Resisting the Pregnant Pediatrician
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Sue MacKay
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11
CHAPTER ONE
‘WATCH OUT, YOU IDIOT!’ Bella Rosso shouted at the car speeding past.
The driver cut in front of her.
She swore as she slammed her foot on the brake to avoid a collision. ‘Some people shouldn’t be allowed behind a steering wheel.’
The sun was on its slow descent towards the horizon and the road between Lake Orta and Stresa was busy with people heading home after work. Not a time for any driver to be pushing their way through the traffic. No time was right for that, Bella admitted, jerking forward when her car came to an abrupt stop.
The vehicle causing problems swerved back towards the centre of the road, then veered straight into a small cyclist on a child-sized bike. Make that cyclists plural.
Heart leaping to her throat, Bella eased her car off the road before leaping out to run over to the two small boys lying entangled in the bike frame and wheels. Shock stared up at her from their little faces. ‘Hello, boys.’ At least, she thought they were boys with their messy short haircuts and tee shirts with trucks on the front. ‘I’m a doctor. I’m going to help you, all right?’ She was already on her knees beside them, ascertaining the situation. ‘Don’t try to move until I say so. You might hurt yourselves even more.’
One began crying. ‘The car hit us. We didn’t do anything wrong.’
‘I know. Let me check you over before we worry about that.’ She looked around and saw other people racing towards them. ‘Someone call the polizia and an ambulance.’
‘The police are already here. They were on the other side of the roundabout watching the traffic when this happened,’ a woman informed her.
‘Hope that means they know what went down,’ Bella said, half to herself. Because the driver of the car had been negligent, the driving shocking.
A man crouched down on the other side of the boys. A steal-her-breath-away kind of man. So good-looking, he couldn’t be for real.
‘I’m a doctor,’ he said, bringing her back on track.
Just as well since there were two injured boys to concentrate on helping.
‘Good. The more the better. I’m also a doctor.’ Then she added for good measure, so he understood that she knew what she was about, ‘A paediatrician.’
‘Emergency specialist.’ He was already carefully moving one boy’s arm from between the steering bar and the asphalt path.
‘The boys are in good hands, then.’
‘You’re local?’ There was an intriguing accent emphasising his Italian words. Possibly British but she couldn’t tell where from, which was odd considering she’d lived and worked in London for four years.
‘Yes.’ She felt over the head of the other boy.
‘I’m currently working at the Stresa Hospital,’ he told her.
Was this the temporary emergency specialist she’d heard was meant to start this week while she’d been working in Milano? More than likely, it was, which meant that from what she’d heard about him the accent was from Scotland.
A woman suddenly shouted, ‘Out of the way! I’m a nurse, I’ll see to the children.’
The new doctor stood up, wariness all over his face. ‘Easy does it.’
‘They rode their bike in front of my car. It’s their fault this happened.’
Something hard stabbed Bella’s shoulder, sending her falling sideways. Not exactly how I saw the accident unfolding, she thought as she struggled to right herself.
‘Hey, look out.’ The wariness changed to annoyance as the doctor stepped between her and the ranting woman. ‘Move away. Don’t hurt anyone else,’ he snapped.
‘Not my fault the stupid boys rode in front of me.’ The ranting woman tried stepping around him again.
‘Lady, move back now.’ He stepped with her to prevent the woman getting anywhere near Bella or the boys. She could see he was tense, as if he was expecting trouble. But he was probably used to that if he worked in emergency departments. When the fuming woman didn’t move he turned his back on her and reached down to help Bella. ‘Here, give me your hand.’
Looking up—a long way up—she nodded. ‘Thanks.’ One firm tug and she was on her feet, rubbing her shoulder where a small throb had set up.
‘Let me through,’ the woman shouted again, her arms flailing in all directions, coming up against the doctor’s firm stance, whacking his arm.
Bella stepped back, but was too late to avoid knuckles striking her in the side. She gasped. ‘Hey.’ Her hand immediately reached for her abdomen. There was a baby in there.
‘Stop that,’ the Scotsman snapped, again stepping between Bella and the apparent madwoman. ‘We’re doctors and will look after the boys. Please move away. We don’t need your help.’ He looked around, and called out to the two policemen heading their way. ‘Can you remove this woman? She’s getting in the way of us seeing to the lads.’ He wasn’t hesitant in expressing his annoyance and was being protective of her and the boys. He’d definitely come face to face with difficult people before, she’d say.
His accent sent an unexpected thrill down Bella’s spine. Totally inappropriate. As well as unasked for. Besides, right now it was the boys needing her attention, not her quiet, steady life. Kneeling down, she returned to looking after the kids, who were shaking and pale. ‘It’s all right, boys. You’re going to be okay. What are your names?’
Her hands were moving up and down the left leg of one lad who, having been on the back of the bike, would’ve taken the brunt of the knock from the car, from what she’d seen. Sì, as she suspected, a fracture to the femur. Getting him free of the wheel wasn’t going to be easy, or comfortable. ‘Need painkillers fast,’ she said aloud.
Neither of the boys had answered with their names. No doubt too shocked to understand what was going on.
‘Fractured?’ asked her counterpart as he concentrated on the second boy.
‘Sì.’ When in Italy speak Italian, even if she was fluent in English and this man’s first language would be English. ‘Have the police removed the woman?’
‘Yes.’ He nodded. ‘There’s a definite alcohol smell emanating from her.’
‘Her driving was dangerous moments before she hit these two.’
‘You saw what happened?’
‘I did.’ She’d talk to the police once the boys were hospital bound. ‘I was behind her, and had to brake to avoid being hit.’ She couldn’t imagine the outcome had she taken the hit in her car instead of these two but they would probably still be happily biking along the side of the road.
The man opposite her was ever so gently moving the front wheel just enough to feel along the other kid’s legs, quite the opposite to his manner with the deranged driver who’d caused the accident. ‘Fracture in the lower leg.’ He looked around as a siren cut through the chatter going on behind them. ‘Not before time.’
Talk about impatient. ‘That’s a fast response,’ Bella told him. It couldn’t have been many minutes since the call went to 112.
‘You’re right. It’s just that I always hold my breath in serious situations until an ambulance arrives,’ he said quietly.
Something she could relate to. One time the ambulance had been too late for the man she was trying to stabilise after a cardiac arrest. Incidents like that never left her.
‘Mamma,’ finally screamed the boy she was looking after.
Running her hand over his right arm that appeared free of injury, Bella spoke softly. ‘Mamma’s not here but the policeman will bring her to see you at the hospital.’ They needed some info to go on. The boys were wearing the local school’s uniform, which was a start. Names would help a lot more. ‘What’s your name?’
‘An-Andrea.’ Tears streamed down the sides of his face. ‘I want Mamma.’
Her heart was breaking for him. This had to be so frightening. Surrounded with people he didn’t recognise, his mother not here to make him feel better, and then there was the pain and shock. If only she could lift him into her arms and hug away all the trauma. Instead she went with smoothing back the hair stuck to his forehead. ‘What’s your friend’s name?’
‘Mattia.’
The other boy was lying still, eyes closed, his breathing rapid and shallow.
‘Can you hear me, Mattia?’ the ED specialist asked. ‘I’m Aaron, a doctor.’
The boy slowly opened his eyes, but said nothing.
Aaron. Come to think of it, she might have heard that name mentioned before. ‘I’m glad they were wearing helmets,’ she said. The consequences of being slammed into the pavement could’ve been far worse. Not that either of them would be cycling for a while to come. ‘We need some serious painkillers here, otherwise extricating these two from the bike is going to be unbearable.’ Not happening on her watch.
‘Agreed.’ Aaron looked around. ‘Help’s arrived.’
Within moments paramedics had taken over and were administering drugs to numb the pain before putting both boys on oxygen, then she and Aaron helped remove them from the mangled cycle to place them on stretchers.
Finally she was able to stand up straight, only to wince as a sharp pain stabbed her in the side. Her hand hovered over her abdomen. That woman had better not have hurt her baby. That would really get her wound up and on the warpath. Not that she’d be able to do a thing about it. But she wanted this baby so badly the mere idea of losing it made her blood boil. Jason might not be alive to meet his child, but she would do all in her power to make up for his absence. It had taken nearly three years for her to finally feel ready to have in vitro insemination and nothing, nobody, was going to get in the way of this pregnancy going full term.
‘You all right?’ Aaron stood in front of her, looking concerned.
‘I’m fine, thank you.’ But very angry.
Calm down, Bella. A smack in the side isn’t likely to jeopardise your baby.
True. She did get a bit paranoid about her pregnancy at times. Doing it alone got her uptight whenever the slightest little thing went wrong. She chose not to download her worry on anyone, which got a bit lonely at times. While her family hovered over her pretty much non-stop, she didn’t like to tell any of them her fears about something going wrong with the pregnancy. They’d only get even more determined to keep her wrapped up in cotton wool, and she was well and truly over that. Since Jason died she’d slowly got back on her feet and begun facing life again, and now she was not going back to that dark, sad place ever again.
‘You sure?’ The doctor was watching her very closely. Too closely for someone who didn’t know her. There was nothing but concern in his face, but still. He didn’t need to know about her pregnancy. Or her OTT worries.
But why was he so concerned?
She didn’t need his concern on top of everyone else’s in her life right now. ‘Yes. What about you?’
‘I’m fine.’
‘Thank you for intervening with that woman. She was definitely on a mission.’ Bella looked around for the police. She’d go and fill them in on the details of the accident she’d witnessed. Accident? Really? When the woman had been going too fast and was obviously under the influence? Technically the incident would be written up as an accident, but she’d seen the results of so-called accidents far too often during her medical training to think of them as anything other than bad decision-making with horrendous consequences for innocent people. ‘I’ll talk to the police about what happened.’
‘I’m Aaron Marshall, and here for the next four months.’ He held his hand out. ‘I’m sure we’ll see a bit of each other at the hospital. It’s not exactly a huge place.’ His smile had become warm and full of confidence, like a man used to getting his own way over just about anything and everything. Especially if he used that smile.
Well, it wasn’t getting to her. She was immune to charming men. Jason had been the love of her life, and there wouldn’t be another one of those hanging around for her. No one got two goes at such a deep love.
‘I’m sure we will.’ She shook his hand briefly, then stepped back, needing to put a hold on the sudden heat that flared between their hands. ‘Bella Rosso. Nice to meet you.’
That suck-her-in smile remained. ‘Not in the best of circumstances.’
‘No.’ She turned around to head for the policewoman talking to a man on the side of the road. There was no need to hang around being polite with Aaron. As he said, they’d bump into each other at work. That was enough. He might be intriguing with that spine-tingling accent and tall build—why did tall men turn her on?—but her future was mapped out and it did not include getting involved with the temporary ED doc.
Or any man, for that matter. She’d loved Jason with all her heart, and couldn’t imagine loving another man as much. So far, the three dates she had gone on in the last year to shut her family down about getting out there again had been enjoyable but not filled with heat and passion. Pleasant, not exciting. More about pretending to be having a full life so her family backed off.
Unfortunately those dates had only endorsed the fact the love she’d known with her late husband had been special and rare and wasn’t going to be repeated. Now she had her wonderful career, and a baby to bring into the world and raise the best she could. Along with help and understanding from her three bossy brothers and parents who often hinted she shouldn’t be doing this alone.
Tough. She was. Nothing was going to change that. Nothing and nobody. In the last weeks of Jason’s life they’d talked for hours about her having their baby when he was gone. He’d been concerned that she might not cope alone while working at the career she’d always dreamed about, but he’d also made it very clear it would be amazing if she did go ahead. She’d pointed out that if she hadn’t miscarried months earlier she’d already be facing parenting on her own. She couldn’t make him any promises about going ahead with a pregnancy, even if deep down she knew she would have his baby. Their baby. It was a way to keep Jason with her. She didn’t regret it at all.
It was too late for regrets, anyway.
Aaron pulled into Gino’s ristorante car park and turned off the car. Linguine and a glass of Pinot Grigio was what he needed after a busy day in ED followed by that accident with the two kids knocked off their bike. He wasn’t allowing any thoughts of Dr Bella Rosso into the mix. Not even how she’d turned her back on him and walked across to the officer to talk about what she’d seen go down when the car took out those boys.
Sure, she’d been doing the right thing, but she didn’t have to be so abrupt with him. He was only being open and friendly, which usually won most women over.
Did he want to win over this particular one? Why? Partly because she hadn’t dropped to her knees at the sight of him as so many women usually did. Because of his famous family, his face and name went before him and made life tedious when it came to keeping clout-chasing women at bay. So far that hadn’t happened here in Italy but he knew it was only a matter of time.
No denying a fling to while away the hours when he wasn’t at work would be fun and would help him relax some, might even help him sleep a little at night. Plus it would add to his Italian experience. He sensed Bella wasn’t going to be the one to make his nights pass in enjoyment and help him get his mojo back. She was a bit too serious for his taste.
You were at an accident scene. Of course she was serious.
There hadn’t been any smiles forthcoming afterwards though.
She still had to talk to the police.
Seeing those two little guys slammed into by a car had probably wiped any thought of a smile off her lovely face. Plus the way that woman shoved her out of the way with no consideration for anyone else whatsoever. His initial reaction had been fear she might attack him or the paediatrician—a serious attack like the one that nearly took his life back in Edinburgh—but he’d quickly reclaimed his composure, and the need to protect had kicked in fast, as per normal. He’d been too late to prevent Dr Bella falling to the ground. He ground his teeth. What was that other woman on? He thought he’d smelt alcohol but could be wrong. She might just be OTT. Guess he’d never know, and didn’t really need to. But the stunned look on Bella’s face as she fell remained with him. He hadn’t caught her in time.
‘Give it a break,’ Aaron muttered and shoved the car door open. He didn’t need any hassles. He was here to get back up to speed after a galling incident back in Edinburgh. His left hand automatically rubbed the top of his thigh where the knife had sliced through the artery. Attacked by a drugged-up patient during an extremely disorderly night in the emergency department back home, he’d been lucky to survive. The blood loss had been serious to the point he wouldn’t have made it if he hadn’t been in the centre of the department with all the equipment and staff to deal with such an emergency. And if the security guard hadn’t been right there taking down the man as he raised his knife to have another crack at the doctor who wasn’t doing anything to fix his broken toe.
Aye. There were always egotists in emergency departments demanding they be seen to before anyone else, no matter where the triage nurse put them on the list of waiting patients. What a night that had been. One that wasn’t going away any time soon. He’d barely slept since. Every time his eyes closed, a picture appeared in full colour of that knife arcing into him and showing the hatred in his attacker’s eyes being replaced with glee when Aaron dropped to the floor in agony. No, sleep was highly overrated when it was full of images he’d give almost anything to forget.
A decent meal would go a long way to quietening the tension that rolled through him on a regular basis for no apparent reason other than he was exhausted and unable to put the attack behind him. A full night’s sleep would be even better but not as easy to order up... No, make that impossible to order up!
After a quick stop at his house he’d headed to the restaurant he’d seen in town. As he walked in the sound of laughter reached him and he glanced around to see a large table by the far wall with what appeared to be a family having dinner.
His breath caught. Amongst the group sat Bella. And man, was she attractive when she was smiling freely. His gut clenched. He breathed deep and long, urging the tightness to back off. He’d known plenty of beautiful women yet this one seemed to flick a switch, tipping his carefully held-in emotions off balance.
‘You’d like a table for one, signor?’
He’d far prefer to join Bella’s group, but that wasn’t happening. Something he should be grateful for. ‘Sì. Thank you.’
‘Over here by the window. Not that you can see the lake now that it’s dark.’ The waitress laughed over her shoulder, her large eyes giving him the once-over. ‘But it’s a nice place to sit. Away from the noisy family too.’
The family looked right at home. The children were laughing and eating and getting the occasional growl from one of the adults. ‘Is this their restaurant?’
‘Sì. Gino and his wife own it, and the others are all relatives. They eat here most nights of the week.’
Bella appeared to be part of a large family by the looks of that table. A happy family with no restraints on their voices and laughter. Lucky woman. Not something he was used to. Taking the chair the waitress pulled out, he sat down. ‘Could I have a glass of Pinot Grigio, please?’
‘Certainly. Here’s the menu. Tonight’s special is the seafood spaghetti.’
Leaning back in his chair, he stared out of the window, aiming for peace and quiet, trying to ignore the unexpected longing bubbling up in him to be involved in such a display of closeness. Beyond the gardens surrounding the parking area, the road was quieter than it had been as he’d made his way to his accommodation after the accident. He’d rented a small house on the hillside overlooking Lake Maggiore for four months, and it was perfect. The views were amazing and the neighbours welcoming without being pushy.
Of course, they knew nothing about him, something he aimed for every time he went somewhere new. Being part of a famous family had drawbacks. He preferred to live quietly and get on with his own career without those of his parents and sister dragging him into media frenzies he disliked intensely. They took away his privacy and his individuality.
Despite the night view, he could see beyond the road to the bumpy lake surface glittering in the light of the full moon peeking over the Alps. The tiny island Isola Bella with its castle was dark except for a few lights on the lower floor. He couldn’t have chosen a better place to take a break. The emergency department kept him busy in a more relaxed way than what he was used to. Which meant he wasn’t continuously feeling uptight and frantic to keep the patients moving through the system, and not eyeing every one of them as a potential threat. Something else that was a hangover from the attack.
‘Here you go, signor.’ A glass of wine appeared in front of him.
After a quick perusal of the menu he ordered the linguine he’d been looking forward to and sipped the wine. Aye, not a bad way to end a day. Reflected in the window to his right was a view of the family on the other side of the wide room. Even sitting side on to him, Bella stood out. Appearing relaxed and happy, she was talking to the older woman next to her between mouthfuls of pasta. It was as if there were two Bella Rossos. He’d probably only get to know the serious version since they’d mostly see each other at the hospital and even then only when a child was in need of a paediatrician.
With a pang of disappointment he sipped his wine again. At least that was reliable, tasted the same as the first mouthful and wouldn’t change by the end of the glass.
It was crazy he should be thinking he’d like to get Bella’s attention when he spent most of his time avoiding being noticed. Growing up in his family came with its downside. Because his mother was an actress with multiple awards to her name and his father a top judge often causing a stir in court in London, everyone from the media to hangers-on thought they had a right to know what he was up to and who with any time they asked. As if it had anything to do with them. His sister soaked up the attention like a sponge as she made her way up the ladder as a camerawoman in the movie industry. Not him.
He’d always felt uncomfortable but it had got a whole lot worse when Amy came into his life. That was when he truly grappled with the consequences of his family’s fame. In the end Amy left him because she loathed the constant pressure from the media.
Aaron sat back as the waitress placed a plate of linguine in front of him. ‘Grazie.’
Amy had taught him the biggest lesson of his life. Not to judge people until he knew the facts. He’d thought she’d be able to handle being with him because she was quite laid-back and easy-going. He was clearly wrong, or she’d still be with him. Hence his dislike of the media had grown. All he wanted was to be able to get on with his work and personal life without interference, and to help others along the way, whether medically, financially or by lending an ear. One thing he was grateful for at the moment was that it appeared Dr Rosso hadn’t recognised his face or name. Then again, here in Stresa there was less likelihood of that happening, which was why he’d applied for the job here.
So relax, why don’t you? Make the most of where you are and what you’ve got. Stop worrying about what you can’t change.
Not something he was good at, but he’d give it a go. For the millionth time. Otherwise coming here was a waste of time. He had to get over the attack so the nightmares stopped, so that he didn’t get wound up whenever a patient raised their voice. Only then would life be so much easier to deal with.
The first mouthful of linguine slid across his tongue, exciting his taste buds. ‘Delicious.’
‘Isn’t it?’ agreed the waitress as she went past with three full plates balanced on her arm. The smile she gave him was open and suggested she was willing to share something else if he asked.
He smiled to himself. It would be nice to lose himself in a woman for an hour or two, but somehow he couldn’t find the enthusiasm to do anything about it.
Sorry, but not tonight, if at all.
Tucking into his meal, he let the food, wine and general atmosphere take over dulling the permanent tension in his body for a while. Something easier to do tonight than he’d experienced in a long time. Nothing to do with Dr Rosso. Couldn’t be. He hadn’t glanced her way since ordering his meal, and he was trying hard to ignore the image in the window where Bella was now standing and gathering empty plates.
She turned and stopped, her gaze fixed on him. Of course she wouldn’t know he could see her in the window. That could be called creepy. He focused on the view once more and forked up another mouthful of pasta. Breathed deep to find that relaxed feeling again. Sipped his wine. Ate some more. Working together was going to be tricky if this was how he reacted to Bella’s image in the window.
‘Can I get you another wine?’ The waitress appeared on the opposite side of his small table. ‘Or the dessert menu?’
He leaned back in his chair. ‘I’ll have a coffee, thank you.’
‘Are you staying in Stresa long?’ she asked as she took his plate. ‘The tourist season is getting under way but already the number of diners at the restaurant is picking up.’
‘Is accommodation a part of this business as well?’ he asked, avoiding her question. Lights had been on in lots of rooms on the floor above the restaurant when he’d arrived. The car park was also full.
‘Level two has eight hotel rooms. Then the top level is for Gino’s family, along with a small apartment where his sister lives. She’s having a baby and her brother likes to keep a protective eye on her.’ This woman obviously had no inhibitions over talking about the people she worked for.
Best to keep well clear of her, even for a few hours. He knew where a loose tongue could lead and he didn’t need that. No one did. ‘Coffee?’
Her mouth flattened a little. ‘Sì, signor.’
‘Grazie.’
Looking around the room, he noted he was the only one dining alone. Every table had people laughing and talking loudly. Holidaymakers or locals? Most likely a mix as the tourist season was getting up to speed with June being warm while not overly hot.
Coffee finished, Aaron stood up with the intention of paying his tab and heading out into the night. He’d take the car back to his accommodation then go for a stroll beside the lake. A glance across to the family table and he found Bella watching him. Changing direction, he headed her way. It would be rude to walk out without acknowledging her. ‘Hello, Bella. I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.’
‘Aaron, welcome to the family restaurant. I hope you enjoyed your meal.’
A man sitting further along the table stiffened.
‘The linguine was superb,’ Aaron said. ‘I’ll be back to try some of the other dishes during my time in Stresa,’ he added with a smile.
‘You can relax, Gino,’ Bella said. ‘So, Aaron, have you heard how those boys are doing?’
‘Mattia’s had his leg put in a cast and is staying overnight in the hospital. While Andrea has been transferred to the main hospital in Milan where an orthopaedic surgeon will insert a rod in his femur tomorrow.’ He’d called the ED to find out the outcome of the boys’ X-rays before coming here. ‘He’ll be returned to us either tomorrow or the day after.’
‘Bella’s been telling us about the accident. You were there?’ the man he presumed was Gino asked.
‘Yes. I’m Aaron Marshall, working in the ED department over summer.’ He held his hand out to the man.
‘Gino Rosso, Bella’s brother.’ The man had stood up, back straight, a direct look at Aaron.
Your sister’s safe with me, pal.
He wasn’t interested in getting serious with any woman, not even a beautiful lady with eyes he could drown in. It would only lead to someone being hurt. But Bella was stunningly hot.
‘Pleased to meet you. And yes, I reiterate, dinner was delicious.’
‘Grazie. Do come again.’
Turning back to Bella, Aaron asked, ‘How’s your side where you took that blow from the woman’s elbow?’
‘What? Who hit you?’ Gino snapped. ‘Are you hurt? Bella, answer me.’
After glaring at Aaron, Bella faced off her brother. ‘Calm down, Gino. It’s nothing. The woman who drove into the boys on the cycle knocked into me when she rushed to check on them. I fell over, that’s all.’
Not quite how it happened, but Aaron gave a mental shrug. She’d taken hard knocks in her side and shoulder, and he’d seen her rubbing where she’d been hit a couple of times at the accident scene. But if Bella didn’t want her brother getting wound up by the fact that it had been a deliberate knock, then he’d go along with her. He had to work with this woman, and any hindrance could be a pain in the backside. ‘It was a little chaotic for a few moments, but the woman was removed and we got on with helping the boys.’
Gino eyeballed him, then nodded. ‘Thank you for being there for Bella.’
He’d have done the same thing for anyone. ‘No problem.’
‘I’d better get back to the kitchen. Those cooks are slack when I’m not there to watch over them.’
Bella shook her head at her brother. ‘They’re too scared of you to take a breath.’ Her voice was full of affection. ‘He only talks tough. He’s a pussycat on the inside.’
Gino strode away without comment.
‘Whichever, he’s a darned good chef. People say pasta’s pasta, how can you go wrong with cooking it? I disagree. Done well, nothing beats it.’
‘You’re from Scotland?’
‘Yes. Our food couldn’t be more different.’
‘I lived in London for four years and hankered after Gino’s cooking all the time.’
Glancing around to make sure none of the family was within hearing, he found he was being sized up by the older woman Bella had been sitting by.
Wasting your time, lady.
The other man still remaining resembled Gino, and Bella, he saw now he looked more closely. Another brother, most like. He turned back to Bella and said quietly, ‘Are you sure you’re all right? She did slam into you fairly hard.’
‘I’m fine. Thank you for asking though. Now I’d better get the table cleared. I’ll see you at the hospital tomorrow or later on in the week. Goodnight.’ She added more dirty plates to those she already held and walked away.
‘Goodnight, Bella.’
She didn’t look back.
Fair enough. Though it was a new experience for him. It was usually he who drew the line under getting too friendly. He headed to the young man standing at the desk. ‘I’d like to pay my bill, thank you.’
‘It’s been taken care of, sir. Gino said the meal was on him.’
‘That can’t be right. I only met him a few minutes ago.’
‘You looked out for Bella today. That means a lot to this family. Goodnight, sir. Hopefully we’ll see you again some time soon.’
Stunned, Aaron wandered outside. He couldn’t remember ever being thanked in that way. People usually wanted something from him. Even though this family didn’t know who he was, he doubted it would’ve made a difference if they did. He liked that a lot.
But a meal on the house? For helping Bella to her feet? Any decent man would have done the same.
Hold on. The waitress mentioned a sister living upstairs. A pregnant sister. Bella? That would explain the concern in her eyes as she rubbed her side. He hadn’t noticed her being pregnant but then he hadn’t been looking hard. If she was pregnant then she was out of bounds. There was already a man in her life.
Hard to explain the disappointment filling him as he walked out to his car though.
