His Last Chance at Redemption

Leo ignored the shaft of guilt that speared his gut and made a mental note to ask his housekeeper to organise someone to assist her during Ty’s sleep time.

Just then a steward came out and asked if they would like drinks and Lexi surprised him by ordering a chamomile tea.

‘It’s very calming. You should try some.’

‘Are you suggesting I’m not calm?’

She tilted her head and her long hair spilled over one shoulder. ‘I don’t think I’ll answer that lest we start an argument.’

‘You’re here. That’s almost guaranteed to start one.’

She smiled. ‘Now you’re teasing.’ Her eyes sparkled as she tried not to laugh at him again.

He wasn’t, but he decided to let it ride. Sitting out on his deck on a moonlit night with a beautiful woman he did not want to be attracted to was not conducive to bringing out his sense of humour.

‘I tried to find you earlier tonight.’

‘Why?’

She gripped the back of the deckchair in front of her. ‘I wanted to ask you if you would like to read Ty a bedtime story.’

‘I was in a meeting,’ he said, his voice sharper than he intended.

She tilted her head as she considered his answer. ‘Would you have done it if you hadn’t been in a meeting?’

He was shocked when she called his bluff.

‘No.’

He could see that his curt reply had surprised her and he was glad. Don’t ask questions, moya milaya, that you don’t want answers to.

‘Why not?’ she asked softly.

Did the woman never give up? Did she somehow expect him to open up and spill his guts all because she had asked an insightful question in a nice voice?

Leo leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, annoyed with himself and her. ‘You really want to know?’

She stepped forward, drawn in. ‘If you want to tell me.’

‘Take a seat.’ He indicated the deckchair next to his, his voice low.

She looked from him to the chair and back, a shade warily, and Leo felt some primitive thrill of a bygone age rise up inside himself. The lure was set and she just had to take two more steps and then he’d trap her and tell her to mind her own business. That he would not discuss his relationship with his son with her or anyone else. He might even kiss her as well. Just to find out if she really did taste as good as his recall said she did.

She hesitated beside the chair, but he could tell she hadn’t taken the bait. More was the pity. ‘There’s always tomorrow night.’

He raised a mocking eyebrow. ‘To take a seat?’

Her eyes flashed. ‘To read him a story.’

‘Alas, I’m all out of fairy tales, angel.’

She pursed her lips at the pet name he’d given her and he cocked his head as he considered her. ‘Is that why you became a childcare worker? You like fairy tales.’

‘I like children. They’re honest and pure.’

Like her? He leant back in his chair. ‘Could it be that you prefer dealing with children more than adults?’

‘Of course not.’