Forbidden Passion Part 3: Forbidden Passion By E.J. Adams, #3

By E.J. Adams

The heat intensifies between the two lovers whose romance began with a forbidden passion.

After Francesca's announcement, Amanda and Matteo's new relationship is in jeopardy. The couple pushes all of that aside for a romantic and steamy trip to Verona and Venice. But will it be their last time together?

Amanda leaves Italy more uncertain of their future than ever before. When she makes an unplanned trip to her parents, Amanda receives news and a surprise visit that may change everything.

• Language: English
• Publisher: E.J. Adams Romance
• Release date: Jun 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386256809

E.J. Adams

E.J. Adams is the author of several successful Steamy Contemporary Romance series, with over 500,000 eBooks downloaded to date.  She is a romantic at heart and likes her characters to find their Happily Ever After. Her books offer moments of drama, humor, and heartache along the way. E.J.’s leading men are strong, but flawed, males. Her leading women are sweet, smart, and independent. E.J. writes romance you can get swept up by and takes you away.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Matteo

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Matteo could not believe what Francesca had just told him. He pulled out a kitchen chair and sat. He dropped the mail back on the table. He was just staring blankly into the room.

How? How did this happen? Matteo said softly.

I think you know how it happened, replied Francesca. We made love. Oh, wait, we never made love. We screwed each other.

Matteo shifted in his seat and faced Francesca. He looked directly at her. She was wearing jeans and a scoop neck t-shirt. He had barely noticed her when he entered the apartment. He wanted to get his mail and leave. Then he got caught up in the excitement of learning that he had won the Pacific Coast Pictures contest.

Don't try to be cute. I meant how is it possible? You were on birth control, said Matteo.

Francesca averted her eyes. She was staring at the floor. She bit her lower lip. They were all clear signs to Matteo that Francesca was not telling him everything.

Francesca, what are you not telling me? he asked.

It is nothing. Matteo, these things happen. Birth control is not one hundred percent effective all the time.

I know that, but we were very careful.

Francesca crossed the room and started fumbling around in the kitchen. She was trying to make it look like she was going to make coffee, but she was clearly distracted and unfocused.

Look, it happened, she said.

So you tell me, he replied.

What, you don't believe me?

I don't know what to believe, he replied. I suspect you are not telling me the whole truth.

You need proof? Francesca said as she slammed the coffee can on the counter. Fresh coffee beans flew out of the top of the can and scattered across the counter and onto the kitchen floor. Francesca stormed off to the bathroom. She returned a moment later.

Here, she said as she handed Matteo a plastic sick. That is a home pregnancy kit. See the pink? That indicates that I am pregnant. I have three others in the bathroom that all show the same thing.

Matteo handed the white plastic stick back. He looked at Francesca.

Fine, so the kits show you are pregnant. I really didn't doubt that. We would certainly know soon enough. I don't think you are being honest about what led to you getting pregnant to begin with.

What are you suggesting? she asked.

I'm not suggesting anything in particular. I just think that you are keeping something from me, he said. Francesca, we may not have been in love with each other, but I have known you my entire life. I know when you are not being totally honest. What are you not telling me?

I'm just very emotional right now. Hormonal changes. Francesca began to tear up.

I get that, said Matteo, but you need to be fully honest with me. Is the baby even mine?

Matteo?! How could you ask me such a thing?

Well, you are trying very hard to avoid telling me something. It must be pretty big news, no?

There is just a lot to deal with right now, she replied. We need to focus on what we are going to do. Perhaps you should move back in. And we will probably need a bigger place when the baby comes.

Hold on a minute, replied Matteo, This doesn't change the fact that we are not in love with each other. I don't see getting back together as a solution.

Are you saying that you are not going to help take care of the child?

No. I am not saying that. But we are not a couple. This does not change that.

So, I am going to be a single mother?

Yes. And I will be a single father. We will have to find a way to make that work.

Now what was he going to do? How could he leave Italy and go to California? Then again, how could he not? If he had a future making movies he could not pass on the tremendous opportunity before him. But he also would have responsibilities in Italy. Ones that he was completely unaware of just a few moments ago.

Matteo also knew that Francesca was keeping something from him about her pregnancy. She kept trying to shift the topic of the conversation away from his questioning. No doubt she was emotional. But she had a cunning nature. He needed time to process what Francesca had told him. There was more to learn, but he doubted he was getting that out of her today.

There is much for us to discuss, but we are not going to solve anything at this moment, Matteo said as he scooped up his mail from the kitchen table. I will call you later.

As he turned to leave, Francesca called after him.

What will people think? she asked.

That you are pregnant?

She nodded her head. Yes. And that I don't have a husband?

Does it matter what others think?

It matters what our families think. What our friends think, she said.

"I have lived my entire life