Page 69 of Secret Babies for the Italian Mafia Boss

“So good, Oliver. You’re going to be a chef, aren’t you?” I cough into my hand and try to figure out a way out of this.

“Maybe. I don’t know,” he shrugs.

“How about we go into town, check on the bakery, and then maybe I’ll take you kiddos to that trampoline place?” I forgot what it’s called, but I hear children like it.

“Yes!” they squeal and begin to rush to their room when Camilla catches them both by their shirts.

“Ah, ah, ah. You’re going to help clean up the mess you made. What’s my rule?” she questions them, bending down, so she’s on their level.

“If you mess it up, you clean it up,” they mumble in unhappiness.

I sip my pretend tea again, and a smile takes over Olivia’s face.

Bad pancakes and all, everything in my life is perfect.

Chapter Seventeen

Camilla

I didn’t think life could get any better than it has over the last six weeks. Luca has grown so close with the kids, building a bond only children and their dad can have. It’s made me so happy. We haven’t told Olivia and Oliver the truth about Luca being their father. I don’t know what I’m waiting on. I think I’m waiting for something bad to happen. I’m afraid if I tell them, they will be so happy, and then something will go wrong.

Maybe Luca will change his mind, and then I’ll be left all alone again. It isn’t okay to live like that. It isn’t fair to Luca. I should be better than that to him. He deserves to have the kids know the truth, but how do I get past this fear of being left behind again?

The kids wouldn’t be the only ones devastated if Luca decided not to have anything to do with us. I can’t tell if my instincts are telling me to run or to take a chance. Everything is questionable because I did the one thing I told myself I wouldn’t do.

I fell in love with him.

I love Luca.

And that’s what makes this so much harder. How do I know he will stick around for the long haul? What if the novelty of the family dynamic becomes boring to him?

“Are you ready to see your new bakery?” Luca’s voice pulls me out of my deep thoughts of what-ifs and fear.

I turn my head to him and lift my brows. “What?”

“Are you okay?” He steps into my space. “You’ve been in your head all morning.”

“I’m just wondering if maybe we should tell the kids that you’re their father. We should do it.”

The grin taking over his face is so wide it reaches his eyes. He wraps his arms around me and squeezes me tight until I can’t breathe.

“I can’t….” I gasp. “Breathe.”

“Sorry. I’m sorry. I’m excited. I’m happy. I want that too. There might have been a few times when I almost slipped, but I didn’t. I wanted to talk to you about it, but I didn’t want to seem presumptuous.”

“Presumptuous? Luca, they are your children. You’re allowed to be.”

“Well, they are more yours than they are mine right now.”

I open my mouth to argue, but he places a finger over my lips.

“I mean, it’s only been you three for five years. Your relationship with them is solid. I’m new, I’m building a relationship with them, and I don’t want it to seem like I deserve the ‘Dad’ title out of the gate. I haven’t earned it.”

“You’ve earned it.” I’m appalled he would think that. “You’ve been better to us than anyone has in a long time. You’re a father, Luca. You have been a father. You’ve been amazing. I want them to know. Okay?”

“Okay.” He leans in and presses his forehead against mine.

The three little words are on the tip of my tongue, but I can’t seem to speak them. I don’t rush it, I decide. The time will come. It doesn’t have to be right now.