The Billionaire's Borrowed Baby
Janice Maynard
“Tell me, Hattie. What do you want?”
She lifted her chin. She was tall for a woman, and he could see the shades of chocolate and cognac in her pupils. She licked her lips. Their long separation vanished like mist, and suddenly he was assaulted with a barrage of memories, both good and bad.
The soft, quick kiss he brushed across her cheek surprised them both. He was so close, he could smell cherry lipgloss. Some things never changed. “Hattie?”
She closed her eyes when he kissed her, but her lashes lifted and her cloudy gaze cleared. Astonishment flashed across her expressive features, followed by chagrin and what appeared to be resignation.
After a long, silent pause, she wrinkled her nose and sighed. “I need you to marry me.”
Dear Reader,
I am married to a man who much prefers the mountains to the beach but who also loves Key West! We have made several trips down to the jewel-like islands that make up the tip of Florida, sometimes flying straight in and sometimes landing in Ft. Lauderdale and renting a car to drive down the Keys.
When I began to think of a fun destination that met certain requirements for Luc and Hattie’s unconventional honeymoon, I knew that Key West would be a perfect locale. It has everything—fabulous weather, a colourful, original ambience, loads of history (everything from pirates to Hemingway), and undoubtedly—romance!
Two people who have joined forces for the sake of a child may try fooling themselves into thinking the marriage is in name only. But beneath a tropical moon, surrounded by scented breezes and centuries of swashbuckling adventure, Luc and Hattie can’t resist revisiting the love they once shared.
Happy reading,
Janice
About the Author
JANICE MAYNARD came to writing early in life. When her short story The Princess and the Robbers won a red ribbon in her primary school arts fair, Janice was hooked. She holds a BA from Emory and Henry College and an MA from East Tennessee State University. In 2002 Janice left a fifteen-year career as an elementary teacher to pursue writing full-time. Her first love is creating sexy, character-driven, contemporary romance. She has written for Kensington and NAL, and now is so very happy to also be part of the Harlequin family—a lifelong dream, by the way!
Janice and her husband live in beautiful east Tennessee in the shadow of the Great Smoky Mountains. She loves to travel and enjoys using those experiences as settings for books.
Hearing from readers is one of the best perks of the job! Visit her website at www.janicemaynard.com or e-mail her at jesm13@aol.com. And of course, don’t forget Facebook, www.facebook.com/JaniceMaynardReaderPage. Find her on Twitter @janicemaynard.
The Billionaire’s
Borrowed Baby
Janice Maynard
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
For the next generation: Anastasia, Ainsley, Allie,
Sydney, Olivia, Dakota and Samuel Ellis.
One
It was a hot, beautiful Georgia morning, but all Hattie Parker noticed was the taste of desperation and panic.
“I need to speak to Mr. Cavallo, please. Mr. Luc Cavallo,” she clarified quickly. “It’s urgent.”
The thirtysomething administrative assistant with the ice-blue suit and matching pale, chilly eyes looked down her perfect nose. “Do you have an appointment?”
Hattie clenched her teeth. The woman had an expensive leather date book open in front of her. Clearly, she knew Hattie was an interloper and clearly she was doing her best to be intimidating.
Hattie juggled the baby on her hip and managed a smile. “Tell him it’s Hattie Parker. I don’t have an appointment, but I’m sure Luc will see me if you let him know I’m here.”
Actually, that was a bald-faced lie. She had no clue if Luc would see her or not. At one time in her life he had been Prince Charming, willing and eager to do anything she wanted, to give her everything she desired.
Today, he might very well show her the door, but she was hoping he would remember some of the good times and at least hear her out. They hadn’t parted on the best of terms. But since every other option she had considered, legal or not, had gone bust, it was Luc or no one. And she wasn’t leaving without a fight.
The woman’s expression didn’t change. She was sheer perfection from her ash-blond chignon to her exquisitely made-up face to her expensive French manicure. With disdain, she examined Hattie’s disheveled blond hair, discount store khaki skirt and pink cotton blouse. Even without the drool marks at the shoulder, the outfit wasn’t going to win any fashion awards. It was hard to maintain a neat appearance when the little one grabbed handfuls of hair at regular intervals.
Hattie’s legs felt like spaghetti. The stoic security guard in the lobby had insisted that she park her stroller before entering the elevator. Seven-month-old Deedee weighed a ton, and Hattie was scared and exhausted, at the end of her rope. The last six weeks had been hell.
She took a deep breath. “Either you let me see Mr. Cavallo, or I’m going to pitch the biggest hissy fit Atlanta has seen since Scarlett O’Hara swished her skirts through the red Georgia dust.” Hattie’s chin trembled right at the end, but she refused to let this supercilious woman defeat her.
Scary lady blinked. Just once, but it was enough to let Hattie know that the balance of power had shifted. The other woman stood up with a pained sigh. “Wait here.” She disappeared down a hallway.
Hattie nuzzled the baby’s sweet-smelling head with its little tufts of golden hair. “Don’t worry, my love. I won’t let anyone take you, I swear.” Deedee smiled, revealing her two new bottom teeth, her only teeth. She was starting to babble nonsense syllables, and Hattie fell more in love with her every day.
The wait seemed like an eternity, but when Luc’s assistant finally returned, the clock on the wall showed that less than five minutes had elapsed. The woman was definitely disgruntled. “Mr. Cavallo will see you now. But he’s a very busy man, and he has many other important commitments this morning.”
Hattie resisted the childish urge to stick out her tongue at the woman’s back as they traversed the hallway carpeted in thick, crimson plush. At the second doorway, the woman paused. “You may go in.” The words nearly stuck in ice woman’s throat, you could tell.
Hattie took a deep breath, no longer concentrating on her would-be nemesis. She kissed the baby’s cheek for luck. “Showtime, kiddo.” With far more confidence than she felt, she knocked briefly, opened the door and stepped into the room.
Luc ran a multimillion-dollar business. He was accustomed to dealing with crises on a daily basis. The ability to think on his feet was a gift he’d honed in the fires of corporate America.
So he wasn’t easily thrown off balance. But when Hattie Parker appeared in his office, the first time he’d seen her in over a decade, his heart lodged in his throat, his muscles tensed and he momentarily forgot how to breathe.
She was as beautiful now as she had been at twenty. Sun-kissed porcelain skin, dark brown eyes that held hints of amber. And legs that went on forever. Her silky blond hair barely brushed her shoulders, much shorter than he remembered. He kept the width of his broad mahogany desk between them. It seemed safer that way.
As he struggled with shock, he was stunned to realize the woman he had once loved was holding an infant. Jealousy stabbed sharp and deep. Damn. Hattie was a mother. Which meant there was a man somewhere in the picture.
The sick feeling in his gut stunned him. He’d moved on a long, long time ago. So why was his chest tight and his pulse jumping like a jackrabbit?
He remained standing, his hands shoved in his pockets. “Hello, Hattie.” He was proud of the even timbre of his voice.
“Hello, Luc.”
She was visibly nervous. He indicated the chair closest to him and motioned for her to sit. For a brief moment, Luc caught a glimpse of sexy legs as Hattie’s skirt rode up her thighs. The baby clung to her neck, and Hattie wriggled in the chair until she was modestly covered.
He examined her face, deliberately letting the silence accumulate in tense layers. Hattie Parker was the girl next door, a natural, appealing beauty who didn’t need enhancement. Even dressed as she was in fairly unflattering garments, she would stand out in a room full of lovely women.
At one time, she had been his whole world.
And it irked him that the memories still stung. “Why are you here, Hattie? The last time we had sex was a lifetime ago. Surely you’re not going to try and convince me that baby is mine.”
The mockery and sarcasm made her pale. He felt the pinch of remorse, but a guy needed to wield what weapons he could. The man he was today would not be vulnerable. Not ever again.
She cleared her throat. “I need your help.”
He lifted a brow. “I’d have thought I would be the last person on your go-to list.”
“To be honest, you were. But it’s serious, Luc. I’m in big trouble.”
He rocked on his heels. “What’s her name?”
The non sequitur made Hattie frown. “This is Deedee.”
Luc studied the baby. He didn’t see much of Hattie in the child. Maybe the kid took after her dad.
Luc leaned over and punched the intercom. “Marilyn … can you come in here, please?”
It was a toss-up as to which of the two women was more horrified when Luc phrased his next request. When Marilyn appeared, he motioned to the baby. “Will you please take the little one for a few minutes? Her name is Deedee. Ms. Parker and I need to have a serious conversation, and I don’t have much time.”
Hattie wanted to protest, he could tell. But she reluctantly handed the baby over to Luc’s assistant. “Here’s a bottle. She’s getting hungry. And you’ll need this bib and burp cloth. You don’t want to let her ruin your nice suit.”
Luc knew his assistant would be fine. She might be a cold fish, but she was relentlessly efficient.
When the door closed, Luc sat down in his leather office chair. It had been specially ordered to fit his long, lanky frame. He steepled his hands under his chin and leaned back. “So spill it, Hattie. What’s going on in your life to make you seek me out? As I recall, it was you who dumped me and not the other way around.”
She flushed and twisted her hands in her lap. “I don’t think we need to go there. That was a long time ago.”
He shrugged. “All right then. We’ll concentrate on the present. Why are you here?”
When she bit her lip, he shifted in his chair uneasily. Why in God’s name did he still have such vivid memories of kissing that bow-shaped mouth? Running his hands through that silky, wavy hair. Touching every inch of her soft, warm skin. He swallowed hard.
Hattie met his gaze hesitantly. “Do you remember my older sister, Angela?”
He frowned. “Barely. As I recall, the two of you didn’t get along.”
“We grew closer after our parents died.”
“I didn’t know, Hattie. I’m sorry.”
For a moment, tears made her eyes shiny, but she blinked them back. “Thank you. My father died a few years after I graduated. Lung cancer. He was a two-pack-a-day man and it caught up with him.”
“And your mother?”
“She didn’t do well without Daddy. He did everything for her, and without him, the world was overwhelming to her. She finally had a nervous breakdown and had to be admitted to a facility. Unfortunately, she was never able to go back to her home. Angela and I sold the house we grew up in … everything Mom and Dad had, but it wasn’t enough. I practically bankrupted myself paying for her care.”
“Angela didn’t help?”
“She told me I should back off and let the state look after Mother … especially when Mom retreated totally into an alternate reality where she didn’t even recognize us.”
“Some people would think your sister made sense.”
“Not me. I couldn’t abandon my mother.”
“When did you lose her?”
“Last winter.”
He looked at her left hand, but it was bare. Where was her husband in all this? Was the guy a jerk who bailed on Hattie rather than help with the mom? And what about the baby?
Suddenly, it became clear. Hattie needed to borrow money. She was proud and independent, and things must be really bad if she had humbled her pride enough to come to him.
He leaned forward, his elbows on the desk. No one who knew their history would blame him if he kicked her out. But though his memories of her were bitter, he didn’t have it in him to be deliberately cruel, especially if a child was involved. And though it might be petty, he rather liked the idea of having Hattie in his debt … a kind of poetic justice. “You’ve had a rough time,” he said quietly. “I’ll be happy to loan you however much money you need, interest free, no questions asked. For old time’s sake.”
Hattie’s face went blank and she cocked her head. “Excuse me?”
“That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? To ask if you can borrow some money? I’m fine with that. It’s no big deal. What good is all that cash in the bank if I can’t use it to help an old friend?”
Her jaw dropped and her cheeks went red with mortification. “No, no, no,” she said, leaping to her feet and pacing. “I don’t need your money, Luc. That’s not it at all.”
It was his turn to rise. He rounded the desk and faced her, close enough now to inhale her scent and realize with pained remembrance that she still wore the same perfume. He put his hands gently on her shoulders, feeling the tremors she couldn’t disguise.
They were practically nose to nose. “Then tell me, Hattie. What do you need from me? What do you want?”
She lifted her chin. She was tall for a woman, and he could see the shades of chocolate and cognac in her irises. Her breathing was ragged, a pulse beating at the base of her throat.
He shook her gently. “Spit it out. Tell me.”
She licked her lips. He could see the tracery of blue veins at her temples. Their long separation vanished like mist, and suddenly he was assaulted with a barrage of memories, both good and bad.
The soft, quick kiss he brushed across her cheek surprised them both. He was so close, he could smell cherry lip gloss. Some things never changed. “Hattie?”
She had closed her eyes when he kissed her, but her lashes lifted and her cloudy gaze cleared. Astonishment flashed across her expressive features, followed by chagrin and what appeared to be resignation.
After a long, silent pause, she wrinkled her nose and sighed. “I need you to marry me.”
Luc dropped his hands from her shoulders with unflattering haste. Though his expression remained guarded, for a split second some strong emotion flashed in his eyes and then disappeared as quickly as it had come. Most men would be shocked by Hattie’s proposal.
Most men weren’t Luc Cavallo.
He lifted a shoulder clad in an expensive suit. The Cavallo textile empire, started by their grandfather in Italy and now headquartered in Atlanta, had made Luc and his brother wealthy men. She had no doubt that the soft, finely woven wool fabric was the product of a family mill. His mouth twisted, faint disdain in his expression. “Is this a joke? Should I look for hidden cameras?”
She felt her face go even hotter. Confronting her past was more difficult than she had expected, and without the baby to run interference, Hattie felt uncomfortably vulnerable. “It’s not a joke. I’m dead serious. I need you to marry me to keep Deedee safe.”
He scowled. “Good Lord, Hattie. Is the father threatening you? Has he hurt you? Tell me.”
His intensity made her shiver. If she really had an abusive husband, there was no doubt in her mind that Luc Cavallo would hunt him down and destroy him. She was making a hash of this explanation. “It’s complicated,” she said helplessly. “But no, nothing like that.”
He ran two hands through his hair, mussing the dark, glossy strands. The reminder function on his BlackBerry beeped just then, and Luc glanced down at it with a harried expression. “I have an appointment,” he said, his voice betraying frustration. “Obviously we’re not going to resolve this in fifteen minutes. Can you get a sitter for tonight?”
“I’d rather not. Deedee has been through a lot of trauma recently. She clings to me. I don’t want to change her routine any more than necessary.” And the thought of being alone with Luc Cavallo scared Hattie. This brief meeting had revealed an unpalatable truth. The Hattie who had been madly in love with Luc was still lurking somewhere inside a heart that clung to silly dreams from the past.
He straightened his tie and strode to the other side of his desk. “Then I’ll send a car for you.” As she opened her mouth to protest, he added, “With an infant seat. We’ll have dinner at my home and my housekeeper can play with the child while we talk.”
There was nothing ominous in his words, but Hattie felt her throat constrict. Was she really going to try to convince Luc to marry her? Who was she kidding? He had no reason at all to humor her. Other than perhaps sheer curiosity. Why hadn’t he shown her the door immediately? Why was he allowing her to play out this odd reunion?
She should be glad, relieved, down on her knees thanking the good lord that Luc wasn’t already married.
But at the moment, her exact emotions were far more complicated and far less sensible.
She was still fascinated by this man who had once promised her the moon.
Two
What did one wear to a marriage proposal? While the baby was napping, Hattie rummaged through the tiny closet in her matching tiny apartment, knowing that she was not going to find a dress to wow Luc Cavallo. The only garment remotely suitable was a black, polished cotton sheath that she had worn to each of her parent’s funerals. Perhaps with some accessories it would do the trick.
In a jewelry box she’d had since she was a girl, her hand hovered over the one piece inside that wasn’t an inexpensive bauble. The delicate platinum chain was still as bright as the day Luc had given it to her. She picked it up and fastened it around her neck, adjusting the single pearl flanked by small diamonds.
Though there had been many days when the wolf was at the door, she had not been able to bring herself to sell this one lovely reminder of what might have been. She stroked the pearl, imagining that it was warm beneath her fingers….
They had skipped their afternoon classes at Emory and escaped to Piedmont Park with a blanket and a picnic basket. She was a scholarship student … his family had endowed the Fine Arts Center.
As they sprawled in the hot spring sunshine, feeling alive and free and deliciously truant, Luc leaned over her on one elbow, kissing her with teasing brushes of his lips that made her restless for more. He grinned down at her, his eyes alight with happiness. “I have an anniversary present for you.”
“Anniversary?” They’d been dating for a while, but she hadn’t kept track.
He caressed her cheek. “I met you six months ago today. You were buying a miniature pumpkin at Stanger’s Market. I offered to carve it for you. You laughed. And that’s when I knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That you were the one.”
Her smile faded. “College guys are supposed to be counting notches on their bedposts, not spouting romantic nonsense.”
A shadow dimmed the good humor in his gaze. “I come from a long line of Italians. Romance is in our blood.” His whimsical shrug made her regret tarnishing the moment. Lord knew she wanted it to be true, but her mother had drummed into her head that men only wanted one thing. And Hattie had given that up without a qualm.
Being Luc Cavallo’s lover was the best thing that had ever happened to her. He was her first, and she loved him so much it hurt. But she was careful to protect herself. She had a degree to finish, grades to keep up. A woman had to stand on her own two feet. Depending on a man led to heartbreak.
Luc reached into the pocket of his jeans and withdrew a small turquoise box. He handed it to her without speaking.
If she had been able to think of a polite refusal, she would have handed it back unopened. But he looked at her with such naked anticipation that she swallowed her misgivings and removed the lid. Nestled inside the leather box was a necklace, an exquisite, expensive necklace.
Hattie knew about Tiffany’s, of course. In fact, back in the fall she’d been in the store at Phipps Plaza with one of her girlfriends who was in search of a wedding gift. But even on that day, Hattie had felt the sting of being out of place. She couldn’t afford a key chain in those swanky glass cases, much less anything else.
And now this.
Luc ignored her silence. He took the necklace from the box and fastened it around her neck. She was wearing a pink tank top, and the pearl nestled in her modest cleavage. He kissed her forehead. “It suits you.”
But it didn’t. She was not that woman he wanted her to be. Luc would take his place one day with the glitterati. And Hattie, with or without the necklace, would wish him well. But she wasn’t “the one” … and she never would be.
A car backfired out on the street, the loud sound dragging Hattie back to the present. With a mutinous scowl at her own reflection, she closed the jewelry box with a defiant click. Luc probably didn’t even remember the silly necklace. He’d no doubt bought pricey bling for a dozen women in the intervening years.
The afternoon dragged by, the baby fussy with teething … Hattie nervous and uncertain. It was almost a relief when a nicely dressed chauffeur knocked at the door promptly at six-thirty.
The pleasant older man took Hattie’s purse and the diaper bag while she tucked Deedee into the top-of-the-line car seat. It was brand-new and not smeared with crusty Cheerios and spit-up. The baby was charmed by the novelty of having Hattie sit across from her. A game of peekaboo helped distract them both as the car wound its way from the slightly rundown neighborhood where Hattie lived to an upscale part of town.
Though it had been ten years since Hattie and Luc’s college breakup, they had never crossed paths after graduation. It was a big city, and they moved in far different spheres.
West Paces Ferry was one of the premier addresses in Atlanta. Decades-old homes sat side by side with new construction created to resemble historic architecture. Even the governor’s mansion called the narrow, winding avenue home. Luc had recently purchased an entire estate complete with acreage. Hattie had seen the renovation written up in a local magazine.
The article, accompanied by photos of Luc, had no doubt been responsible for this crazy decision to throw herself on Luc’s mercy. Seeing his smiling face after so many years had resurrected feelings she believed to be long dead.
Perhaps it was a sign….
The old home was amazing. Azaleas and forsythia bloomed in profusion on the grounds. A lengthy driveway culminated in a cobblestone apron leading to the imposing double front doors. Luc stepped out to meet them almost before the engine noise had died. His dark hair and eyes betrayed his Mediterranean heritage.
He held out a hand. “Welcome, Hattie.”
She felt him squeeze her fingers, and her skin heated. “Your home is beautiful.”
He stepped back as she extracted Deedee. “It’s a work in progress. I’ll be glad when the last of it is finished.”
Despite his disclaimer, and despite the small area of scaffolding at the side of the house where workmen had been repairing stonework, the interior of the house was breathtaking. A sweeping staircase led up and to the right. The foyer floor was Italian marble, and above a walnut chair rail, the walls were papered in what appeared to be the original silk fabric, a muted shade of celadon. A priceless chandelier showered them in shards of warm light, and on a console beneath an antique mirror on the left wall, a massive bouquet of flowers scented the air.
Hattie turned around in a circle, the baby in her arms quiet for once, as if she, too, was awed. “It’s stunning, Luc.”
His smile reflected quiet satisfaction. “It’s starting to feel like home. The couple who lived here bought it in the 1920s. They’re both gone now, but I inherited Ana and Sherman. He wears many hats … driver is only one of them.”
“He was very sweet. I felt pampered. And Ana?”
“His wife. You’ll meet her in a moment. She’s the housekeeper, chef, gardener … you name it. I tried to get them both to retire with a pension, but I think they love this house more than I do. I get the distinct feeling that I’m on probation as the new owner.”
As promised, Ana entertained Deedee during dinner while Luc and Hattie enjoyed the fruits of the housekeeper’s labors—lightly breaded rainbow trout, baby asparagus and fruit salad accompanied by rolls so fluffy they seemed to melt in the mouth.
Luc served Hattie and himself, with nothing to disturb the intimacy of their meal. Surprisingly, Hattie forgot to be self-conscious. Luc was a fascinating man, highly intelligent, well-read, and he possessed of a sneaky sense of humor. As the evening progressed, sharp regret stabbed her heart. She was overwhelmed with a painful recognition of what she had lost because of her own immaturity and cowardice.
He refilled her wineglass one more time. “I suppose you’re not nursing the baby.”
She choked on a sip of chardonnay. An image of Luc in her bed, watching her feed a baby at her breast, flashed through her brain with the force of a runaway train. Her face was so hot she hoped he would blame it on the wine. She set the glass down gently, her hand trembling. Unwittingly, he had given her the perfect opening.
“The baby’s not mine,” she said softly. “My sister Angela was her mother.”
“Was?”
Hattie swallowed, the grief still fresh and raw. “She was killed in a car crash six weeks ago. My brother-in-law, Eddie, was driving … drunk and drugged out of his mind. He got out and left the scene when he hit a car head-on. Both people in the other vehicle died. Angela lingered for a few hours … long enough to tell me that she wanted me to take Deedee. I was babysitting that night, and I’ve had the baby ever since.”
“What happened to the baby’s father?”
“Eddie spent a few days behind bars. He’s out on bail awaiting trial. But I guarantee you he won’t do any time. His family has connections everywhere. I don’t know if we have the Mob in Georgia, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Eddie’s family is full of cold, mean-spirited people. Frankly, they scare me.”
“I can tell.”
“At first, none of them showed any sign of acknowledging Deedee’s existence. But about two weeks ago, I was summoned to the family compound in Conyers.”
“Eddie wanted to see his child?”
She laughed bitterly. “You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But no. He was there when I arrived with her. A lot of them were there. But not one single person in that entire twisted family even looked at her, much less asked to hold her. They kept referring to her as ‘the kid’ and talked about how she was one of theirs and so should be raised by them.”
“That doesn’t make any sense given their lack of enthusiasm for the baby.”
“It does when you realize that Eddie thinks Deedee will be his ace in the hole with the judge. He wants to portray the grieving husband and penitent dad. Having Deedee in the courtroom will soften him, make him more sympathetic to the jury.”
“Ah. I take it you didn’t go along with their plan?”
“Of course not. I told them Angela wanted me to raise her daughter and that I would be adopting Deedee.”
“How did that go?”
She shivered. “Eddie’s father said that no custody court would give a baby to a single woman with few financial means when the father wanted the child and had the resources to provide for her future.”
“And you said …?”
She bit her lip. “I told them I was engaged to my college sweetheart and that you had a boatload of money and you loved Deedee like your own. And then I hightailed it out of there.”
Luc actually had the gall to laugh.
“It’s not funny,” she wailed, leaping to her feet. “This is serious.”
He topped off her wineglass once again. “Relax, Hattie. I have more lawyers than a dog has fleas. Deedee is safe. I give you my word.”
Her legs went weak and she plopped into her chair. “Really? You mean that?” Suspicion reared its ugly head. “Why?”
He leaned back, studying her with a laserlike gaze that made her want to hide. He saw too much. “My motivation shouldn’t matter … right, Hattie? If I really am your last resort?” Something in his bland words made her shiver.
She licked her lips, feeling as if she was making a bargain with the devil. “Are you sure you’re willing to do this?”
“I never say anything I don’t mean. You should know that. We’ll make your lie a reality. I have the best legal counsel in Atlanta. Angela’s wishes will prevail.”
“I’ll sign a prenup,” she said. “I don’t want your money.”
His gaze iced over. “You made that clear a decade ago, Hattie. No need to flog a dead horse.”
Her stomach clenched. Why was it that he could make her feel so small with one look?
When she remained silent, he stood up with visible impatience. “I know you need to get the little one in bed before it gets any later. I’ll have my team draw up some documents, and then in a few days, you and I can go over the details.”
“Details?” she asked weakly.
His grin was feral. “Surely you know I’ll have a few stipulations of my own.”
Her throat tightened and she took one last swallow of wine. It burned going down like it was whiskey. “Of course. You have to protect your interests. That makes sense.” For some reason she couldn’t quite fathom, the specter of sex had unexpectedly entered the room. Her mouth was so dry she could barely speak.
Surely lawyers didn’t use legalese to dictate sex … did they?
Suddenly an unpalatable thought struck her. “Um … Luc … I should have asked. Is there anyone who will … I mean … who is … um …”
He cocked his head, one broad shoulder propped against the door frame. His face was serious, but humor danced in his eyes. “Are you asking if I’m seeing anyone, Hattie? Isn’t it a bit late to worry about that … now that you’ve told everyone I’m your fiancé?”
Mortified didn’t begin to describe how she felt. “Not everyone,” she muttered.
“Just the Mob?” He chuckled out loud, enjoying her discomfiture a little too much. Finally, he sobered. “You let me worry about my personal life, Hattie. Your job is to take care of yourself and that little girl—” He stopped abruptly. “Speaking of jobs … what happened? Why aren’t you teaching?” She had majored in math at Emory and had gone directly from college to a high school faculty position.
“I had to take a leave of absence for the rest of the year when the accident happened.”
He sobered completely now, stepping close enough to run a hand over her hair. She’d worn it loose tonight. “You’ve been through a hell of a lot,” he said softly, their bodies almost touching. “But things will get better.”
She smiled wistfully. “Somedays it seems as if nothing will ever be the same.”
“I didn’t say it would be the same.”
For some reason, the words struck her as a threat. She looked up at him, their breath mingling. “What do you get out of this? Why did you agree to back up an impulsive lie by a woman you haven’t seen in ten years?”
“Are you trying to talk me out of it?”
“Tell me why you agreed. I was ninety percent sure you’d throw me out of your office on my fanny.”
“I can be kind on occasion.” The sarcasm was impossible to miss.
She searched his face. It hurt knowing that it was as familiar to her as if they had parted yesterday. “There’s something more,” she said slowly. “I can see it in your eyes.”
His expression shuttered. “Let’s just say I have my reasons.” His tone was gruff and said more loudly than words that he was done with the conversation.
He was shutting her out. And it stung. But they were little more than strangers now. Strangers who had once made love with passionate abandon, but strangers nevertheless.
“I have to go.”
He didn’t argue. He ushered her in front of him until they entered a pleasant room outfitted as a den. Ana, despite her years, was down on an Oriental rug playing with a sleepy Deedee.
Hattie rushed forward to scoop up the drowsy baby and nuzzle her sweet-smelling neck. “Did she nap for you at all?”
Ana stood with dignity and straightened the skirt of her floral cotton housedress. “She slept about forty-five minutes … enough to keep her awake until you can get her home and in bed. Your daughter is precious, Ms. Parker, an absolute angel.”
“She’s not my daughter, she’s my niece … but thank you.” Did the housekeeper think Luc had brought his love child home for a visit?
Her host grew impatient with the female chitchat. “I’ll walk you out, Hattie.”
Sherman waited respectfully by the car door, making any sort of personal conversation awkward. Luc surprised Hattie by taking Deedee without ceremony and tucking her expertly into the small seat.
She lifted an eyebrow. “You did that well.”
He touched the baby’s cheek and stepped aside so Hattie could enter the limo. “It’s not rocket science.” He braced an arm on the top of the car and leaned in. “I’ll look forward to seeing you both again soon.”
“You’ll call me?”
“I’ll get Marilyn to contact you and set up a meeting. It will probably only take a couple of days. You need to go ahead and start packing.”
“Packing?” She was starting to sound like a slightly dense parrot. What had she gotten herself into? Luc was helping her, but with strings attached. She had known his every thought at one time. Now he was an enigma.
His half smile made her think of a predator anticipating his prey. “You and Deedee will be moving in here as soon as the wedding is over.”
Three
Two days later, Luc tapped briefly at his brother’s office door and entered. Leo, his senior by little more than a year, was almost hidden behind piles of paperwork and books. A genius by any measure, Leo masterminded the financial empire, while Luc handled R & D. Luc enjoyed the challenge of developing new products, finding the next creative venture.
Leo was the one who made them all rich.
It was a full thirty seconds before his brother looked up from what he was doing. “Luc. Didn’t expect to see you today.”
The brothers met formally twice a month, and it wasn’t unusual for them to lunch together a few times a week, but Luc rarely dropped by his brother’s sanctum unannounced. Their offices were on different floors of the building, and more often than not, their customary mode of communication was texting.
Luc ignored the comfortable, overstuffed easy chair that flanked Leo’s desk and instead, chose to cross the room and stand by the window. He never tired of gazing at Atlanta’s distinctive skyline.
He rolled his shoulders, unaware until that moment that his neck was tight. He turned and smiled. “What are you doing on May 14?”
Leo tapped a key and glanced at his computer screen. “Looks clear. What’s up?”
“I thought you might like to be my best man.”
Now Luc had Leo’s full attention. His older sibling, though still a couple inches shorter than Luc’s six-three, was an imposing man. Built like a mountain, he looked more like a lumberjack than a numbers whiz.
He escaped the confines of his desk and cleared a front corner to lean on his hip and stare at his brother. “You’re pulling my chain, right?”
“Why would you say that?”
“Three weeks ago I suggested you bring a date to Carole Ann’s party, and you told me you weren’t seeing anyone.”
Luc shrugged. “Things happen.”
Leo scowled, a black expression that had been known to make underlings quake in terror. “I can read you like a book. You’re up to something. The last time I saw that exact look on your face, you were trying to convince Dad to let you take the Maserati for a weekend trip to Daytona.”
“I have my own sports cars. I’m not trying to pull anything.”
“You know what I mean.” He changed tack. “Do I know her?”
Luc shrugged. “You’ve met.”
“How long have you known her? It’s not like you to go all misty-eyed over a one-night stand.”
“I can assure you that I’ve known her for a very long time.”
“But you’ve just now realized you’re in love.”
“A man doesn’t have to be in love to want a woman.”
“So it’s lust.”
“I think we’ve gotten off track. I asked if you would be my best man. A simple yes or no will do.”
“Damn it, Luc. Quit being so mysterious. Who is she? Will I get to see her anytime soon?”
“I haven’t decided. We’ve been concentrating on each other. I don’t want to spoil things. Just promise me you’ll show up when and where I say on the fourteenth. In a tux.”
The silence was deafening. Finally, Leo stood up and stretched. “I don’t like the sound of this. When it all goes to hell, don’t come crying to me. Your libido is a piss-poor businessman. Be smart, baby brother. Women are generally not worth the bother.”
Luc understood his brother’s caution. They had both been burned by love at a tender age, but thankfully had wised up pretty fast. What Leo didn’t know, though, was that Luc had a plan. Revenge was a strong word for what he had in mind. He didn’t hate Hattie Parker. Quite the contrary. All he wanted was for her to understand that while he might still find her sexually attractive, he was completely immune to any emotional connection. No hearts and flowers. No protestations of undying devotion.
He was no longer a kid yearning for a pretty girl. This time he had the power. He would be calling all the shots. Hattie needed him, and her vulnerability meant that Luc would have her in his house … in his bed … under his control. Perhaps revenge was too strong a word. But when all was said and done, Hattie Parker would be out of his system … for good.
Hattie was ready to scream. Moving anytime was a huge chore, but add a baby to the mix, and the process was darned near impossible. She’d finally gotten Deedee down for a nap and was wrapping breakables in the kitchen when her cell phone rang. She jerked it up and snarled, “What?”
The long silence at the other end was embarrassing.
“Sorry,” she said, her throat tight with tears of frustration.
Luc’s distinctive tones were laced with humor. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you lose your temper. I kind of like it.”
“Don’t be silly,” she said, shoving a lock of damp hair from her forehead. “What do you want?”
“Nothing in particular. I was checking in to see if you needed anything.”
“A trio of muscular guys would be nice.”
Another silence. “Kinky,” he said, his voice amused but perhaps a tad hoarse.
Her face flamed, though he couldn’t see her. “To help with moving,” she muttered. “I wouldn’t know what else to do with them. This mothering thing is hard work.”
“Why, Hattie Parker. Are you hinting for help?”
“Maybe.” Deedee was a good baby, but being a single parent was difficult. Hattie no longer felt as panicked as she had in the beginning. Much of the daily routine of dealing with an infant seemed easier now. But Deedee had been restless the three nights since Hattie had dined with Luc. Perhaps the baby was picking up on Hattie’s unsettled emotions. And to make matters worse, Eddie had begun sending a harassing string of vague emails and texts. Clearly to keep Hattie on edge. And it was working.
Luc sighed audibly. “I would have hired a moving crew already, but you’re always so damned independent, I thought you would pitch a fit and insist on doing it yourself.”
“I’ve grown up, Luc. Some battles simply aren’t worth fighting. I know when I’m in over my head.”
“I’m sorry. I made a stupid assumption. It won’t happen again.”
The conversation lagged once more. She looked at the chaos in her kitchen and sighed. “Do you know yet when we’re going to sit down and go over the finer points of our marriage agreement?”
“I thought perhaps tomorrow evening. When does Deedee go down for the night?”
“Usually by eight … if I’m lucky.”
“What if I come over to your place then, so she won’t have to be displaced. I’ll bring food.”
“That would be great.”
“Have you heard any more from your brother-in-law?”
“Nothing specific.” No need at the moment to involve Luc in Eddie’s bluster. “He likes to throw his weight around. Right now, he’s got the perfect setup. I’m babysitting for him, but when he’s ready, he’ll grab Deedee.”
“I hope you don’t mean that literally.”
“He’s not that stupid. At least, I don’t think he is.”
“Try not to worry, Hattie. Everything is going to fall into place.”
For once, it seemed as if Luc was right. Deedee went to sleep the following evening without a whimper. Hattie found an unworn blouse in the back of her closet with the tags still attached. She’d snagged it from a clearance rack at Bloomingdale’s last January, and the thin, silky fabric, a pale peach floral, was the perfect weight for a spring evening.
Paired with soft, well-worn jeans, the top made her look nice but casual … not like she was trying too hard to impress. Unfortunately, Luc showed up ten minutes early, and she was forced to open the door in her bare feet.
His eyes flashed with masculine appreciation when he saw her. “You don’t look frazzled to me, Hattie.”
She stepped back to let him in. “Thanks. Today was much calmer, maybe because the moving company you hired promised to be here first thing in the morning. And I was able to actually take a shower, because the baby took a two-hour morning nap.”
As she closed the door, he surveyed her apartment. “No offense, but I don’t see any point in storing most of this stuff. Let the movers take the bulk of it to charity, and bring only the things that are personal or sentimental with you.”
She bit her lip. It had occurred to her that this subject would have to be broached, but she hadn’t anticipated it would come so soon. “The thing is …”
“What are you trying to say?” He tossed the duffel bag he’d been carrying in a chair and deposited two cloth grocery bags in the kitchen. Then he turned to face her. “Is there a problem?”
She shifted from one foot to the other. Luc was wearing a suit and tie, and she felt like Daisy Duke facing off with Daddy Warbucks. “This union won’t last forever. After all the money you’re spending to help Deedee and me, you shouldn’t have to finance the next phase of my life, as well. I thought it might be prudent to have something to fall back on in the future.”
He nudged a corner of her navy plaid futon/chair with the toe of his highly polished wing tip, giving the sad, misshapen piece a dismissive glance. “When that happens, I won’t cast off you and the child to live with cheap, secondhand furniture. I have a reputation to uphold in this town. Image is everything. You’re going to have to face the truth, Hattie. You’re marrying a rich man—whether you like it or not.”
The mockery in his words and on his face was not veiled this time. He was lashing out at her for what she’d done in the past. Fair enough. Back then she had made a big deal about their stations in life. Luc’s money gave him power, and Hattie had been taught at her mother’s knee never to let a man have control.
The man Hattie called “daddy” was really her stepfather. As a nineteen-year-old, her mother had been that most naive of clichés … the secretary who had an affair with her boss. When Hattie’s mom told her lover she was pregnant, he tossed her aside and never looked back.
Hattie lifted her chin. “It was never about the money,” she insisted. “Or not only the money. Look at what your life has become, Luc. You’re the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. I’m a public school teacher. I clip coupons and drive a ten-year-old car. Even before I began helping with my mother’s finances, I lived a very simple lifestyle.”
He curled a lip. “Is this where I cue the violins?”
“Oh, forget it,” she huffed. “This is an old argument. What’s the point?”
He shrugged. “What’s the point indeed?” He picked up the duffel bag. “Dinner will keep a few minutes. Do you mind if I change clothes? I came straight from the office.”
“The baby is asleep in my room, but the bathroom’s all yours. I’ll set out the food.”
She had rummaged in the bags only long enough to see that Luc’s largesse was nothing as common as pizza, when a loud knock sounded at the door. She glanced through the peephole and drew in a breath. Eddie. Good grief. Reluctantly, she opened the door.
He reeked of alcohol and swayed slightly on his feet. “Where’s my baby girl? I want to see her.”
She shushed him with a quick glance over her shoulder. “She’s in bed. Babies sleep at this hour of night. Why don’t you call me in the morning, and we’ll agree on a time for you to come by?”
He stuck a foot in the doorway, effectively keeping her from closing him out. “Or why don’t I call the police and tell them you’ve kidnapped my kid?”
It was an idle threat. They both knew it. Hattie had already consulted a lawyer, and a nurse at the hospital had heard Angela’s dying request. Nevertheless, Eddie’s bluster curled Hattie’s stomach. She didn’t want to be in the middle of a fight with Deedee as the prize.
“Go away, Eddie,” she said forcefully, her voice low. “This isn’t a good time. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Without warning, he grabbed her shoulders and manhandled her backward into the apartment. “Like hell.” He shoved her so hard, she stumbled into the wall. Her head hit with a muffled thud, and she saw little yellow spots.
He lunged for her again, but before his meaty fists could make contact, Luc exploded down the hallway, grabbed the intruder by the neck and put a chokehold on him. Eddie’s face turned an alarming shade of purple before Hattie could catch her breath.
Luc was steely-eyed. “Call the cops.”
“But I don’t want …”
His expression gentled. “It’s the right thing to do. Don’t worry. I’m not leaving you to deal with this alone.”
The response to the 911 call was gratifying. Just before the two uniformed officers arrived, Luc stuck his face nose to nose with Eddie’s. “If I ever see you near my fiancée again, I’ll tear you apart. Got it?”
Eddie was drunk enough to be reckless. “Fiancée? Yeah, right. If she was telling my daddy the truth about you and her, then where’s the fancy diamond ring?”
“I had to order it,” Luc responded smoothly. “It happens to be in my pocket even as we speak. But some jackass has ruined our romantic evening.”
The conversation ended abruptly as Hattie opened the door to the police. They took Luc’s statement, handcuffed Eddie and were gone in under twenty minutes.
In the sudden silence, Hattie dropped into a chair, her legs boneless and weak in the aftermath of adrenaline. Thank God the baby hadn’t been awakened by all the commotion.
Luc crouched beside her, his eyes filled with concern. “Let me see your head.” He parted her hair gently, exclaiming when he saw the goose egg that had popped up.
She moved restlessly. “I’m fine. Really. All I need is some Tylenol. And a good night’s sleep.”
Luc cursed under his breath. “Don’t move.” After bringing her medicine and water with which to wash down the tablets, he created a makeshift ice bag with a dish towel and pressed it to the side of her head. “Hold this.” He lifted her in his arms and laid her gently on the ugly sofa. “Rest. I’ll fix us a couple of plates.”
He was back in no time. The smells alone made Hattie want to whimper with longing. Her stomach growled loudly.
He put a hand on her shoulder. “No need to get up yet. I’ll feed you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” But when she tried to sit upright, her skull pounded.
He eased her back down. “You don’t have to fight me over every damn thing. Open your mouth.” He fed her small manageable bites of chicken piccata and wild rice. While she chewed and swallowed, he dug into his own portion.
Hattie muttered in frustration when one of her mouthfuls landed on the sofa cushion. “See what you made me do …”
“Don’t worry,” he deadpanned. “A few stains could only help this monstrosity.”
She eyed him, openmouthed, and then they both burst into laughter. Hattie felt tears sting the backs of her eyes. She told herself it was nothing more than delayed reaction. But in truth, it was Luc. When he forgot to be on his guard with her, she saw a glimpse of the young man she had loved so desperately.
She wondered with no small measure of guilt if her long-ago defection had transformed the boy she once knew so well into the hard-edged, sardonic Luc. A million times over the years she had second-guessed her decision. It had been gratifying to establish a career and to stand on her own two feet. Her mother had been proud of Hattie’s independence and success in her chosen field.
But at what cost?
When the last of the food was consumed, the mood grew awkward. Luc gathered their empty plates. “Stay where you are. You have to deal with Deedee in the morning, so you might as well rest while you can.”
She lay there quietly, wondering bleakly how her life had unraveled so quickly. Two months ago she’d been an ordinary single woman with a circle of friends, a good job and a pleasant social life. Now she was a substitute parent facing a custody battle and trying to combat a tsunami of feelings for the man who had once upon a time been her other half, her soul mate. Was it any wonder she felt overwhelmed?
A trickle of water from melting ice slid down her cheek. She sat up and sucked in a breath when a hammer thudded inside her skull. The food she had eaten rolled unpleasantly in her stomach.
Luc frowned as he rejoined her, pausing only to take the wet dish towel and toss it on a kitchen counter. “We probably should make a trip to the E.R. to make sure you don’t have a concussion.”
“I’ll be fine.” She knew her voice lacked conviction, but it was hard to be stoic with the mother of all headaches.
Luc put his hands on his hips, his navy polo shirt stretching taut over broad shoulders and a hard chest. “I’ll stay the night.”
Four
Hattie gaped. “Oh, no. Not necessary.”
“We have the baby to think of, too. You probably won’t rest very well tonight, and you’ll likely need an extra hand in the morning. I’ll sleep on the couch. It may be ugly as sin, but it’s long and fairly comfortable. I’ll be fine.”
Hattie was torn. Having Luc in her small apartment was unsettling, but the encounter with Eddie had shaken her emotionally as well as physically, and she was dead on her feet.
She shrugged, conceding defeat. “I’ll get you towels and bedding.” She brushed by him, inhaling for a brief instant the tang of citrusy aftershave and the scent of warm male.
When she returned moments later, he was on the phone with Ana, letting her know he wouldn’t be home that evening. It touched her that he would be so considerate of people who were in his employ. He was a grown man. He had no obligation to let anyone know his schedule or his whereabouts.
But wasn’t that what had drawn her to him in the beginning? His kindness and his humor? Sadly, his personality had an edge now, a remoteness that had not existed before.
She began making up the sofa, but he stopped her as soon as he hung up. “Go to bed, Hattie. I’m not a guest. I don’t need you waiting on me. I can fend for myself.”
She nodded stiffly. “Good night, then.”
He lifted a shoulder, looking diffident for a moment. “May I see her?”
“The baby?” Well, duh. Who else could he mean?
“Yes.”
“Of course.”
He followed her down the short hallway into the bedroom. A small night-light illuminated the crib. Luc put his hands on the railing and stared down at the infant sleeping so peacefully. Hattie hung back. Her chest was tight with confused emotions. Had things gone differently in the past, this scene might have played out in reality.
A couple, she and Luc, putting their own daughter to bed before retiring for the night.
Luc reached out a hand, hovered briefly, then lightly stroked Deedee’s hair. She never stirred. He spoke softly, his back still toward Hattie. “She doesn’t deserve what has happened to her.”
Hattie shook her head, eyes stinging. “No. She doesn’t. I can’t let Eddie take her. She’s so innocent, so perfect.”
Luc turned, his strong, masculine features shadowed in the half-light. His somber gaze met her wary one, some intangible link between them shrouding the moment in significance. “We’ll keep her safe, Hattie. You have my word.”
Quietly, he left the room.
Hattie changed into a gown and robe. Ordinarily, she slept in a T-shirt and panties, but with Luc in the house, she needed extra armor.
She folded the comforter and turned back the covers before heading for the bathroom. Well, shoot. She’d forgotten to give Luc even the basics. Taking a new toothbrush from the cabinet, she returned to the living room. “Sorry. I meant to give you this. There’s toothpaste on the counter, and if you want to shave in the morning—”
She stopped dead, her pulse jumping. Luc stood before her wearing nothing but a pair of gray knit boxers, which left little to the imagination. Every inch of his body was fit and tight. His skin was naturally olive-toned, and the dusting of fine black hair on his chest made her want to stroke it to see if it was as soft as she remembered.
Long muscular thighs led upward to … She gulped. As she watched in fascination, his erection grew and flexed. She literally couldn’t move. Luc didn’t seem at all embarrassed, despite the fact that her face was hot enough to fry an egg.
“Thank you for the toothbrush.” A half smile lifted one corner of his mouth.
She extended the cellophane-wrapped package gingerly, making sure her fingers didn’t touch his. “You’re welcome.”
And still she didn’t leave. The years rolled away. She remembered with painful clarity what it was like to be held tightly to that magnificent chest, to feel those strong arms pull her close, to experience the hard evidence of his arousal thrusting against her abdomen.
His gaze was hooded, the line of his mouth now almost grim. “Like what you see?”
The mockery was deliberate, she had no doubt … as if to say you were so foolish back then. Look what you gave up.
Heat flooded her body. The robe stifled her. She wanted to tear it off, to fling herself at Luc. But her limbs couldn’t move. She was paralyzed, caught between bitter memories of the past and the sure knowledge that Luc Cavallo was still the man who could make her soar with pleasure.
“Answer me, Hattie,” he said roughly. “If you’re going to look at me like that, I’m damn sure going to take the invitation.”
Her lips parted. No sound came out.
The color on his cheekbones darkened and his eyes flared with heat. “Come here.”
No soft preliminaries. No tentative approach.
Luc was confident, controlled. He touched only her face, sliding his hands beneath her hair and holding her still so his mouth could ravage hers. His tongue thrust between her lips—invading, dominant, taking and not giving. She was shaking all over, barely able to stand. He kissed her harder still, muttering something to himself she didn’t quite catch.
She felt the push of his hips. Suddenly, her body came to life with painful tingles of heat. Her arms went around his waist, and she kissed him back. But when his fingers accidentally brushed the painful knot on her skull, she flinched.
Instantly, he cursed and thrust her away, his gaze a cross between anger and incredulity. “Damn you. Go to bed, Hattie.”
If she had been a Victorian heroine, she might have swooned at this very moment. But she was made of sterner stuff. She marshaled her defenses, muttered a strangled goodnight and fled.
Aeons later it seemed, she rolled over and flung an arm over her face. Bright sunshine peeked in through a crack between the curtains. She had slept like the dead, deeply, dreamlessly. A glance at the clock stopped her heart. It was nine o’clock. Deedee. Dear heaven. The baby was always up by six-thirty.
She leaped from the bed, almost taking a nosedive when the covers tangled around her feet. The crib was empty. She sucked in a panicked breath, and then her sleep-fuddled brain began to function.
Luc. Memories of his kiss tightened her nipples and made her thighs clench with longing. She touched her lips as the hot sting of tears made her blink and sniff. Ten years was a lifetime to wait for something that was at once so terrible and so wonderful.
She opened her bedroom door and simultaneously heard the sound of childish gurgles and smelled the heavenly aroma of frying bacon. Luc stood by the stove. Deedee was tucked safely in her high chair nearby.
He glanced up, his features impassive. “Good morning.”
The baby squealed in delight and lurched toward Hattie. Luc unfastened the tray and handed her off. “I fed her a bottle and half a jar of peaches. I didn’t want to give her anything else until I checked with you.” The words were gruff, as if he’d had to force them from his throat.
Hattie cuddled the baby, stunned that Luc had taken over with such relaxed competence. Not that she didn’t think he was capable. But she had never witnessed him with children, and she was shocked to see him so calm and in control, especially when Hattie herself had experienced a few rough moments in the last six weeks.
He started cracking eggs into a bowl. “This will be ready in five, and the movers will be showing up shortly. You might want to get dressed. I can handle Deedee.”
Hattie held the baby close, realizing with chagrin that she had jumped out of bed and never actually donned her robe. The sheer fabric of her nightie revealed far too much. “She’ll be fine with me.” Suddenly she noticed the sheaf of legal papers on the nearby coffee table. “Luc … I’m so sorry. With everything that happened, we never did get around to dealing with the marriage stuff.”
He popped two slices of bread into her toaster. “No worries. We’ll have time later today.”
She hesitated, eager to leave the room, but feeling oddly abashed that he had watched her sleeping … without her knowledge. Though they had made love many times when they were together, only once or twice had they enjoyed the luxury of spending the night together.
She cleared her throat. “Thank you for getting up with the baby. I can’t believe I didn’t hear her.”
He shrugged. “I’m an early riser. I enjoyed spending time with her. She’s a charming child.”
“You haven’t seen her throw a temper tantrum yet,” she joked. “Batten down the hatches. She has a great set of lungs.”
He paused his efficient preparations, the spatula in midair. “You’re doing a great job. She’s lucky to have you as her mother.” His eyes and his voice were serious.
“Thanks.” Despite the task he had undertaken, nothing about the setting made Luc look at all domestic: quite the opposite. Luc Cavallo was the kind of man you’d want by your side during a forced jungle march. He possessed a self-confidence that was absolute.
But that resolute belief in his own ability to direct the universe to his liking made Hattie uneasy. In asking for his help, she had unwittingly given him the very power she had refused to allow in their previous relationship. Even if she had second thoughts now, the situation was already beyond her control.
The contents of the small apartment were packed, boxes loaded and rooms emptied by 12:30. Luc had already paid out the remainder of Hattie’s lease. All that was left for her to do was turn in her keys to the super and follow Luc out to the car where Sherman was waiting. But there she balked. “I’ll follow you in my car.”
Luc frowned. “I thought we had this discussion.”
“I like my car. I’m sentimentally attached to my car. I’m not giving it away.”
The standoff lasted only a few seconds. Luc shrugged, his expression resigned. “I’ll see you at the house.”
It was a small victory, but it made Hattie feel better. Luc had a habit of taking charge in ways that ostensibly made perfect sense, but left Hattie feeling like a helpless damsel in distress. She had asked for his help, but that didn’t mean she’d let him walk all over her.
She strapped Deedee into the old, shabby car seat and slid into the front, turning the key in the ignition and praying the car would start. That would be the final indignity.
As their little caravan pulled away from the curb, Hattie glanced in the rearview mirror for one last look at her old life slipping away. Her emotions were not easy to define. Relief. Sadness. Anticipation. Had she sold her soul to the devil? Only time would tell.
Luc experienced a sharp but distinct jolt of satisfaction when Hattie stepped over his threshold. Something primitive in him exulted. She was coming to him of her own free will. She’d be under his roof … wearing his ring. Ten years ago he’d let his pride keep him from trying to get her back. That, and his misguided belief that he had to respect her wishes. But everything was different this time around. He was calling the shots.
The attraction was still there. He felt it, and he knew she did, as well. Soon she would turn to him out of sheer gratitude, or unfulfilled desire or loneliness. And then she would be his. He’d waited a long time for this. And no one could fault him. He was giving Hattie and her baby a home and security.
If he extracted his pound of flesh in the process, it was only fair. She owed him that much.
He left them to get settled in, with Sherman and Ana hovering eagerly. After changing clothes, he drove to the office and threw himself into the pile of work that had accumulated during his unaccustomed morning off.
But for once, his concentration was shot. He found himself wishing he was back at the house, watching Hattie … playing with the baby … anticipating the night to come.
He called home on the drive back. It wasn’t late, only six-thirty. Hattie answered her cell.
“Hello, Luc.”
He returned the greeting and said, “Ana has offered to look after Deedee this evening. I thought we might go out for a quiet dinner and discuss business.”
Business? He winced. Did he really mean to sound so cavalier?
Hattie’s response was cool. “I don’t want to take advantage of Ana’s good nature.”
“You’re not, I swear. It was her idea. Little Deedee has a way of making people fall in love with her. I’ll be there to pick you up in twenty minutes.”
It was only dinner. With a woman who had already rejected him once. Why was his heart beating faster?
Unfortunately for Hattie, the black dress had to do duty again. This time she had no inclination to wear Luc’s necklace. Not for a business dinner. She tied a narrow tangerine scarf around her neck and inserted plain gold hoops in her ears.
She was ready and waiting in the foyer when he walked in the front door.
Luc seemed disappointed. “Where’s the baby?”
Hattie grimaced, her nerves jumping. “She’s taking an early evening nap. I couldn’t get her to sleep much at all this afternoon … the uncertainty of a new place, I think. She was cranky and exhausted.”
“Too bad. Well, in that case, I guess we can get going.”
The restaurant was lovely—very elegant, and yet not so pretentious that Hattie felt uncomfortable. The sommelier chatted briefly with Luc and then produced a zinfandel that met with Luc’s approval.
Hattie was persuaded to try a glass. “It’s really good,” she said. “Fruity but not too sweet.”
He leaned back in his chair. “I thought you’d like it.”
They enjoyed a quiet dinner, sticking to innocuous topics, and then afterward, Luc reached into a slim leather folder and extracted a sheaf of papers. “My lawyers have drawn up all the necessary documents. If you wish, you’re welcome to have a third-party lawyer go over them with you. I know from experience that legalese is hard to wade through at times.”
She took the documents and eyed them cautiously. “I have someone who has been helping me with the custody issues,” she said, already skimming the lines of print. “I’ll get her to take a look.” Most of it was self-explanatory. When she reached page three of the prenup, her eyebrows raised. “It says here that if and when the marriage dissolves, I’ll be entitled to a lump sum payment of $500,000.”
He drummed the fingers of one hand on the table. His skin was dark against the snowy-white cloth. “You don’t think that’s fair?”
“I think it’s outrageous. You don’t owe me anything. You’re doing me a huge favor. I don’t plan to walk away with half a million dollars. Put something aside for Deedee’s education if you want to, but we need to strike that line.”
His jaw tightened. “The line stays. That’s a deal breaker.”
She studied his face, puzzled and upset. “I don’t understand.”
He scowled at her, his posture combative. “You’ve thrown my wealth in my face the entire time I’ve known you, Hattie. And now you’re using it to protect someone you love. I don’t have a problem with that. But I’ll be damned when that day comes if I’ll let anyone say I threw you out on the street destitute.”
Her lip trembled, and she bit down on it … hard. Luc was a proud man. Perhaps until now she had never really understood just how proud he was. She was sure his heart had healed after she broke up with him. But maybe the dent to his pride was not so easily repaired.
She owed him a sign of faith. It was the least she could do after treating him so shabbily in the past. He was an honorable man. That much hadn’t changed. She reached into her purse for a pen and turned to the first yellow sticky tab. With a flourish, she signed her name.
He put a hand over hers. “Are you sure you don’t want someone to look over this with you?”
She shivered inwardly at his touch. “I’m sure,” she said, her words ragged.
He released her and watched intently as she signed one page after another. When it was all done, she handed the documents back to him. “Is that it?”
Luc tucked the paperwork away. “I have a couple of other things I think we need to discuss, but it requires a private setting. We’ll be more comfortable at home.”
“Oh.” Her scintillating response didn’t faze him. He seemed perfectly calm. He summoned their waiter, paid the check and stood to pull out her chair. As they exited the restaurant, she was hyperaware of his warm hand resting in the small of her back.
Hattie was silent on the drive back. Her skin was hot, her stomach pitchy. What on earth could he mean? Sex? It seemed the obvious topic, but she had assumed they might work up to that gradually … after they were married. She hadn’t anticipated talking about it so bluntly or openly. They had been as close as two people could be once upon a time. But that was long, long ago.
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