Mountain Man's Accidental Surprise - K.C. Crowne Page 0,10

patience with me.

I dried my face, and one more glance showed I looked better. I opened the bathroom door and found my father looking through one of my textbooks on my dresser. He and I looked nothing alike. I took after my mother, except for the blonde hair. I had inherited my father’s raven black hair, but his hair was more white than black these days. He was tall and slender, with a face that was long and as thin as well. His eyes were narrow and hidden behind a large, pointy nose that reminded me of a ski slope. I had my mother’s petite stature, her curves, and her round, feminine face. I was thankful for that.

“There you are, princess,” he said, snapping the book closed. He returned it to my dresser and turned his gaze toward me. I saw the disappointment in his eyes. “I told you we were having company tonight. Why aren’t you dressed and ready?”

“I’m sorry, I forgot,” I replied quickly. “I can get dressed really fast. Don’t worry—”

“What about your hair? Your makeup?” he frowned. He shook his head as he gave me a once over. “I guess it’ll have to do. Just wear the red sequined dress and do something with your hair before coming down. We’re meeting with someone particularly important, and I have a major announcement to make.”

“Yes, Dad.” I was twenty-three years old, yet I still felt like a little girl when I was around him. I was in college, nearly finished with my psychology degree, yet I wasn’t allowed to have a life of my own as long as I lived under my father’s roof. It felt ridiculous to me.

Almost as ridiculous as putting on the red sequined dress my father had requested. It showed off more cleavage than I was normally comfortable showing off, and the hem was a bit high. Normally my dad insisted I wear clothing that hid my body. It surprised me that he wanted to show me off. It didn’t sit well with me, but I didn’t have it in me to fight him.

The dress hugged my curves, showing off my ample hips and thighs, and my breasts were peeking out the top. I had to admit, I looked exceptional in the dress. I turned around in front of the mirror, admiring my body and thinking about how in a few months, my shape would change. I placed a hand on my belly and imagined what it would be like when it swelled.

There was another knock on the door. “Emilia, hurry up. Our guest has arrived.”

I sighed and hurried to the vanity, staring into the large mirror. I put on some red lipstick that matched the dress perfectly. My hair was natural today - all curls and ringlets around my face. I thought it looked nice, but it was a bit messy. I ran some gel through it and scrunched it with my fingers to add more definition, but that was about all I had time for.

“It’ll have to do for now,” I murmured to myself.

I thought about the child growing inside me as I gazed into my own eyes. Graham’s child - if that was even his real name. Probably not. The way he’d looked at me had made me feel like a model or a movie star. I’m sure he would have liked the curls. I pushed those thoughts out of my head, however. No use thinking about him. We’d had a fling. One night only. I hardly thought that meant he would want to settle down and raise a child with me. Besides, I hardly knew him. He might be nothing like the guy I’d had sex with that night. He was a stripper; it could have all been an act.

Yet, I didn’t think that it was.

I exited my room and hurried down the hallway to the main staircase of the house. I heard voices coming from the formal living room at the bottom of the stairs. A familiar voice at that. I groaned to myself when I realized who was there and why my father wanted me to dress the way that I did.

Antonio Lombardo was downstairs, and my father was trying to play matchmaker between me and the wealthy Lombardo heir, though not just any heir.

Heir to the Lombardo Crime Family.

I hesitated at the top of the stairs, not even breathing for a few moments as I listened to their discussion. I couldn’t hear much, only bits and pieces,