Secrets Made in Paradise

‘Have you been back home at all?’

‘It’s no longer my home.’ She shrugged. ‘And now I have Luke I’d never go back. I don’t want him near my family. I can’t trust them.’

‘You can’t trust anyone?’ he asked softly.

Silently she looked at him, her throat so constricted an answer was impossible.

‘You know you can trust me, Emmy.’

Her heart ached because she really wished that were the case, but it wasn’t. At some point he would judge her. It wasn’t his fault, it was human nature. People always did. And she had screwed up, hadn’t she?

‘I’m sorry they all let you down. Your family, your school, your friends. That sucked, Emmy.’

‘Car-parking buildings don’t seem so bad now, right?’ she tried to joke. ‘My family business is way worse.’

‘Oh...maybe.’ He hugged her close and kissed her forehead. ‘I’m glad you told me.’

‘When I found out I was pregnant...’ she murmured softly, releasing the burden of her deepest secrets to him, ‘I thought about all my options. I didn’t even know your full name. I didn’t have any savings and I didn’t even have paid employment. No family support. My only friend was an octogenarian on his death bed. What was I doing bringing a baby into that uncertainty? It was nothing short of reckless. But I wanted him for me. I wanted someone to love and to love me too. And that was immature and selfish of me because I wasn’t in the best place to provide for him and I knew that. So when I found out who you really were? I was afraid you’d go for custody and, with your resources, you’d win easily and you’d be right to.’

She paused, afraid at how vulnerable she’d just allowed herself to be.

But he regarded her steadily and shook his head. ‘That never would have happened, Emmy. No judge would have taken him from you. You’ve given him more than I ever could—love, for one thing. The desire to do whatever is best for him—putting him first and yourself second.’ He gazed at her. ‘And I would never take him from you. You know, I never thought I wanted children. Ever. But I’m glad he’s here.’

She leaned against him. ‘I’m glad too.’

And as he lifted her chin and pressed a kiss to her mouth, her last thought—while she could still think—was that perhaps, just perhaps, things were going to be all right.

* * *

‘I have an event I have to go to in Quito,’ Javier said as he left the bed. ‘I’d like you to come with me.’

Emmy tensed and lifted her head from the pillow. ‘What kind of event?’

‘It’s business,’ he said calmly, but he was watching her too intently with an amused look in his eyes.

‘Why do I need to go?’

‘You’re the mother of my child—the sooner that little fact is out in the world, the better.’

‘Why does anyone need to know?’

‘I won’t have Luke kept a secret. I don’t want him to feel that I’m ashamed of him. We show a united front, Emmy. You’re the mother of my son and we’re friends.’

She swallowed the little hit at that descriptor. ‘It just seems a little soon.’

‘It’s been over nine months already,’ he reminded her wryly.

‘Won’t people be curious? You’re wealthy...people are interested in you. They might ask about me, which would be bad.’ She swallowed as he looked distinctly unfazed. ‘People finding out about my background doesn’t worry you?’

‘Not in the least,’ he said simply.

‘You really don’t care?’

‘I really don’t give a damn.’ He watched her. ‘Why would anyone think any less of you, just because of your family?’

She stared at him. ‘They have before.’

‘Then they weren’t kind people. But you’re still reluctant?’ He bent over her and cupped her jaw and whispered against her skin. ‘Don’t you want to accompany me?’

‘Are you trying to seduce me into saying yes?’ she muttered.

As he pulled back she saw the teasing smile in his eyes. ‘Isn’t that better than threatening you?’

‘I’m not sure.’ She wasn’t sure that that light teasing wasn’t a form of torture all of its own. Because while it was blissful, she was beginning to fear there was nothing real behind it for him. Whereas for her? Something else was brewing. ‘Is that what comes next if I say no?’

His amusement faded. ‘Do you really think I’d try to order you, Emmy? That I insist on it as part of this eighteen-months thing?’ He frowned and a hint of chagrin tightened his gaze. ‘I’m actually not that guy. You think I’d leverage some kind of power over you? What would be the joy for me in that?’ He shook his head. ‘I don’t get off on a power trip over you, I get off on you.’

Her heart seized, but she still couldn’t answer. And that fear—that this was truly, purely physical for him—bloomed.

‘Look, if you really don’t want to, then I’ll accept your answer and go alone.’ He gazed at her and suddenly she was wary of the hint of coolness encroaching in his eyes and sensed him starting to withdraw.

She didn’t want to lose the fragile intimacy that had built between them yesterday. And suddenly she couldn’t say no. She was half afraid that she couldn’t say no to him about anything. ‘When is it?’

‘Tomorrow night.’

‘Tomorrow?’ she choked. ‘You can’t be serious. I don’t have—’

‘Anything to wear? I can arrange—’

‘No. No, Javier.’

‘You can borrow it for the night and give it back to me the second we’re home.’ He waggled his eyebrows.

‘Javier—’

‘Let me buy you a damn dress, Emerald.’

‘You’re not spending stupid money on a dress I’ll wear only once.’

‘I won’t spend stupid money and you can wear it more than once,’ he growled. ‘Wear it all the time.’

It was impossible not to smile at him. ‘Why are you suddenly angry?’

‘Because you refuse anything I offer.’

She laughed. ‘That’s not true. I’ve been living with you for the past week. Eating your food. Drinking your water. Learning how to use the camera you gave me. Sleeping in your bed. Everything. I’ve taken everything.’

‘Not everything, barely the necessities.’

‘Necessities?’ She waved a hand around the yacht. ‘Barely?’

‘You know what I mean.’ He glared at her. ‘You can’t live your life in servitude to your son. You need things of your own as well. Your own life. You’re a people person. You’re good with them, you like them. You need to let more of them in your life.’

Her eyes widened. Maybe he was right, but somehow that truth saddened her.

‘I want you to be happy,’ he grumped. ‘I want you to meet new people and make friends. Not be alone.’

She was shocked by his vehemence. ‘I am happy. I’m not alone. I have Luke.’

‘He can’t even talk back, Emmy.’

‘Not yet. But he’s getting very close, you know. He can already say mama.’

Emmy shifted uncomfortably as she read the seriousness in Javier’s expression. He was being thoughtful and kind, yet stupidly it hurt. Because she wouldn’t want or need anyone else if she had Javier, not just as her temporary lover, but as her best friend and mate for life.