Almost as if he cared.
She bit her lip, trying not to even think such things. She couldn't start to imagine he cared. She couldn't count on someone who would inevitably fail and abandon both her and the baby. It was better that her child have no father at all!
Growing up with a distant father and bitter mother, Ellie had promised herself that her life would be different. She would fall in love with a man who loved her desperately in return. They would marry and have a family. Children. Grandchildren. Through all their lives, they'd have a love affair that never ended.
But real life wasn't like that, was it?
At least—she thought with sudden sadness—it wasn't like that for her. But she'd be a fool not to enjoy this moment while she could. Breakfast with Diogo in Rio. A beautiful, sunny morning. Delicious pastry and comfortable shoes…
Reaching forward, she helped herself to another chocolate croissant. She sighed as she took a bite, enjoying the exquisite flavor. She'd try to follow Diogo's example. If she couldn't have her impossible dreams, she would try to savor the pleasures of the moment while she could!
The housekeeper refilled Diogo's coffee, and he nodded her dismissal. When he was alone with Ellie on the balcony, he leaned across the table.
“Pregnancy suits you.”
Mouth full, she looked up to discover Diogo looking at her with frank desire. An electric current traveled between them.
“You're even more beautiful,” he said, “than you were that day at Carnaval.”
Feeling awkward, she swallowed the bite of fruit and leaned back in her chair. Forgetting her gracefully placed linen napkin in her lap in her confusion, she wiped her mouth with her sleeve.
“Thank you,” she muttered.
“How are you feeling?”
“Great.” And to her amazement, it was true. The nausea she'd felt for months was gone. In fact, she hadn't really felt sick since she'd arrived back in Rio and taken a deep breath of the fragrant air, spiced with exotic flowers and the salt of the sea.
“Good.” Diogo smiled at her. “I have a proposition for you.”
A little thrill zinged through her. “A proposition?”
A fantasy overwhelmed her brain. I want you, Ellie, you and only you. I want to raise our child together. I want to marry you and make love to you every day for the rest of our lives…
Stop it! she yelled at herself. Hadn't she learned not to dream impossible dreams—and learned it the hard way? Besides, she didn't want to be Diogo's wife. Why would she want to marry a man she couldn't even trust to be faithful?
“Ellie.” He took a sip of his coffee, then set down the cup. “You are so young.”
She snorted. “Twenty-four!”
His dark gaze seared her. “That is young to me. You are barely starting your life. You had no intention of getting pregnant, but I caused you to conceive my child. You shouldn't suffer because of my mistake.”
She gave him an uncertain smile. “I haven't exactly been suffering…”
He gave her a brief, humorless smile. “I've caused you to be sick for months. Driven you out of your job. Kidnapped you from your wedding… Shall I go on?”
“What is your point?”
“I caused this,” he said quietly. “I can fix it.”
She clasped her hands beneath the table to hide their trembling. “How can you fix something like this?”
“I want you to promise to stay with me.”
Her heart leapt up into her throat. “To promise?”
“Until the baby is born. Then you can go back to New York, or anywhere you desire. You can return to your career, if you like. You can date whomever you want. Being pregnant has thrown you—it's what nearly made you marry a man you did not love. It clouded your judgment. Marrying him would have ruined your life—and my son's.”
“What are you driving at?” she whispered.
“After our child is born, I will set you free.” He took another sip of coffee. “My son will stay with me.”
A dagger of ice passed through her body. “You want to separate me from my baby?”
“It is for the best, Ellie. You never wanted to be a mother—”
“That's not true!”
“And I'm not convinced that you can take proper care of him.”
Her jaw dropped. “You can't be serious.”
“I am.”
She sucked in her breath.
“You think you would be a better father?” she demanded furiously. “You'd never even be home! You fling yourself into a new woman's bed every night!”
“Ellie, listen—”
“No, you listen to me!” She abruptly rose from the table. “You're the one who doesn't have the ability to be a good parent. The baby and I are leaving right now—”