Larenzo's Christmas Baby

‘Were you close to him? This Raguso?’

Larenzo hesitated, one hand resting flat on the tabletop. ‘A bit,’ he finally said.

‘And do you think he did it?’

‘I know he did.’ He shifted in his chair, his gaze arrowing in on her. ‘While I was in prison, my staff investigated and found proof of his guilt. But enough talk of what is past. It’s the future that concerns me.’

‘The past is important, Larenzo—’

‘I’ve told you all you need to know,’ he cut across her. ‘I want to talk about Ava.’

She knew it was coming, and yet she still resisted. ‘What about her?’

For a second his face softened, his mouth curving into something almost like a smile and just that little look made Emma start to melt. ‘What is she like? From the little I saw of her already, it seems like she knows her own mind.’

‘She does. She’s a force to be reckoned with, that’s for sure.’

‘Her strength will serve her well later in life.’

‘So I keep telling myself.’ To her shock Emma realised she was smiling, and Larenzo was actually smiling back.

‘I want to see her,’ Larenzo said firmly, and Emma took a deep breath.

‘There’s a playground near the house—’

Larenzo’s expression darkened, his eyes flashing silver fire. ‘A playground? Do you think you can fob me off with an hour or two at a local park?’

‘It’s a start, Larenzo—’

‘I’ve missed the first ten months of my daughter’s life. I want to spend time with her, Emma. Real time. Not be introduced to her as if I’m some stranger in a park playground.’

Emma stared down at the table, conscious of how quickly Larenzo had torn apart her suggestion. She’d wanted to stage-manage his entrance into Ava’s life, to exert some control over the proceedings, and hopefully to limit them. She should have known Larenzo wouldn’t let her do that. He was a man who was in control. Always.

‘Very well.’ She took a deep, even breath and let it out slowly. ‘What do you suggest?’

‘I’ve taken an apartment in New York, and it has plenty of room. I suggest you and Ava move there with me.’

Emma gaped at him, stunned into silence for a few seconds. ‘You want me to move in with you?’ she finally managed, her voice ending in something close to a squeak.

‘I’m not suggesting we have some sort of relationship,’ Larenzo clarified coolly. ‘I have no interest in that. But I want to see my daughter as much as possible, and be a real presence in her life. Your current living arrangements are neither sustainable nor suitable.’ He lifted one powerful shoulder in a shrug. ‘The answer seems obvious.’

‘To you, maybe.’ Emma nearly choked. She shook her head and reached for her glass of water. She’d never expected Larenzo to suggest something like this. To live with him...to be that near to temptation...

‘I don’t see an alternative,’ Larenzo answered. ‘I want unlimited access to my daughter—’

‘Unlimited? Larenzo, be reasonable—’ At the very most she’d thought she’d have to have some kind of joint custody arrangement with Larenzo. But this?

This was dangerous. Impossible. Tempting...

‘I don’t really see what the problem is,’ Larenzo replied calmly. ‘Surely you agree it’s better for Ava to have two interested and loving parents in her life?’

Emma swallowed. ‘Yes, but that doesn’t mean we have to live together—’

‘What, precisely, do you object to?’ Larenzo asked. His voice had gone quiet, dangerously so. ‘You’ll have your own room, your own bathroom, and your quarters will be far more comfortable than they are currently.’

Emma stared at him helplessly. He made it all sound so simple, and yet it wasn’t. It couldn’t be. ‘Everything’s changed so quickly,’ she finally said. ‘I can’t process it all—’

‘Then take your time,’ Larenzo answered. ‘You have until tomorrow.’

‘Tomorrow—’

‘I want to see my daughter, Emma.’

‘I know you do.’ Except she hadn’t expected Larenzo to feel this strongly, this fiercely, about his role as a father. That he did surprised her, but she realised she couldn’t resent it. She knew what it was like to have a parent who chose a life without you. Who walked away from her child. Despite all the obstacles, all the unknowns, she realised she was, amazingly, glad Larenzo wanted to be involved...even if she was scared about what it meant.