PROLOGUE

Beth felt a sensation, turned around and locked eyes immediately with the dark-haired stranger.

"This is my wife Kingston and her best friend, Beth," Christian was saying, introducing the ladies to his business associates. "Honey, this is Alexandre Bellini and Zander Escatore, from Bellini and Associates."

Beth barely remembered being seated, but when she was, she did notice that she was sitting next to the arresting Zander.

***

"Pregnant! … It can't be. It just can't be," Beth said, even as she looked incredulously at the word 'Pregnant' spelled out on the test.

"I don't know what I'm going to do Kingston," Beth said to her friend. "He was supposed to be my transition guy? How the hell did I wind up pregnant?!" she said, shaking her head as she paced the living room of her New York apartment.

"What do you mean, your transition guy?" Kingston inquired.

"Well, you know I haven't been with anyone … like that … in a while. And he is totally GU."

"GU?" Kingston questioned. "Would you please stop talking in riddles."

"As in, geographically undesirable Kingston. He lives in Rome ITALY for heaven's sake! Anyway, as for the transition thing … remember the movie When Harry Met Sally? That line when Meg Ryan's long-time boyfriend breaks up with after telling her he wasn't ready to get married. Then, she finds out that like six months later that he's engaged to be married to the very next girl he met after he broke up with her. And she cries to Billy Crystal, saying to him that that girl was supposed to be his transition girl, not the one he wanted to marry. … Well, Zander was supposed to be my transition guy in a way … my transition from Mississippi to New York and out of my sex drought back into the land of passion."

In spite of the seriousness of the situation, Kingston couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Kingston this is no laughing matter ... I'm terrified!"

"Take it easy Beth," Kingston said, turning serious. "You're spinning out of control. Let's just take one thing at a time. First, what are you going to do? Are you going to keep it?"

"Of course," Beth said, not hesitating.

"You have to tell Zander."

"No!" Beth immediately recoiled. "I don't want to hoist this responsibility on him. This is my decision and mine alone."

"That's true," Kingston said. "But Beth, he has a right to know he's going to be a father, especially after what you told me about his background. Besides, I always thought there was more to the two of you than a casual hookup. I know you Sara Elizabeth Whitehead. You don't have casual sex. You have to care and my eyes don't deceive me, he feels for you too."

***

4:57 pm. That means it's 10:57 in Rome, Beth thought. In spite of the relative lateness of the hour, she picked up the business card Zander had given her and dialed.

Could Kingston be right? Did he really care for her? Or …

Would he feel trapped by her pregnancy?

Would he resent her?

Would he want to be part of the child's life?

So many questions ran through her mind as she punched his digits into her phone.

He picked up on the first ring.

"Buona sera, Beth."