A Film Star, A Baby, And A Proposal (10 page)

He was murmuring words, promises of love, praise for her courage to have let him love her.

Pleasure was warm and soft and wrapped around them like a blanket.

His mouth was pressed to the racing pulse under her ear and Matt knew he'd never loved a woman like this before. Something fundamental had changed. Wouldn't ever be the same again. And he realised that it was the first time he'd been truly in love with a lover. And that fundamental difference was everything.

Whisky eyes shining, skin flushed, Eve stared up at him.

"What was that?"

The back of his fingers stroked her hot cheek as his heart threatened to soar right out of his chest.

"That was me giving you my heart. Will you accept it into your care?"

On a strangled sob, she threw her arms around him, buried her face in his neck. And Matt held her tight.

"I don't know how I feel except terrified."

She was trembling and Matt realised that what the woman he held in his arms needed mor
e than anything was unconditional love and affection. He had it. All he needed to do was to convince her to trust him enough to take it.

He rested his cheek against hers.

"You know the thing I love most about you?" he said.

She shook her head.

"Your mouth. I could feast on it for months."

"That's funny. I feel exactly the same way about yours."

"There you go. A marriage made in heaven."

His heartbeat skipped.

Had he just said marriage out loud?

Lifting his head his eyes met hers.

By the size of those golden eyes and the dropped jaw, he had indeed.

The thing that struck him was the rightness of it all. He wanted to marry Eve. He wanted to be a good father to their child.

She shook her head.

"You're not husband material."

The absolute certainty in her tone made him frown.

"Look," he said, swallowing irritation. "I've never been a
dog with women. I like women. Ask anyone who knows me. I never cheat."

"No. But
you're a movie star and women throw themselves at you."

Now his eyes went wide. "Well, hell, just shoot me. Look in the mir
ror, babe. You're gorgeous, I'll be fighting them off."

Now it was her turn to look offended.

"I don't do infidelity."

"There you go. We're made for each other."

"A marriage is about more than just sex."

"True. So do you want to agree to some basic ground rules? Might as well start as we mean to go on."

"Rules?"

He waggled his eyebrows.

"Yeah, like I'll take out the trash if you do diaper duty."

"Diaper duty should be shared," she said, shooting that bright idea down in flames.

An exaggerated sigh escaped from his lungs. "I was afraid of that."

She sent him a bland look that tickled him. "And so is burping and teething duty."

"I suppose I can do feeding duty, too."

"Not in the beginning. I plan to breast feed."

He scratched his chin, gave her big eyes.

Then his eyes dropped to her breast.

He licked his lips.

"Do you? Can I watch?"

She poked him in the shoulder.

"You're not taking this seriously. Anyway, there's plenty to get through before that. Like the delivery."

He felt the blood drain from his face.

The thought of her giving birth, the pain, the risks
for her and the baby made the room tilt.

"I'd like you to be there,
" she said, her voice no more than a whisper.

Silence.

"I'm not good with pain," he admitted, eventually.

"Don't worry," she said
and gave him another look that tickled him. "You won't feel a thing."

"Seriously. Do you
want to know what terrifies me the most?"

Her fingertips stroked his cheek, scratched his beard.
"No. What?"

"You'll laugh at me."

Whisky coloured eyes danced into his. "No I won't."

"That I drop the baby
."

Stunned, she stared at him as her bottom lip quivered and then her brow creased.

"See?" he said looking offended. "I knew you'd find it funny."

"I don't find it funny. I find it terribly sweet."

He moved to kiss her when his eye caught the digital clock on the bedside table.

His eyes went wide.

"Shit!"

Matt leapt from the bed.

Eve sat pulling the sheet across her breasts and shoved back her hair.

"What
's the matter?"

"We have exactly thirty minutes to get ready."

Baffled she simply stared at him. "For what?"

"For dinner with the
Ferranti's. He'll kill me if we're late," he said over his shoulder as he raced for the bathroom.

She'd completely forgotten their dinner date.

Eve heard the shower running.

Biting down on her bottom
lip she slid out of bed, strolled through the door to watch a gorgeous naked man scrub himself. Her mouth twitched. Perhaps it would save time if they shared the water?

Eve changed twice before she got a grip of herself.

A dinner with his close friends was not a big deal. Matt had said to dress casual.

She huffed out a breath. Of course it was a big deal. She was meeting his best friends for the first time. Now she bit her lip, maybe she should have bought that lovely little black number in the hotel boutique?

Annoyed now she wondered what she was stressing about?

So she tugged on her suede boots over black skinny jeans.

Hadn't Matt the clueless said jeans were fine?

She slid a gorgeous top of black and gold silk over her head. It fell just below her hips.

Off duty she rarely wore make-up so she dusted
on a sheer coat of mineral face powder, a little smoky eye shadow, mascara and lip gloss and that was it.

When she entered the sitting room he stood there in a black long sleeved thermal that hugged his chest like a lover, ancient jeans and battered boots. He still hadn't shaved and with the too long hair he looked all rough and ready. And Eve thought he was the most superb
male animal she'd ever seen and the want deep in her belly was so much more than mindless lust.

It was love.

He held out his hand and she placed hers in his.

"You look stunning," he told her.

Sitting comfortably and toasty in Matt's Range Rover on the way to The Dower House, Eve found herself considering her options.

In the afterglow of their lovemaking there was that familiar ease between them that reminded her of the good times with Matt. But nothing had changed between them, not really.

Keeping her baby, being a single mother, risked career suicide but it couldn't be helped.

Thinking too fa
r ahead wasn't something she indulged in on a regular basis. Eve preferred to live in the moment. Although she'd had the odd panic attack when she'd tried to visualise what lay ahead for her and her baby, their immediate future was secure. She had savings and investments to be able to take care of her child until it went to school. The future after that might be a little hazy it was true but not once did she regret the decision to keep her baby.

On a bad day she'd worried about making ends meet in the long term. On good days Eve told herself that she had a good brain and it was time she used it to finally settle down and write her book
s.

Until yesterday
, her grand plan had been to confront him and then put Mathias Carter right out of her mind. Why oh why had she fallen in love with an actor? After everything she and her mother had gone through she should have learned the hard lesson that actors were simply not reliable. They'd been let down very badly by a man who'd been at the very top of his profession on stage and screen. He still was.

Now she glanced at Matt who was focused on his driving and Eve tried
hard not to compare him to her father. She knew it wasn't fair to liken Matt's behaviour to her father's but she just couldn't seem to help it. She couldn't forget that Matt had walked away and refused her attempts to reach him either.

He'd apologised and
now he wanted more, much more.

Maybe too much?

But Matt's behaviour had brought back too many bitter memories and Eve was finding it hard to get past them. The scars of rejection and of old hurts burned too brightly in her psyche. She might be able to forgive Matt, but would she ever be able to forget? Somehow she doubted it, because she'd never been able to forgive her father for the way he'd abandoned her or been able to forget sitting on the front porch-step waiting for him to come and collect her.

She'd been seven, wearing her best frock with her hair brushed until it shone with her little suitcase at her side. The excitement of the little g
irl cut deep into a heart that had been utterly broken. After two hours sitting on the step she'd been worrying herself to death that something bad had happened to him. Then her mother had placed her arm around her thin shoulders and whispered that her father wasn't coming. Eve would never forget the creeping disappointment and bitter tears that she wasn't going on a plane with her daddy to visit his house in Hollywood. He was too busy with a big movie. His big chance, her mother had told her not bothering to hide her own bitterness and hurt from her little daughter. And he'd promised to make it up to her. He never had. Her mother had refused to permit him to disappoint his only child again and the rift between father and daughter had been permanent.

And l
ike her father Matt had big plans for his future too.

The difference was that he wanted her and their child with him.

But for how long?

Anxiety crawled into her gut at the thought of marriage and everything it entailed.

Marrying a man like Matt would mean that there would be a good chance she'd come face to face with her father. And Eve wasn't sure she'd ever be ready to deal with that event.

Now she was pulled back to the present as Matt drove along the road leading to The Dower House. She took a s
urprised breath. Set in landscaped gardens covered in snow and glittering with frost the house was gorgeous. Constructed of pristine sandstone, the building was a stunning miniature of Ludlow Hall. The house and gardens were illuminated by up lights and in the middle of the turning circle stood a fabulous pine tree at least twenty feet high lit by thousands of tiny white lights.

Matt brought the Range Rover to a halt, got out and jogged around to open her door.

He took her hand as she stepped out. The air was crisp with winter, nipping her cheeks and rippling her hair. She didn't feel a thing. All she felt was Matt's hand in hers and his eyes on hers.

"What a stunning
house," she said.

"You like it?"

"Love it."

Still holding her hand
, he picked up a big bag from the trunk and led her to fabulous arched double doors of ancient oak.

Before he had the chance to tug
the bell pull, the door was opened by Nico Ferranti.

He was dressed in black jeans and a cashm
ere sweater in pale grey.

Eve's head tipped back to meet dark eyes that went sharp as they studied her face.
And she got the distinct impression that this was not a man to cross. Then he smiled and the handsome face went from hard to welcoming. Nico grabbed her hand and pulled her into the house. She stepped onto large stone tiles that stretched through the vast entrance hall. To the right a wide wooden staircase of polished oak wound up to the next floor and tucked in the curve of the staircase was another beautiful Christmas tree, this time decorated for children. Candy canes hung from the lower branches.

Nico gave her a brotherly kiss on each cheek before giving Matt a backslapping man hug.

"Welcome," he said. And then his eyes followed hers as Eve grinned at the drunk looking fairy perched on the top of the tree. "
Si
, she got caught in the crossfire. The twins were fighting to see who would put her on the top. They are very excited about the visit from Santa."

Matt handed him a carrier bag which held a couple of
gaily wrapped boxes. "The pink one's for Sophia and the blue one is for Luca."

"
Grazie
," Nico said in that deep rumbling Italian accent that made Eve grin. "They are asleep, thanks be to God. We spent the day making snowmen. I am happy to say they are exhausted."

He led the way into a gorgeous sitting room.

"Admit it, you had more fun than the kids," said a blonde woman, hugely pregnant and sitting in a chair next to the fire.

"Hello, gorgeous." Matt wen
t over to greet her. She kissed him twice on each cheek.

"Hello, handsome," she said
and beamed into his face. She ran her fingers through his hair. "Is this a new look or for a film?"

"I'm incognito
."

For some re
ason the statement made the woman roar with laughter.

Matt took Eve's hand and brought her over to meet her hostess.

"Bronte Ludlow, Eve Langan."

Friendly emerald eyes met Eve's and she read humour and not a little curiosity.

"Of course I recognise you from the TV adverts and the glossy magazines. I'm thrilled to meet you," she said. Then added before Eve could respond, "I'd get up but I've been on bed rest and Nico won't even let me stand."

"Is everything oka
y, you look wonderful," Eve told her and meant every word.

Bronte Ferranti was one of the most stunning women Eve had ever seen. And in her job she'd seen plenty.
Slippy ash blonde hair was caught in a high tail and ran across her shoulder and down her breast. She was wearing a cashmere sweater the colour of new grass, which flowed over her bump and matching skinny pants. Her narrow feet were tucked into super thick socks the colour of clotted cream.

"This pregnancy's been a challenge. What would you like to drink?"

Eve turned to look at Nico who was holding an open bottle of champagne.

She opened her mouth to speak but Matt beat her to it.

"We're pregnant, too. A fresh orange or apple juice if you have it," he said.

Immediately Bronte caught Eve's hand and squeezed tight.

"Congratulations! How exciting. How many weeks?"

"Almost twelve
."

Eve found herself bei
ng hugged by Nico and her cheeks bussed again before Matt endured another man hug before bending down to receive a kiss from Bronte.

Nico poured two glasses of champagne for the men and sparkly apple juice for the ladies.

He raised his glass. "Congratulations. I never thought I would ever live to see this day."

Matt settled a suddenly nervous Eve next to him on the couch and put his arm around her shoulders.

"We're thrilled."

He gave her big eyes and a happy smile.

She gave them right back at him.

"It was a surprise," she admitted
wanting to be scrupulously honest to the lovely couple. "But it's beginning to feel real."

Bronte held up her glass. "Cheers, I think you look wonderful together and it's so sweet to see Matt finally settled. You've got yourself one of the good guys, Eve."

Matt grinned at Eve with a complacent told-you-so smile.

The sound of the doorbell pealed through the house.

Nico moved fast. "That will be the entertainment for the evening," he muttered.

Bronte just laughed at Eve's wide eyes. "What he means is that it's my brother Alexander and his wife Rosie. Rosie can't wait to meet Matt."

"A fan?" Eve guessed.

Bronte's emerald eyes danced with sheer mischief. "Oh yeah." She grinned at Matt. "I'll apologise ahead of time. Our Rosie
's mouth doesn't possess a filter."

Eve snuck a look to see if Matt was uncomfortable with the impending attention but when he caught her eye he shrugged, reached out to stroke her hair.

Sitting at the candle lit dining room table an hour later, Eve decided that the Ludlow's made an interesting couple. Alexander was tall and slim with an athletic build. Exceptionally good looking with his sister's eyes and slicked-back hair the colour of chestnuts. He obviously adored his wife. Rosie Ludlow reminded Eve of a demented fairy. She was tiny with huge eyes the colour of melted dark chocolate. Her mobile face was framed by a head of glossy curls that fell just past her slim shoulders. Her eyes never stopped sparkling, especially when she looked at Matt. Eve could hardly blame her since Matt was keeping them in stitches describing the bad behaviour of a major movie star.

Letting the conversation flow over her head, she wished for just a little of the love that Bronte and Nico Ferranti had. Making the decision to tell Matt that he was going to be a father hadn't been an easy one for her. Typically, once she'd weighed up the pros and cons she'd set her mind on the task and followed it through.

However, she recognised the emotional aftermath had taken its toll.

Matt's friends had welcomed her with open arms, but they were his friends, not hers. Now she felt weary and under scrutiny. And Bronte was
looking tired, uncomfortable. Nico was watching his wife like a hawk. The bond between the couple went deep and was quite wonderful to see. Bronte's brother Alexander was lovely. As far as Eve was concerned the only fly in the ointment was Rosie who was openly flirting with Matt. Twice Alexander had tried to catch his wife's eye and failed. Rosie seemed to be an over-excited little twit. If Eve hadn't been a guest in someone's home she'd have given Ms Rosie a verbal slap. For some odd reason she kept calling Matt, Dick. A little
in
joke that Eve wasn't in on. And the constant giggling and grins were seriously pissing her off.

"Did you ever receive the picture of me I sent you," Rosie asked Matt
now in a voice that found Eve desperately struggling not to roll her eyes.

He smiled, flashing a dimple next to his mouth.