Page 58 of Captive Bride: Armani
Armani’s warmth touches me as he comes up beside me.
I nod. “I think I can see why you do this every year.”
For a few minutes, we just watch the sky together, his arm around me as I lean into him. I’m not sure I’ve ever been so blissful, so zen. Everything feels right.
And then it hits me…this isn’t just a mission anymore, just an opportunity to literally live out one of my fantasies. I’m not just crushing on a hot, emotionally unavailable colleague and enjoying a little no-strings-attached vacation in his bed. I’ve fallen for Armani Bellanti. Hard.
Fuck.
My heart stutters in my chest, my head and heart at war with each other. I can’t do this. I can’t let myself fall for this dangerous, manipulative criminal. Except I already did. How can I possibly fix this? I’m completely—
“Dante!”
Frankie’s panicked voice rings out over the vines. Armani and I turn toward the sound.
“My water broke!”
Everyone goes still and starts looking around at each other. I’m dragging Armani by the hand through the rows, trying to figure out where Frankie is and if she needs our help.
“Oh, God,” Dante calls out. “The baby is coming!”
“Somebody get me a towel or a jacket or something. Somebody get me something!”
Her voice is frantic yet collected, excited yet terrified. My heart thuds as I round the end of a row, pull my hoodie over my head, and toss it to Frankie, who stands next to an overturned basket of grapes and a wide-eyed Dante. There’s a dark stain spreading on the front of Frankie’s leggings. Dante looks like a deer in headlights as she wraps my hoodie around her waist.
“Go get the UTV, Dante. Hurry!”
Dante runs off. Armani and I look at each other. The normally impassive look on his face turns slightly panicked. When Frankie lets out a low moan, I rush to her side. Armani and I take turns supporting her as she breathes through her first series of contractions.
When the UTV pulls up, Dante comes around to help her into the passenger side.
“Donovan’s bringing the car up here to meet us. We just have to get to the parking area,” he tells her. He turns to Armani and Marco, who has just arrived with Karina in tow. “See you at the hospital.”
And then they’re off.
Marco pulls out his keys.
“Everybody meet back at the house. I’ll drive us all to Providence. Let’s go.”
Armani and I start jogging toward the lot, and that’s when I realize how tightly he’s holding my hand.
21
CANDI
By the timethe four of us get to the hospital, I’m a ball of nerves and excitement.
Frankie’s older sister Charlie rushed over with Livvie and their mom as soon as they heard the news, so the waiting area is completely packed with Bellantis and Abbotts. Dante was supposed to be with Frankie in the delivery room, but a nurse must have kicked him out for the time being, because he’s pacing and checking his watch every five seconds.
“What’s happening?” Armani blurts.
“Nothing yet,” Dante says. “The contractions need to be closer together. But she’s progressing fast.”
Charlie nods. She’s anxiously squeezing a bottle of water in her fist. I can tell by Livvie’s face that the crackling sound is driving her batty. On Charlie’s other side, Clayton sits quietly, rubbing Charlie’s shoulder. Mrs. Abbott crochets happily as she chatters away to Livvie, bless her. I’m kind of surprised Dante hasn’t marched back into Frankie’s room by now.
“Should we sit?” I ask Armani after Karina and Marco leave to go find everyone coffee and tea and whatever can be scrounged up for breakfast.
“You can,” he says. “I’m good here.”
