Gio ran his hand up and down her back, leaving a trail of heat in his path before he let her go. “Anthony and I will be just behind you.”

  Kiwi walked with the others through the house toward the terrace that overlooked the vineyard. Once they were all outside, Serenity joined her. “You and Gio seem to be getting along.”

  A long table with a red table cloth and gold chairs meant for nobility of some sort was set with white dishes and gleaming glasses. Her guests all claimed a chair though Serenity stayed beside her as Kiwi said, “With all the Morgan drama, it’s hard to squeeze in some alone time, but we’re doing our best.”

  Serenity nodded though she kept her voice low as she said, “Well, Victoria thinks you’re going to be working with Gio. If you want your job back at the spa, it’s yours.”

  At least Serenity offered an out if Kiwi didn’t want to be part of the Morgan plan. Kiwi hugged her best friend. “I love designing shoes and if the company grows, my shoes are available in more stores.”

  “And they are beautiful. I’ve loved your shoes long before you became famous.” The warm wind tossed Serenity’s straight blonde hair in a gentle breeze. Kiwi’s curls didn’t move nearly so much as Serenity asked, “So, you’re staying with Gio for work?”

  Kiwi glanced toward the house and saw Gio with his brother just inside the door. Her heart beat faster that they’d be together again in a moment. She took a step closer to the table with her friend and stared out at the green vineyard. “I’m staying because I want a chance for this to be my home, too.”

  Instead of Serenity answering, it was Gio who said, “Glad to hear it.” He tugged on her waist for her to turn.

  A bright beam of light felt like it shone through her soul and the rest of the world faded away in his arms. She laughed and said, “You weren’t supposed to be right there, Gio.”

  Serenity backed away so it truly was the two of them. Everyone else was now seated.

  Gio kissed her cheek. “I want to be part of you and our baby’s life.”

  Another sliver of doubt formed in her mind as she paused. She needed to remember sex wasn’t romance though both seemed combined with him. “You could do that without living together with us.”

  He quickly claimed her lips in a kiss—no asking or waiting, banishing doubt. Her own issues didn’t matter.

  As the kiss ended, Gio grazed his hand on her backside and she laughed until he said, “You’re already mine Kiwi, even if you don’t want to admit it yet.”

  Now she stilled. If they were married and raised their child together, then she would commit completely. She let out a sigh and fixed his shirt. “I want to date and see where the possibilities go.”

  He walked beside her like they fit together at the hip. “Perfect, now let’s host this dinner, together.”

  “It looks like you planned for a wedding feast,” she teased.

  He frowned like she’d insulted him as he said, “The grounds and the setting sun make the terrace beautiful for drinking a glass of wine. I hope we can show my guests the vineyard.”

  “Sounds lovely,” Victoria said a
nd picked up her coffee cup, drinking what looked like cappuccino.

  Gio held out a chair for Kiwi to sit and then took the seat beside her. Once Victoria put her porcelain cup down, Gio said, “I hope all the mergers between our families become lucrative arrangements.”

  They all ate dinner. Her stomach stopped fluttering after the first few bites and her tummy settled.

  She had hot water with lemon while everyone else sipped espresso when Anthony straightened. “Peter and Jennifer are returning.”

  “We have space for them,” Gio waved at the seats opposite them. Gio quickly whispered a question for only Kiwi to hear. “What happened to Peter’s wife?”

  She tugged him closer and pretended to fix his collar as she said in his ear, “We don’t know—or, the Morgans aren’t saying. Belle apparently just left.”

  “I see.” He sat back.

  Everyone seemed welcoming to Peter and Jennifer, and poor Anthony stayed quiet. “Can we find time to sneak away and possibly design something together?”

  He pressed his shoulder into hers. “That’s what you want to do?”

  If they were alone, she’d want to rip his clothes off, but she couldn’t just live on sex when her entire happiness might be an option. “You said we were finding out what we have in common.”

  “We’ll sneak away soon.” He waved to his staff to bring a red wine for Peter while Jennifer sipped her water.

  Gio was the perfect host and a great boyfriend. Maybe, just maybe, she could be open and accepting, at least for him. Maybe her unborn child deserved it. And maybe, just maybe, she might be happy with Gio Morgan. He made her believe that anything was possible.

  Chapter 10

  Kiwi glanced over at Gio as he curled on the floor near a blazing fire in his study. His simple light blue t-shirt clung to his body, showing off all of his upper body muscles, while the loose lounge pants somehow made him even sexier though they didn’t cling at all.

  He seemed comfortable as he drew on his tablet.

  Gio caught her staring and she lifted her tablet, swinging her hips as she crossed the floor to sit beside him, the fire warming her back. “How are your designs?”

  “Here, what do you think?” They traded their tablets without asking. He flipped through her pages and she watched his eyes widen. Her heart beat faster. She turned toward his designs to calm herself, and then tilted her head and tapped his thigh. “Wow, you’re making me rethink men’s shirts.”

  A pleased smile grew on his face like he’d just been given his birthday present early. “I haven’t thought about casual wear for work in years as my suits are my money makers.” He switched the tablets back and said, “Your shoes are sexy.”

  Red- hot fire burned through her at his compliment. She wanted to strip that shirt off him and show him her appreciation. She massaged her neck to cool down and stood as she asked, “Should we go and find your guests?”

  His gaze went up her shorts that showed her legs and hips and chest as he stood. A thrill went through her as he already knew what she looked like under her simple white t-shirt and yet he still checked her out. He put his tablet on the desk in the corner and held out his hand. “I’d rather show you the vineyard.”

  He directed her toward the bay window as they looked down from the second floor toward the green vines that went as far as her eye could see. “It’s beautiful.” A few weeks ago, she’d been a wreck, but now she was so different—she’d grown so much inside. She studied Gio and asked, “Would you want to know the sex of our baby?”

  His brown-eyed gaze dropped to her barely curved stomach. “Do you know?”

  She hugged her waist and ignored how her skin felt electrified. “I took the test but then told my doctor I was too scared to know.”

  “Scared?” He unwrapped her arm from her side so he could hold her.

  Next to him, her cheek to his chest, she felt steadier. “Yeah. This sounds dumb, but I thought that if I knew that I was having a boy or a girl, then the pregnancy would be real.”

  “I understand.” He gently squeezed her. “You want to know now?”

  She walked out of his arms and over to the table where she’d left her cell phone. She picked it up and held it in her hands, near her heart, as she blinked at him. “With you, yes. What time is it in Miami?”

  He looked at his watch. “Let’s see. It’s 4 here, so it’s 10 AM.”

  She bent down and sank to the floor before the fireplace and dialed. He retook his seat as the phone rang. Once he settled, she pressed a button and said, “Hold my hand. I’ll put this on speaker.” He curled his fingers with hers. The receptionist answered and after introductions, Kiwi quickly said, “Can I speak to the doctor for the gender?”

  “One minute, ma’am.” The receptionist put them on hold.

  Gio’s warm, strong hand on hers made everything feel real and grounded and perfect. Now she could know and not be worried that somehow she’d fail her baby.

  Her doctor, the pleasant Dr. Bentley, came on the phone and she could picture his smile as he said, “Ms. Washington, you’re ready to know now?”

  Her gaze flitted to Gio. His earnestness, his acceptance, his work ethic all combined to show that maybe they could be happy together and be a family. Her heart surged as she said to the receiver, “Yes. So, what are we having?”

  “A girl,” Doctor Bentley said.

  Yeah. An image of her daughter in a pink dress and pushing a carriage with dolls played in her head. A tear washed down her cheek and she didn’t stop it. “Thank you.”

  The moment she hung up the phone, Gio hugged her and had her rest her head on his chest. “I’m going to have two beautiful girls in my life.”

  “So you’re okay it’s a girl, not a boy?” Her skin trembled a little bit.

  His hand traced her back and sent tingles everywhere as his deep voice rumbled through her, “As long as she has your mesmerizing smile.”

  Gio had a magic power. He knew how to make her know he was right here, with her. She let out a sigh and just held him, not wanting to let go. They were going to have a daughter.

  Life interrupted their tender moment. His phone was on the desk and the ringer was set to high. She uncurled herself with reluctance. “You’re phone is ringing.”

  “Let it.” He didn’t move a muscle. Instead he met her gaze and gave her that sexy smile of his as he said, “You’re the most important thing in my life today.”

  She wanted to strip him for the physical connection to him that she would never grow tired of. She sighed, knowing he’d want to check on his guests soon and it wasn’t fair for her to keep him trapped away in his study. She slowly unwrapped herself from him as she said, “I need to stretch my legs.”

  “Sounds good.” He didn’t move until she stood and pressed her feet to the ground to steady herself.

  She walked over to the desk and picked up his phone, reading Piper Lacey’s name on the caller ID. He’d chosen her over a beautiful blonde model and actress, like she, Kiwi, was enough.

  Deciding that she’d had enough drama, she didn’t question the call and without a word, they headed outside without seeing another Morgan.

  The ground under her ballet shoes was rich red and slightly damp, and the tall grapevines were perfectly aligned in rows. They reached a pathway between the grapes as he asked, “Do you like reds, or whites?”

  She put a hand on her hip. “When I’m not pregnant, I usually order a white but some reds are good.”

  He winked and took her hand—he probably thought she was being silly. That teasing smile said plenty. “You’re having a half-Italian child, Kiwi.”

  Half-Italian was not half a reason to abandon her goal of perfect health for her baby. She patted her belly. “And she’s half me which means no alcohol until after birth.”

  He picked a grape from the nearby vine. “Giusto. But mi bella, this is just a grape.”

  Oh. Perhaps she’d overreacted. She let out a sigh and ate what he put in her mouth. The ju
ice washed down her throat and made her crave another. “It’s yummy.”

  She then picked a few off the vine for herself as he said, “When it’s transitioned into wine, it becomes even more sweet.” He walked to the other side of the row and took another grape off the vine, popping it in her mouth. “But this one…”

  She savored the grape that almost seemed to be coated in sugar. Her mouth watered for more like it was candy and she swallowed. “It’s super sweet.”

  He nodded. “That’s my initial reaction too, but this grape becomes smooth and washes down your throat without being too sweet when it is made into wine.”

  Interesting. The flavor must change in a vat somewhere, not that she knew exactly how wine was produced. She knew what she liked and didn’t like. She looked around the vineyard. “What’s your process?”

  He waved her into a building that was clearly the warehouse though the outside made it seem like it might be an animal stable. But then, she judged this estate based on movies, not because she’d lived on grand manors. They went inside toward stainless steel metal vacs. “This way. My employees use the old methods as my wines are not made for mass production.”

  The pride in his product showed in his broad shoulders, his hands pointing toward his machines and how his face beamed with excitement. She paid no attention to his description of the process—mesmerized by how his lips moved. When he stopped she knew she needed to say something so she squeezed his hand and said, “Sounds lovely. And you’ve won all these medals?”

  He walked her over to the wooden mantel that displayed small trophies and ribbons for the wines. “Judges often prefer the unique and delicious than the mass produced.”

  An idea formed of numbering her collection and making certain shoes “special editions.” On the heel of the shoe she could put numbers, like one in two thousand, with a higher price. Her body buzzed with the need to discuss it with Victoria. She met Gio’s gaze. “Would that theory hold true for shoes and clothes too?”

  “Yes,” he said and then asked, “Why? What are you thinking?”