Made for Him: A Mafia Baby Romance Read Online Free PDF Page B

cheats?”
    “Cheating is just sex. A good husband will provide for you and protect you. You can’t expect any man to stay faithful, Jess, so you might as well settle for a man who will keep you safe.”
    I can’t help it, I let irritation cloud my voice. “Keep me safe? This isn’t the nineteenth century! I don’t need money or protection—I want someone who will do anything to be with me, including not fuck other women!”
    “Language, Jess,” Uncle Jimmy says sternly. “That isn’t a word a young lady should know.”
    I blow out a stream of air, a controlled exhale to calm down. Uncle Jimmy’s too old of a dog to learn new tricks, I guess, and I should have guessed he would be rooting for Nate and me to get together again, since he’s the one who introduced us. Nate helped Jimmy branch into investing some of the shop’s extra income a couple of years ago, and Jimmy thought Nate and I would like each other, since we ran in similar circles.
    I frown when I think of how I jumped to be in a relationship, so confident that a guy like him—five years older and with a good job—would finally give me the things my college boyfriends couldn’t.
    I had been so naive.
    I hear Uncle Jimmy sigh. “I don’t want to argue with you,” he says. “We can talk about Nate another time. Now, what did you call me yesterday for?”
    I don’t want to tell him , I realize. I’m too upset about the Nate thing, and if Uncle Jimmy is still this attached to the idea of Nate and me dating again, he won’t like hearing that I’m pregnant with some stranger’s child.
    He wouldn’t like it one bit.
    So I lie. “I was just having a rough day at work is all. But I’m better today. Promise.”
    He sounds relieved. “Good, I’m glad. I’d hate to have to come down there and kick somebody’s ass.”
    I wish he’d kick Nate’s ass, but I’m not willing to bring him up again, not when we’ve finally moved past it.
    “Well, I should get back to work,” I say. “Thanks for calling me back.”
    “Anytime. And Jess?”
    “Yes?”
    He sounds hesitant. Worried. “Take care of yourself, okay? The city’s a little rough right now, which is really why I’d feel better if you were with Nate. Maybe at least let one of the shop boys drop you off at work and pick you up.”
    “I don’t need a babysitter,” I say firmly. “I have a secure parking garage both here and at my loft. I’m fine .”
    Another sigh. “Okay, pumpkin. Just remember, I’m only a phone call away, and if you need me and I can’t get to you, I can have one of the boys to you in minutes.”
    “Okay. Love you, Uncle Jimmy.”
    “Love you too. Stay safe.”
    I hang up the phone and stare out over the busy city street for a few minutes. I’m going to have to tell Jimmy I’m pregnant eventually, but the one thing I know is that I don’t want to do it any time soon.
    Trying to put that—and that fucker Nate—out of my head, I go back inside and get back to work.

    * * *
    M atteo’s house is nothing like I expect.
    For one thing, it’s a house, not a loft or penthouse, and for another, it’s in what used to be Little Italy, and is now known as just Little Everywhere Else. Not exactly a prestigious neighborhood, although definitely the place to go if you want the best ramen or Ethiopian food.
    But despite the declining neighborhood, the house itself is huge and beautiful, a turn of the century brick affair with massive windows and a gorgeous wraparound porch. Huge oak trees shade the large yard, and black, wrought-iron fence taller than me guards the property.
    When I drive up to the gate, I punch in the code Matteo gave me, and it opens automatically. I don’t miss the security cameras near the gate, nor do I miss the spike strips embedded into the driveway. It’s strange; this may not be a wealthy neighborhood, but it’s more or less a quiet one, and so all the security measures seem a little excessive.
    But then I forget all that as I get closer