It surprised him after suppressing the idea of a family for so long. There was a part deep inside Luca that had still wanted children, but he had avoided finding out if it was a possibility for him. Somehow it was easier to avoid the doctor and not know whether it was off the table than to get tested and know for certain that he had only two frozen chances at biological fatherhood.
Make that one chance, now that one of the samples had been used to create Eva. It was a mistake, malpractice at best, but at the same time it was hard to be angry about it. He’d been sleepwalking through his days, working hard to fill the void in his life, then boom—he had a daughter. Nothing else seemed quite as important as doing whatever he could to keep Eva happy, safe and in his life.
“How many bedrooms are there?”
Claire’s voice roused him from his thoughts. He hoped she hadn’t noticed him staring at her so intently. “Four. The master suite is to the left off the living room. There are three other bedrooms downstairs.”
Claire looked around, awkwardly shuffling her feet as she studied the house. She probably wasn’t sure how they were going to work out the arrangements here. Obviously they wouldn’t be sharing a room, as much as he’d like to. They were here together as a family, but also to become friends and soothe her concerns about him caring for their daughter. She might be the most alluring woman he’d laid eyes on in a long time, but sex would most certainly complicate their already complicated situation.
“You and Eva should take the master,” he said. “Gavin said there’s a crib in there because they got the place not long before their daughter, Beth, was born. There’s also plenty of room for the playpen and all of Eva’s things there.” Luca opened the door to the master suite and gestured her to go inside ahead of him.
“Are you sure?” she asked as she stepped inside and surveyed the room with its cheery yellow walls and iron king-size bed. There was a crib and changing table along one wall and a large dresser along the other. “We’ll be just as comfortable downstairs.”
“Nonsense. This is perfect for you.” And it was. The room suited Claire as though it was made for her. Elegant and cheerful, comfortable and effortless. Claire was all that and more. Her beauty was natural, not forced like that of so many other women. She wore just enough makeup to highlight her features, not disguise them. Her clothes looked comfortable, but stylish. Even the scent of her was perfection—like vanilla and cinnamon. It all came together into a distracting and enticing package.
It didn’t stop at looks, either. Driving out here, he was impressed by how intelligent and articulate she was. Working at a museum with a degree in art history, she could just as easily discuss impressionist pieces as ancient Egyptian tomb paintings. He hoped their daughter would be as beautiful and smart as her mother. He doubted he could’ve picked a better woman to have his child if he’d done it himself. The Fates worked in mysterious ways.
The Fates? His mother’s superstitious ways were creeping into his thoughts today. With a dismissive shake of his head, Luca went back out to the living room and started bringing Claire’s bags inside. “I’ll let you get settled in. I’m sure you could use a nap or something after that long drive.”
Claire chuckled and settled on the edge of the bed with Eva. “I doubt I’ll get a nap, but maybe there will be some quiet tummy time in our future.”
He nodded and slipped from the room. Luca stomped down the staircase to the first floor. Once there, he took a deep breath and exhaled Claire’s scent from his lungs. If only his thoughts of her could be expelled so easily.
Grabbing one of his bags, he went into each bedroom, selecting the one the farthest from Claire. He dropped the bag on the floor at the foot of the bed and flopped down onto the queen-size mattress. The room was tidy, with blue walls and distressed furniture. In the end it didn’t really matter. All he needed was a bed and space away from Claire to keep a clear head.
Four weeks was a long time to be alone with her here. With the longing she stirred inside him with only a glance, it would feel even longer.
Four
The morning light shone through the window and roused Claire from her sleep. She yawned and stretched, feeling luxuriously lazy for not setting an alarm. She could get used to this vacation thing. For the first time in a long time she felt well rested. She’d slept like a rock last night. She hadn’t done that since before Eva was born.