L'amore: The Luminara Series (72 page)

Stunned.

Apprehensive.

Anxious.

Scared.

Excited.

Content.

Blessed.

“Are you happy?” he asks with hope.

I have my reservations, lots of them in fact, but knowing this is making him so elated makes me feel unexpectedly happy—blissful.

“Yes, now that I’m over the shock.”

He kisses me, showing me just how much he appreciates me and just how much he wants this. “Do you feel sick? Are you hungry? Do you need anything?”

Bloody hell, this needs to stop.

“Lucca, I only need you. You need to stop treating me like a china doll because I won’t break. I love that you care for me, but can you stop being overprotective with me?” I ask.

“Never. What do you want for breakfast?” He smiles.

“Hmmm, this is going to be a very long pregnancy,” I say with snark because he’s ignoring my request.

“I hope so because it is turning me on thinking about your growing bump and body changing,” he replies.

“So you have a fetish for pregnant women?” I raise my eyebrows in disbelief.

“No, only you because you will be sexy as fuck.” He runs his fingers over the slender curve of my hips.

“Lucca, you’ll need to stop swearing. She might hear you.” I try to keep my swearing to a minimal and mostly I mentally swear but Lucca has an awful habit of swearing out loud.

He chuckles. “She?”

“Yes, definitely a girl. I have a feeling.”

“I would love a little girl.” He smiles. “Or a boy.” He raises his eyebrows and curls his lip at one end then casually shrugs.

“Lucca, you want a baby, period, so I’m guessing it doesn’t matter.”

His excitable smile is so sweet and endearing that it melts me. “You are right, it does not, but the idea of having a papa’s girl is growing on me, and she will be every bit as beautiful as her mamma.”

After Lucca brings me breakfast in bed, I dispose of the pregnancy kits so Granny won’t find them. While Lucca makes some business calls and checks if there have been any updates from the CID on Michael Parks’ whereabouts, I venture to the window to check out today’s weather before picking my clothes.

“Are we expecting visitors?”

Lucca puts his phone on hold.

“Why?” he asks with scepticism.

“There was a car driving down the road, but it stopped for a while then turned and drove away.”

“What colour? Did you check the model or the person driving it?” He walks over to the window and pulls the curtain aside.

“No, it was too far away.” I shrug.

“Marco, I will call you back.” He disconnects the call.

“Lexi, this is important, what colour was the car?” he stresses.

“I don’t know. Burgundy or plum, I think. It’s probably someone getting lost. They’ve realised this is a private road and drove away, happens all the time,” I reassure him.

“Maybe. I am going to speak with Lloyd. See if he can pull up the video surveillance for a search on the registration plate. Do not worry about this. What do you want to do today?” he asks, tapping his fingers on the windowsill staring outside.

I shrug feeling a little deflated now.

“What time is it? Granny will want us all to go to church. I need to give Cathy that parcel anyway, do you mind?”

“No that is fine. You better get dressed though.” He smacks my ass as I walk by.

I dress in one of the lingerie sets he gave me—the sexy blue satin under black mesh with lace flowers on the straps. I’ll need to make lots of use of all my sexy lingerie before I’m too fat and unable to wear them. I pick the new blue dress to wear in the hope it lifts my spirits from this lethargic feeling.

Throwing my hair up in a shaggy, messy bun, I apply some light makeup hoping it will conceal the darkness under my eyes and my pale complexion today. Standing in front of the mirror, I observe my body and place my hand on my flat tummy thinking in a few weeks’ time none of my lovely clothes will fit me.

“Jesus, Lexi, if you are going to look so goddamn fucking fabulous, we are never getting out here today.” He grabs my ass pulling me closer.

I swipe his hand off my butt. “You’re just saying that because I look like death, and just so you know, I feel like it as well,” I grumble.

“You look beautiful. I love your dress. Your tits and ass are hot in this, Doc. Very sexy.” He can’t restrain himself, his hands are back on me, roaming over my curves.

“I still feel awful but, thank you, and I have something hot for you underneath it,” I reply seductively.

“How long is this service so I can get you back here and unwrap you?” He grins.

Lucca speaks to the security team about the mystery car while I take Mum by the hand and sit on the porch with her to confirm her suspicion. Lucca has been very supportive and always says the right things but I’m glad I have my mum here supporting me as well.

“You’re pregnant, aren’t you?” She smiles warmly, staring at my flat abdomen.

“Yes, you were right. All the tests were positive this time.” I shrug.

“I thought so. Well, congratulations, sweetie, and please don’t worry. Everything will work out fine. I promise you. You have a special man there. He really loves you. You’re very fortunate, Alexis. I’ve no doubt in my mind Lucca will be an amazing father and husband.” She hugs me in a warm, loving embrace.

“Thank you, I know he will too. Mum, please don’t mention this until I’ve had a scan at least.” I pick at a splinter of wood on the edge of the deck.

“Sure, sweetheart, but please look after yourself, and if it’s okay with you I’d like to see more of you. Lucca offered for me to come and stay for a while. Would that be okay?” She takes my hand.

“Yes, I’d love that.” I actually haven’t felt as close to her as I do now for a long time. Perhaps the baby will help keep Mum focused and give us both a new perspective. Something special we can bond over and experiences we can share together. It pleases me that she is being so level headed and accepting; it makes this easier for me to cope with.

Nate stays at the house while the rest of us go to the church in the village for Sunday service. After the service we stay behind and Cathy welcomes us into the manse next door for some tea. She’s heard a lot about Lucca from Ms. Morrison with his continual support for charity and is thrilled to hear all about his plans for this year’s projects.

Men in Black are parked outside the church in their SUVs on security watch, most likely bored from waiting.

“The grounds look super, Cathy. Those flowers are coming along nicely,” Granny compliments.

“Thank you, Elizabeth. Mr. Carmichael retired, as you know, so I have temporary help, a South African gentleman. He’s very quiet, keeps himself private, but is a tremendous landscaper and handyman. Anyway, tell me how everyone is getting on.”

After thirty minutes of catch up, Mum, Granny, and Grandpa leave with Devon to pick some fruit and vegetables up from the farmers’ market before it closes while Lloyd waits for Lucca and me outside.

I give Cathy her parcel. Thanking me, she then disappears into another room. I shrug my shoulders to Lucca, nonplussed, as I have no idea what she’s doing. She returns, dusting her hands across a box and muttering to herself.

“Hmmm, it’s in here somewhere.” She’s searching through a box of books scanning the names on the inside pages.

“Ah ha, here it is. Alexis, this is your Bible from Sunday school. I had them all sent over from Aberdeen. I thought you would like to keep it if you have your own family one day.”

Oh my goodness, does she suspect I’m pregnant or am I being paranoid?

She hands me the white leather Bible engraved in gold then walks over to a drawer. Searching through a binder, she pulls out a folded piece of paper and slips it inside the Bible.

“I hear congratulations are in order.” She chirps very upbeat.

I cough, almost choking in amazement, and Lucca has to pat my back. Seriously? How does she know?

“Your recent engagement is wonderful news. That’s a copy of Corinthians 13:1-13. Something for you to consider for your marriage readings.” She nods towards the Bible.

And I can breathe.

“Oh, thank you.” I don’t bother to tell her Lucca is Catholic.

“May joy and peace surround you both, contentment latch your door. May happiness be with you now. God bless you ever more,” she chimes.

Lucca takes my hand and grasps it tightly. We thank her profusely for her kindness and agree to come back and say goodbye before we leave Grantown-On-Spey.

When we exit the manse, the sky is grey with ominous clouds. The heavens have opened to a torrential downpour. Lucca holds his blazer over the top of my head as we make our way to the car across the path back to the front of the church, dodging soggy puddles. The rain is so heavy it splashes off the ground and up my bare legs. Heralding thunder roars from afar causing me to startle.

Frightful.

I turn to wave goodbye to Cathy and catch a glimpse of a man in the distance between two trees. He’s well-built, wears a long, black rain mac, and holds a golf umbrella above his head. He watches us from the distance. He must be the new groundsman Cathy was referring to, or perhaps someone visiting a graveside, but why stare at us?

Weird.

It’s creepy. Shivering when the cold breeze bites across my bare, wet legs, I feel a chill to my skin. The hairs on my arms stand still with an icy wariness.

Lucca opens the Aston Martin car door for me, but instinct tells me to stop. I have a shudder of nerves and a twisting in my stomach.

“Lexi, get in. What are you doing? You’re soaked, get in the car,” Lucca says.

I pause to look back across the graveyard, but the mystery silhouette has vanished. Once in the car, I watch out the windows at the spot where the mysterious man was standing. Lucca wraps his blazer around my shoulders and signals to Lloyd, then we drive off leaving Lloyd to follow us all the way back.

I shiver all the way home, sitting in the wet dress. We stop at the gas station for Lloyd to refuel. Lucca asks Lloyd to buy some newspapers while he’s at the kiosk. I watch a long haul truck driver bend over to kiss his little girl and lift her up onto the passenger seat of his delivery vehicle. As he pulls away, I can’t help but notice a burgundy estate car in the side mirror despite the lashing rain. It had been concealed behind the large truck, but now it manoeuvres to a pump behind us. It’s driven by a hatted and cloaked man, but he’s not refuelling. Odd … Why sit at a pump?

I’m about to mention it to Lucca but hear some text messages coming through on my phone which startles me and holds my attention. Hazel’s name on my screen makes me feel melancholy that I’m keeping a secret from her. I would love to be able to tell her about the baby but it’s too soon. I read the texts, then my thoughts are back to my pregnancy and I forget everything else around me.

Lloyd is back, so we pull out of the station to drive the few minutes to Granny’s house. Lucca gives me a hand towel from his glove compartment to dry my legs. I lean over and dab them dry, and when I sit up the burgundy vehicle is gone. I choose to forget it and concentrate on curing this pregnancy sickness instead.