Chapter 13
The following morning, Antonio watched as the ladies came down the stairs and he ached to pull Astra into his arms. He watched with jealousy as Matteo walked over to Bailey and did exactly that and kissed the top of her head.
He glanced over at Edward, wondering if he was irritated by the open display of affection. But there was an odd look on his friend’s face that…? Antonio looked at Astra’s assistant. Macie? He looked at Edward again and…sure enough, the two were glaring at each other! That was unexpected.
However, he didn’t have time to worry about them. He needed to figure out his own affairs. Specifically, his need to be with Astra. All the time. Every day and every damn night!
“What’s going on?” Matteo asked. “You ladies look like you are on a mission.”
Bailey hugged her husband, tilting her head back to look at him. “I’m going to help Astra and Macie today. You’re on your own.”
Matteo’s dark eyebrows lifted at that announcement. “What are you up to?” he asked.
She smiled and shook her head. “It’s a secret!”
Bailey said that as if everything were very hush hush, and gave her husband a pointed look.
Antonio pulled his eyes away from the happy couple and glared at Astra. “You need to have some breakfast before you go off,” he warned. Not simply because of the baby, he realized. His admonition was more because he wanted to be around her. He wanted to sit down and eat breakfast with her. Hell, he wanted to pull her into his arms just as his brother and sister-in-law were doing! He wanted to be openly affectionate with Astra and have her by his side.
But that was not to be, he reminded himself. And why would she want that with him? Antonio realized that he didn’t know how to be a good partner. His mother had left his father all those years ago. Antonio suddenly realized that the reason he’d never made a commitment to a woman, not even a short term, casual commitment, was because…because he didn’t believe he was loveable. Because his own father hadn’t loved him, his mother hadn’t dared to love him…how could anyone love someone so messed up?
He was so stunned by this realization that it nearly took his breath away. When he looked up, he stared right into Astra’s concerned eyes.
“Are you okay?” she asked, starting towards him. But something stopped her. Was there something about his demeanor that warned her away?
“I’m fine,” he replied, then rubbed a hand over his hair, trying to reconcile this latest revelation. “You need breakfast,” he repeated.
Astra’s shoulders relaxed and she nodded. “You’re right, of course. I’ll grab something from the kitchen, but I have some important things I need to get done today.”
“And we’re helping,” Bailey inserted, in case the men hadn’t heard her the first time. She turned to Astra. “I bet that Eldora made some biscuits and eggs. We could make breakfast sandwiches, and be on our way.”
Astra and Macie perked up at the suggestion. “Perfect!” Macie replied, clapping her hands cheerfully. She looked at Astra. “You ladies get your stuff and I’ll get three breakfast sandwiches ready for us. I’ll meet you both at the car.”
A moment later, the three lovely ladies were gone, off on their mysterious mission.
Antonio looked at Edward, then at Matteo. Did he have a similarly confused expression on his face?
He certainly hoped not. Straightening, he gestured towards the dining room. “With the ladies gone, we can talk about your proposed factory over breakfast,” he told Edward.
The three men then walked into the dining room, all of them grumpier than they’d been moments before when their ladies were in their midst.