Claiming His Pregnant Innocent. Maggie Cox

      ‘Having met you, I do not in any way imagine you are the kind of woman who would be as easily placated as that.’ Sighing, he unconsciously laid his hand over his heart in the now crumpled cambric shirt. ‘In any case, I like to think I’m a reasonable man. If I didn’t give your situation proper consideration after the intimacy we’ve just shared, and heartlessly demanded you leave right away, I would be letting myself down as well as you.’

      ‘Well... I’m glad you feel like that.’

      ‘But, whatever happens, don’t think I regret what took place between us because I don’t.’

      In response, as if suddenly an intruding bright light had been trained on her, Lily’s green eyes flashed. ‘That’s as may be, but it won’t be happening again, signor. I can assure you of that!’

      The comment made him smile. He walked to the door, and just before his hand alighted on the handle to open it he turned back, drawling lazily, ‘We will have to wait and see about that, signora,’ as if the matter was entirely open to debate...

      Although determined not to dwell over-long on the fact that she’d just had the most incredible sex with a stranger, Lily knew it would be easier said than done. The unforeseen event had been completely out of character for her, and it was hard to believe it had happened.

      She’d taken a huge risk in not thinking of protecting herself. Thank goodness her lover had used a condom. He’d obviously been prepared for such a situation, while she was so inexperienced it was laughable...

      Still, in the shower she mentally revisited the excitement and pleasure Bastian had given her and gently touched all the places he’d helped to make tender. Combing out her hair in front of the antique mirror in the bedroom, she carefully scrutinised her reflection. She even looked like a different person, she decided. Somehow she seemed to have acquired the rosy cheeks and wide-eyed expression of a veritable ingénue.

      Still a little dazed, she returned to her drawing board under the skylight. It would hardly help her, being so distracted, and the tingling in her body and the long-buried ache the Italian had stirred into life again would inevitably tax her concentration.

      But at least she didn’t have to leave the villeta straight away. Her landlord’s decision to let her stay a little while longer gave her some much-needed breathing space in which to mull over her predicament and make some decisions.

      * * *

      During the next few days, as well as undertaking her paid work, Lily started to set aside regular time for her own stories and drawings. Unbeknownst to him, the handsome Italian had issued her with a challenge when he’d asked why she didn’t want to write and illustrate stories herself. The more she thought about it, the more she decided she would seriously consider the idea. Even if it didn’t work out, she ought to at least give it a try.

      Lily reminded herself that it was her ex who had thought she was wasting her time doing her drawing when she could have a much better paid career. Bastian didn’t think that that way. Maybe her handsome landlord had unknowingly suggested the very thing she needed to hear?

      For the first few days after he had departed for Brazil, Lily often asked herself why she had behaved so wantonly...as if she had no morals at all? But, recalling how it had been between her and the Italian—the instant connection, the impossible-to-resist sexual hunger their meeting had aroused—how could she regret it? More to the point, how would she handle the temptation of him when he returned? Could she risk having sex with him again without any consequences, even though she’d insisted that she wouldn’t?

      In light of that, she thought that maybe she should arrange to put some more distance between them and move into the other house they’d offered her before he got back after all? Sighing, she decided to talk to his father Alberto about it. She’d become rather fond of the older man, and instinctively knew he would give her some good advice.

      But four weeks after his son had left the country, Lily’s period was late. And after taking the pregnancy test she’d bought from the local farmacia in a bid to reassure herself, she made the startling discovery that she was pregnant...

      * * *

      July, August and September were winter months in Brazil, but the temperatures were similar to that of an Abruzzo summer. Being acclimatised to the heat, Bastian barely noticed it. Much more prevalent in his mind was the volatile situation he’d left behind him.

      He was well used to women coming on to him, but that hadn’t been the case with his beautiful young tenant. Instead they had become shockingly intimate practically on sight. It was as though some greater power had been driving them that day—a power that they had responded to straight away and hadn’t even questioned. Any concept of right or wrong hadn’t entered their minds.

      Maybe it was precisely the fact that Lily hadn’t pursued him in the way he was used to that was the reason he couldn’t put the stunning woman from his mind. Like it or not, his business with Lily was far from concluded, and he found himself counting the days until they could be reunited.

      And this time things would be brought to a close between them—one way or another!

      * * *

      Lily had been busier than usual. Since she’d found out that she was pregnant she’d not only attended to her illustrations and worked diligently on her own children’s stories, she’d also started to make her new accommodation much more homely.

      The new house was more spacious than the villeta had been, and just as beautifully appointed. To bring a touch of her own personality she’d draped the generous-sized couch and armchairs with silk shawls and the plumped-up cushions that she’d bought from a local market in the town. She also made sure that the large burnt orange ceramic bowl that she’d found in the kitchen was always filled with plenty of fruit.

      It would help to remind her that she had to eat especially well now, due to the baby.

      But what was done was done. She’d been responsible for protecting herself but she hadn’t, and this was the consequence.

      She’d never properly contemplated the monumental change a child would bring into her life and the prospect was undeniably scary. Some would say her decision to have the baby as a single woman was an irresponsible one. But the idea excited her. Life suddenly seemed to take on much more meaning.

      The challenge of writing her own stories as well as illustrating other authors’ work to help pay the rent had grown to encompass the unexpected miracle that was taking place inside her body. In truth, Lily was excited at the prospect of taking care of the child and raising him or her.

      The only fly in the ointment was that she hadn’t shared her news with Bastian yet. He was still away. When he found out about it would he think she expected him to support her and the baby? The thought made her shudder. It had undoubtedly come as a shock to discover she was pregnant, but it was her decision to go through with it.

      There was no way she wanted to be beholden to another man—especially after the mistake she’d made in marrying her husband. But sooner or later her handsome landlord would be home and, like it or not, she would have to tell him everything.

      In the meantime, although she missed the villeta with its inspiring skylight and the vista of olive groves, the traditional stone house she was now renting from the Carreras was just as appealing. For one thing it was closer to the sea, and yet it was surrounded by the most idyllic countryside. Another plus was that every morning she woke to the sound of the waves lapping on the shore, and towards evening witnessed some of the most dramatic sunsets she’d ever seen.

      As for Alberto’s advice about moving there when she’d gone to see him, he had been kindness itself.

      ‘You must do what your heart tells you to do, signora,’ he’d said. ‘Despite what my son may have told you, there is no need for you to panic about the situation. We can wait for you to decide. Whether you choose to leave