The Infamous Italian's Secret Baby by Carole Mortimer Page B

Gabriel’s likeness to ‘someone’, so Bella obviously couldn’t risk it!
    ‘Okay, Gabriel, I’ll stay long enough for you to introduce me to your father,’ she capitulated suddenly, before turning and preceding him across the room to where Cristo Danti sat in conversation with his sister.
    Bella hadn’t completely answered his question about being put off by his scar, Gabriel noted with a scowl as he closely followed her to make sure she didn’t manage to slip away. But there had been no doubting the vehemence of her claim that he was the very last man she wished to spend any more time with.
    Interestingly, Gabriel had once felt exactly the same way about Bella…
    His father broke off his conversation and stood up at their approach, Gabriel frowning slightly as he noted the increased pallor in his father’s face. The long flight from Italy earlier in the week, and attending Dahlia’s wedding today, had obviously taken more of a toll on his father’s health than was wise.
    Gabriel would suggest that the two of them leave, too, once the introductions were over. ‘Papa, may I present Isabella Scott? Bella, my father, Cristo Danti.’
    Bella’s breath caught in her throat as she looked up into that stern, aristocratic face that was so much like Gabriel’s. So much like Toby’s, too…
    ‘Mr Danti,’ she greeted with a coolness she was far from feeling, only her cheeks echoing her inner warmth as the older man took her hand in his before raising it gallantly to his lips.
    ‘You are well named, Miss Scott,’ Cristo Danti murmured appreciatively as he slowly released her hand.
    Bella gave an awkward smile. ‘Thank you.’
    ‘You are enjoying your stay in San Francisco?’
    ‘Very much, thank you.’
    He nodded. ‘I have always liked San Francisco.’
    ‘It’s certainly an interesting city,’ Bella came back non-committally, very aware of Gabriel’s broodingly silent presence beside her.
    No doubt he was enjoying her discomfort in this stilted conversation with his father. Just as he had enjoyed being able to force this introduction on her in the first place by the veiled threat of inviting her family to the Danti vineyards when she so obviously didn’t want his company at all.
    ‘It was a beautiful wedding,’ Cristo Danti continued lightly.
    ‘Bella does not enjoy weddings.’ Gabriel spoke for the first time. Dryly. Dark brows raised mockingly as Bella shot him a frowning glance.
    Bella gave him another quelling glance before answering the older man. ‘Dahlia is a lovely bride.’
    ‘Yes, she is.’ Cristo Danti’s expression was slightly quizzical now as he glanced at his son and then back to Bella. ‘Are you remaining in San Francisco long, Miss Scott?’
    ‘Just another couple of days. And please call me Bella,’ she invited.
    The older man nodded. ‘Perhaps before you leave you might care to—’
    ‘Mummy, Nanny and Grandad said we’re leaving now!’ Toby complained irritably as he suddenly appeared at her side, the excitement of the last week, and his late night yesterday evening, obviously making him tired and slightly querulous.
    Bella froze at the first sound of her son’s voice, like a nocturnal animal caught in the headlights of an oncoming car.
    This couldn’t be happening! Not here. Not now!
    Bella couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak.
    This was worse than anything she could ever have imagined. Worse than any of the nightmares that had plagued her dreams since she had met Gabriel again yesterday evening.
    ‘Mummy?’ Gabriel echoed beside her with soft incredulity.
    Bella forced herself to move as she slowly turned to look at him, the colour draining from her cheeks as she saw the way he was staring down so intently at Toby.
    But it was Cristo Danti, the man standing at Bella’s other side, who broke their frozen tableau as, his breath rasping in his throat, he slowly, but graciously, beganto collapse, his eyes remaining wide and disbelieving on Toby