<b>Chapter </b><b>110 </b>


    The click ck of Nicole’s heels echoed across the Cyber 10 development floor, drawing Sutton’s attention away from her monitor. She knew that woman’s walk anywhere. It was almost angry. Nicole was heading directly for her workstation, fake smile in ce.


    “Sutton,” Nicole said, voice dripping with forced pleasantness. “Luca wants to see you in his office.”


    “Did he say what about?” Sutton asked, already saving her work. Afterst night, was he going to push her into this car service? It wasn’t like she ever


    went home superte.


    “No.” Nicole’s eyes turned cold. “He wants you there. You shouldn’t be asking why.”


    Sutton kept her expression neutral. “I’ll head up now. Thanks.” Sutton leaned forward and locked herputer. Her code was on the system for her new


    virus software. At this stage, she trusted… well, no one.


    Nicole lingered. “I’ve been meaning to ask… just how far along are you? Seven months?”


    “Almost seven months. Why?” Sutton replied cautiously.


    “And the father?” Nicole’s smile tightened. “Is he in the picture?”


    “That’s personal, and none of your business<i>,” </i>Sutton said, standing and gathering her tablet.


    Nicole leaned in slightly. “Everything’s personal in apany this size, Sutton. People talk. They wonder how a receptionist with no programming experience suddenly gets moved to development… Is the father someone Luca knows?”


    The implication hung in the air between them.


    “I have aputer science degree<i>,</i><i>” </i>Sutton said evenly. “And I’m good at my job. That’s all that matters.” Sutton’s cheeks heated, knowing the others would be listening. This woman was a ss–A bitch.


    “Yes, but no real work experience, right?”


    “Nicole, go pull that stick out of your ass.”


    She walked away before Nicole could respond, but heard the stockughter from the other team members. She could feel the woman’s eyes boring into her back. The confrontation left her unsettled, but she refused to show it. She had every right to her job in the development department to let Nicole’s insinuations affect her.


    Luca’s office door was open when she arrived, He was on the phone, but motioned for her toe in when he saw her. Sutton took a seat, trying not to notice how good he looked in his well fitting suit, his strong hands as he jotted notes.


    “That works. Send over the contracts and I’ll review them tonight,” he said before ending the call. His eyes found hers immediately. “How are you feeling


    today?”


    It had be his standard greeting since discovering her pregnancy. The genuine concern in his voice made it hard to maintain her emotional walls.


    “Fine. The baby’s been active.” She rested a hand on her belly. “What did you need to see me about?”


    Luca leaned back in his chair. “Two things. First, Jake mentioned you’ve been helping Roman with some kind of financial investigation at <b>Kingst </b>Industries?” Sutton had been sure to let Jake know straight away. So he would tell Luca if Roman hadn’t already. She had been hoping <b>to </b>avoid <b>mung </b>


    with him alone.


    Sutton tensed. “Is that a problem?”


    “Not at all. In fact, it might be an opportunity.” Luca pulled a folder from his desk. “Kingston is one of our biggest clients and Roman is my friend. <b>Let </b><b>me </b>know if you need anything.”


    Sutton rxed slightly. “It’s an embezzlement case. ir asked me to look at some financial data patterns<b>, </b>to find out who has <b>been </b><b>siphoning </b>funds.


    “Impressive.” He sounded genuinely admiring. “Who’s the culprit? Do you know yet?”


    Sutton nodded. “I just let Roman know. A guy named Dan in their sales department. ir’s ex, actually.” Sutton couldn’t help the hint of satisfaction <b>in </b>her voice. “And a woman in ounting who’s been helping him hide the transactions. I…hmm hacked their phones. They are having an affair.”


    “Charming,” Luca said dryly. “Will Roman press charges?” He didn’t say anything about her hacking.


    “ir says he ns to. They’re confronting Dan and the woman tomorrow.”


    Luca nodded. “Good. But this raises arger question about their security protocols. I’d like you to prepare a proposal for an enhanced security audit for Kingston. Your insights would be valuable, given your familiarity with their systems<b>.” </b>


    Sutton blinked in surprise. “You want me to lead a project for Kingston?”


    “Yes. Unless you don’t feel ready?”


    “No, I–I can handle it,” she said quickly. The opportunity was too good to pass up, even if it meant working more closely with Luca.


    “Excellent.” Luca slid the folder across his desk. “These are the current security parameters we have for them. Review them. Let me know what you think.”


    Sutton took the folder, fingers brushing his momentarily. The brief contact sent a familiar spark through her that she tried desperately to ignore.


    “You said there were two things?<b>” </b>she prompted, eager to finish this meeting before her traitorous body betrayed her further.


    “When is your next doctor’s appointment?”


    Sutton could guess where this was going and wasn’t sure how she felt about him going with her. “Next week. What about it?” she asked carefully.


    “I’d like to be there,” he said simply. “If you’ll allow it.”


    “I…” Sutton hesitated. Having him at the appointment would make this all so much more real. More intimate. When she was trying to keep her distance. “It’s on Thursday at two<i>.” </i>naming the clinic.


    藝


    Relief washed over his features. “Thank you. I’ll clear my schedule.”


    The baby always seemed to know when she was near Luca because it gave a kick to <i>her </i>side. She didn’t know how she was going to put up with this kicking as the baby got bigger. Something must have showed on her face.


    Because Luca was immediately alert. “What’s wrong?”


    “Nothing. Just a kick.” She smiled despite herself. “This one’s going to be a ser yer.”


    Without thinking, she rubbed the spot where the baby had kicked. Luca’s eyes tracked the movement, longing evident in his gaze.


    Luca rose and came around the desk, kneeling beside her chair. Slowly, giving her every opportunity to tell him to stop, he ced his hand on her belly.


    For several seconds, nothing happened. Then the baby kicked again, right against his palm.


    “That’s some kick.”


    “Yeah,” she agreed, her voice a little breathless/ “Happens all the time now. Especially at night when I’m trying <b>to </b>sleep.” Or when his <b>daddy </b>was <b>around</b>.


    But Sutton didn’t add that.


    Luca chuckled, his hand still warm against her belly. “Feisty,”


    “I’m not feisty,” she protested. She was, mostly very even–tempered. Keira was the feisty one… Roman called her scary. <b>feeling </b><b>sorry </b><b>for </b><b>any </b><b>man </b><b>that </b>


    <b>2/3 </b>


    <b>39 </b><b>Tue</b>, 1 JurGO


    ends up with her. Saying the poor man would need a whip and chait


    His smile was knowing. “You are feisty, Sutton Warner. It’s one of the things!


    He stopped abruptly, but Sutton could fill in the nk. One of the things he loved about her, the unfinished sentiment hung in the air between thent. But


    it wasn’t true. He didn’t love her. Because you don’t discard someone you love live he had to her.


    Sutton shifted, breaking the moment. Luca withdrew his hand and stood, moving back behind his desk.


    “I should get back to work,” she said, rising awkwardly, with the folder clutched to her chest.


    “Of course.” His professional demeanor slipped back into ce, though his eyes remained warm. “Let me know if you have any questions about the Kingston proposal.”


    As Sutton headed back to her desk, her phone buzzed with a text from ir.


    ir: Need a dress for the wedding. Emergency shopping expedition after work tomorrow. Bringing Keira. No excuses.


    Despite her emotional turmoil, Sutton smiled. Leave it to ir to wait until thest possible minute to find a wedding dress.


    Sutton: You’re getting married this weekend. How do you not have a dress?


    ir: Been busy catching embezzlers and murderous uncles. You know, the usual.


    Sutton: Fair point. I’ll be there.


    Back at her desk, Sutton tried to focus on the file Luca had given her, but her thoughts kept drifting. Between helping ir with the embezzlement case. preparing for the baby, and navigating herplicated feelings for Luca, she felt pulled in too many directions at once. Hopefully, by next week, things would settle down.


    And now she’d agreed to let hime to her doctor’s appointment. To let him touch her belly. The boundaries she’d so carefully maintained were starting to blur, and that terrified <i>her</i>.


    Because despite everything, the cruel words he’d spoken, the rejection<b>, </b>the pain she’d endured alone, but her heart still leapt when he looked at her with those dark, intent eyes. Still warmed at his genuine wonder when he felt their baby move.


    She couldn’t afford to fall for him again. Not when she had a child to protect. Not when <i>she </i>still wasn’t sure she could trust him.


    With everything else going on she had forgotten to let Luca know about Nicole.