Her Shameful Secret by Susanna Carr Page A

wearing outfits that cost the same as a car.
    Antonio cast her an appreciative look that made her blush. “Trust me, Bella. You’ll fit right in.”
    Isabella couldn’t believe what she was seeing. She couldn’t pull her gaze away from Antonio as he leapt into the air. His strong arms were reaching, stretching as he dove for the soccer ball. Isabella’s stomach clenched and her skin felt flushed at the sight of his vigor and masculinity. Just when Isabella thought he would grabit, the ball zoomed past him and Antonio tumbled to the ground, rolled and shot to his feet.
    A group of young boys cheered as the ball hit the net.
    Unbelievable, Isabella thought. She’d never thought Antonio could be having fun at a child’s birthday party. He should look out of place among the colorful balloons, party hats and streamers. Instead the children gravitated toward him, eager for his attention. He gave it freely and didn’t refuse when several boys asked him to play.
    “I have told Antonio a thousand times that he shouldn’t let Dino win,” said Dino’s mother, Fia, as she stood beside Isabella, bouncing baby Giulia on her hip. “But at least he makes my son work for it.”
    “Maybe soccer isn’t Antonio’s sport.”
    “Ha!” Fia said as she tried to give a pacifier to her grumpy baby. “He was one of the best athletes in school. Football, swimming, skiing. He could do it all. He needed a sport for every season to expend his energy.”
    “I had no idea.” She should have known. Antonio was lean and muscular and moved with enviable grace.
    “Really?” Fia gave up on the pacifier and shifted baby Giulia onto her other hip. “How long have you known him?”
    “A few months.” But she hadn’t known that he loved sports. There were no trophies or sports equipment in his home. He didn’t tell stories about his adventures or his triumphs. Was it really a passion of his or did his abilities come to him so easily that he didn’t think much about it? “How about you?”
    “My husband has known him since their schooldays, and they’ve been together through the good times and bad.” Fia raised her voice over Giulia’s tired cry. “That’s why Antonio is Dino’s godfather.”
    Isabella watched Antonio ruffle Dino’s hair. His affection for the boy was apparent. “He takes that role seriously.”
    Fia nodded. “We couldn’t have asked for anyone better.”
    “I’ve never seen him around children,” she murmured as she watched Antonio approach her. Her heart began to beat fast. “He’s completely different.”
    “Not different,” Fia said. “More like he’s …”
    “Unguarded?”
    “Exactly.” Fia patted Giulia’s back but the baby continued to fuss. “I think it’s the little one’s bedtime.”
    “Here—let me hold her,” Antonio said, and reached out for the baby.
    Isabella couldn’t hide her surprise as he cradled Giulia in his arms. The baby stopped fussing and stared at Antonio with wide eyes as he spoke softly to her.
    “How did you do that?” Isabella asked. She couldn’t soothe a baby that quickly even after years of babysitting.
    Antonio smiled. “I have this effect on all women.”
    Fia laughed and lapsed into Italian. She spoke fast and Isabella struggled to keep up with the conversation. Eventually she allowed her gaze to fall on the baby, who was now falling asleep in Antonio’s arms.
    He was good with children and he liked being around them. How had she not known about this side of Antonio? Before she would have described him as sexy, powerful and remote. But today, as she watched him around his friends and their children, she knew there were many sides of him she had yet to discover. She needed to dig deeper to understand him.
    When they left the party it was late at night and thebirthday boy had been asleep for hours. Isabella had enjoyed visiting Antonio’s friends. She could tell they were curious about her but they’d made her feel welcome.
    She’d noticed how open