Relief flooded through him. “So you’ll stay?”
“With one condition.” She lifted her chin. “You have to promise, when I want to leave, you’ll let me go.”
He saw there was no arguing with her on this point. He hesitated. Once Daisy was here, living in his house, he believed he’d soon convince her they should marry. They both loved their baby. That was a good enough reason.
He hoped.
“If you’ll promise,” he said slowly, “you’ll never try to keep me from my daughter. Or hide her from me, even if you leave New York.”
Biting her lip, she gave a single nod.
Leonidas held out his hand. “Then I agree.”
“Me too.” Daisy shook his hand. He felt the slow burn of her palm against his, before she quickly drew it away.
“What changed your mind?” he asked quietly.
She looked up at him. “I loved my dad. That was what convinced me. Because you’re right. How could I deny our daughter the same chance for a father?”
The father that Daisy had lost, because of him. Leonidas felt a lump in his throat. The ghost of Patrick Cassidy would always be between them. How would they ever get past it?
He said in a low voice, “Will you stay tonight?”
“Yes. So will Sunny. Where I go, my dog goes.”
“She’s very welcome. Like I said. We’re dog friendly.” Looking at the dog lazing nearby, he added, “Besides, I think she likes me.”
“I noticed,” she said wryly. She yawned. “Though I didn’t pack any clothes.”
“I can send someone back—”
“Wake up one of your employees to send them to Brooklyn and back? I’m not that evil. I’ll just sleep naked.”
Leonidas broke out in a hot sweat, remembering her bare body against his, the soft sweetness of her skin as she moved against him. He wondered what it would feel like to touch her now, what she looked like naked, so heavily pregnant with his child...
No! He forced the image from his mind. He couldn’t seduce her. Not yet. She was still skittish, looking for an excuse to flee. He couldn’t give her one. He had to take his time. He had to win her trust.
“Fine. We can pick up your things tomorrow,” he said, breathing deeply.
“There’s not much to collect.” She gave a brief smile. “You don’t have to help me. I can just take the subway over.”
“Leave you to struggle with suitcases and boxes on the subway? Forget it. I’m helping you.”
“Fine,” she sighed. She yawned again. “I think I need to go to bed.”
He tried not to think about her in bed. “Sure.”
“I just need to let Sunny out first.” She rose to her feet, opening the door for her dog, who quickly bounded out into the courtyard.
As she stood in the doorway, Leonidas couldn’t stop his gaze from lingering over her belly and full, swollen breasts, imagining them beneath her white shirt and black leggings. Turning back, she caught his gaze. He blushed like a guilty teenager.
Clearing his throat, he gathered up the take-out bags and trash, leaving the plates in one of the kitchen sinks. A moment later, after Sunny returned from outside, Leonidas said in a low voice, “I’ll show you to your room.”
He led her through the kitchen, the dog following them down the hall and up the sweeping staircase to the second floor.
As they passed, Daisy glanced nervously at his master bedroom, where they’d had their blowout fight last autumn. But he didn’t pause. He led her to the best guest room.
Reaching inside, he turned on the light, revealing a beautiful suite, elegantly decorated in cream and light p