Accidental Father

by Nancy Robards Thompson

“No, thank you. I believe I have everything I need.” Alex’s gaze stayed on Julianne and Liam.

  Isobel made a gesture that was more than a nod but not quite a full-fledged bow. “This evening, you will be dining with Her Majesty and Prince Luc. Dinner will be served in their apartment at seven-thirty. In the meantime, I hope you will find your accommodations to your satisfaction. If not, do not hesitate to ring.”

  “Thank you.” Alex’s voice was politely dismissive, a clue that he was comfortable dealing with the help. With another nod/bow, Isobel and Aimée turned and left, leaving Alex and Julianne alone in the fancy hallway.

  They stood a moment, facing each other, both in front of their respective suite doors.

  “They should have a crib set up and ready for Liam,” Alex said. “Do you need help?”

  She glanced inside, expecting to see beds in a room, hotel-room fashion, but saw instead that the doors opened into a living room.

  “I’m sure everything is fine,” she said. “So…I’ll see you later?”

  “Yes, later.”

  He turned to enter his room.

  “Will you get us for dinner?” The words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop them. She hadn’t meant to sound quite so needy, but she didn’t know where the royal apartment was located. She felt even more foolish when she realized, one second after she’d spoken, that an escort would probably appear at her door to guide her. The folks at the Palais de St. Michel seemed to be good at anticipating what guests needed before they knew it themselves.

  “Of course,” Alex said. “I was planning on it.”

  “Thanks,” she said.

  They both lingered.

  “Well, I guess I should get him settled. Maybe he’ll sleep a bit before his snack arrives.”

  Alex nodded. “Let me know if you need anything.”

  Her “room” turned out to be a suite considerably larger and nicer than her own apartment in D.C. Two bedrooms, two baths, a living room with a fire burning in the fireplace…a person could definitely get used to this.

  So she reminded herself, she’d better not get too comfortable. She had phone calls to make.

  Although she could see Alex’s point about security, and Alex seemed to be fair and willing to involve her in most of the decisions affecting Liam, she wouldn’t be able to relax until after she’d spoken to an attorney.

  She wasn’t content to take the word of the U.S. Embassy’s legal representative. He’d made a snap judgment with St. Michel Secret Service breathing down his neck. She wanted her legal rights defined. Right now everything seemed fine, but who knew what the future might bring? She couldn’t stay here forever, and she certainly didn’t want to leave without Liam. Not after she’d promised Marissa she’d raise him.

  Now that they were on St. Michel soil, in the towers of the royal fortress, she really was at Alex’s mercy. If they wanted to take her baby, they could.

  Even though she wanted to believe that wouldn’t happen, that she’d never have reason to think about legalities, she had to cover all her bases.

  After she’d gotten Liam to sleep, she gathered her cell phone, a pen and paper and called Anita Collins to enlist help finding counsel.

  Half an hour later, not only had Anita helped her come up with a list of potential attorneys who might be able to help her, but she’d also put Graham on the phone. He had news about the reorganization and was eager for Julianne to get home.

  This was good news. If Graham’s plan panned out, the orchestra folding might’ve been a blessing in disguise. The proverbial when a door closes a window opens came to mind.

  She needed a computer to do some research. Even though there was a nice Mac with tempting Internet service, she decided she’d wait until she could go into town to use a public connection.

  Take that, Big Brother.

  As if in response, there was a knock at her door. It startled her for a moment, but then she remembered it was probably palace staff with Liam’s snack. When she opened the door she was surprised to see Alex standing there holding the beat-up Bundy flute case.

  The flute. For her foundation. She’d been too proud, too furious with him yesterday…had it only been yesterday that everything was different?

  “You forgot this.” He held out the flute to her as if that was really what happened.

  “And you brought it to me. You’re just thoughtful like that, aren’t you?”

  He smiled. “It’s been said that thoughtfulness is one of my virtues.”

  “Alex, if you continue to be this thoughtful, I simply don’t know what I’m going to do with you.”

  His gaze shifted to her mouth.

  “I might be able to make a few suggestions.”

  She bit the insides of her cheeks. Heat spread like wildfire over her face and she turned away from him, motioning him into the living room.

  “Come in.”

  That was the thing about this maddening man, sometimes—most of the time, in fact—he caught her off guard, upsetting her equilibrium.

  Sometimes he was so darn thoughtful that it was hard to think about calling lawyers and playing hardball. But maybe that was his strategy? Subdue her with kindness.

  The sobering thought helped the blush pass.

  “Thank you for that.” She gestured to the flute. “Liam’s sleeping, and I was enjoying the fire.”

  He set the case on the entryway table and followed her into the living room.

  The notebook in which she’d jotted notes about lawyers was open and lying on the couch where she’d left it. She promptly closed it and set it on the far side of the large, square granite-topped coffee table as he sat on the couch. She settled herself next to him.

  “Were you working?” he asked, looking at the note pad.

  She hesitated for a moment, but then in a flash, she decided to be up front with him.

  “I’m researching U.S.-based attorneys. I think you need to know that I still plan on learning what my options are. As you know, I can’t stay here forever. And I simply can’t imagine being separated from my child.”

  He nodded, but it wasn’t a gesture of agreement. More like an indication of comprehension. “You like to be in charge, don’t you?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  “I didn’t say it was bad.”

  “It wasn’t so much what you said, as how you said it.” She arched a brow. “Do you have a problem with strong women?”

  “Of course not.”

  His prickly response came a little too quickly.

  Is that why you left Marissa? The question was poised right on the tip of her tongue, but he spoke first. “It just seems like you always have to drive. Sometimes it might be nice to let go, let someone else take the wheel for a change.”

  She blinked, unsure of what to say. Truly, she knew that letting go of the reins was a challenge. Being in control was part of who she was.

  “I guess I’ve always been the driver,” she said. “Or at least the planner and the one in charge. Marissa was the carefree, happy-go-lucky one.”

  She held her breath, as if uttering her sister’s name would invite her ghost to wedge its way between Alex and her again.

  “Why is that?” he asked.

  “Our parents died one month before my eighteenth birthday. Marissa was four years younger than I was so I had to fight to gain custody of her. I wasn’t going to lose her.”

  “And you won.” Alex did not sound amazed.

  “It wasn’t easy,” Julianne admitted.

  “I’m sorry.” He touched her arm, lightly. “About your loss. It must’ve been a terrible shock and a lot to bear for someone so young. First, your parents and then Marissa…”

  His eyes held genuine sympathy.

  “The past twenty-four hours have felt like history is repeating itself, Alex. Here I am once again, fighting for custody of the only family I have left.”

  Life had been such a blur over the handful of months
since Liam had come into her life that she hadn’t realized the similarities until now. Hadn’t realized how natural it was for her to fight tooth and nail for those who belonged to her.

  Alex’s exhale was sharp, as if her words had made an impact.

  “I’m not trying to take him away from you,” he said. “By now, I’d hoped that was evident.” His words were soothing, not defensive.

  “Well, yes, but can you understand how strange this feels? We were supposed to be on our way home today. Instead, we’re somewhere in the bowels of a castle in a foreign country. Do you see where I’m coming from? I mean what would happen if I took Liam and walked out of here?”

  He inclined his head slightly, narrowing his eyes, as if contemplating the question. “You’d probably get lost. The palace is like a maze. One of the more primitive security features. And I’m not exactly keeping you in a dungeon.”

  She clucked her tongue and gave his leg a light, get-serious push. “Very funny. But I’m serious. I want to know what would happen if I tried to leave?”

  His gaze studied her face, making a languid perusal of her features. “You’re not a prisoner here, Julianne. Would you like to get out? Perhaps go for a sail on my boat or take a tour of St. Michel?”

  That wasn’t exactly what she’d meant by leaving, and she knew he understood that when he said, “Be patient, Julianne. I’m trying very hard to make this a win-win situation for everyone involved.” She nodded.

  “Thank you,” he answered. “I still think it might be a good idea if you got out. The only way you can fully appreciate St. Michel is to see it. I would love to have the honor of being your official tour guide. Do we have a date tomorrow?”

  “Gee, I don’t know. Let me check my calendar.” She paused for a moment. “What do you know? I just happen to be free tomorrow. But first, let’s get through dinner tonight with the queen and her prince. They may exile me to the dungeon.”

  She was trying to be funny, but from the way Alex frowned, she wasn’t sure if it translated.

  “Sophie and Luc are great people. Give them a chance and I think you’ll see that.”

  Oh. Oops. To her, they were the sovereign rulers, the decision makers, deciders of fate. To Alex, they were simply Luc and Sophie. Oldest brother and sister-in-law.

  “Of course. I’m sorry. I’m sure they’re wonderful people.”

  And honestly, if they were anything like him, they would be.

  “I guess I’m just a little nervous.”

  “Don’t be.”

  He touched her arm and the heartrending tenderness of his gaze made her achingly aware of how close the two of them were sitting on the couch.

  He reached up and traced her lower lip with the pad of his thumb, and suddenly the air changed, the tenderness was replaced by something electric and dangerous.

  “Don’t be nervous.” He ordered, tenderly.

  Her gaze fell to his lips and she wondered how he would taste. A burning crescendo of suppressed desire seared through her, gripping her by surprise. She knew that she was playing with fire…but she just couldn’t help it. Didn’t want to help it…

  The next thing she knew, she was in his arms and his lips were right there, inches from hers.

  It started as a whisper of a kiss that made her heart pound and her brain say, oooh, as her reason flew out the window.

  It began leisurely, slowly, starting with a brush of lips and hints of tongue. As if he were testing the waters to see how she’d react. When she slid her arms around his neck and opened her mouth inviting him in, he turned her so that he could deepen the kiss. Julianne fisted her hands into his hair and pulled their bodies closer.

  She’d forgotten how consuming a kiss could be. Alex’s hands were on her back and his mouth was on her lips, but her entire body sang. Every sense was heightened as if his touch had awakened the female side of her that had been sleeping for far too long.

  Oooh, yes.

  She’d forgotten what a kiss from an attractive man could do.

  She heard the ragged edge of his breathing just before the blood rushing in her ears. She felt the heat of his hands on her back. He smelled like heaven: a heady mix of soap and a subtle after-shave with grassy notes and something leathery and masculine. Yet despite the intoxicating way he smelled, the way he tasted—of mint and something else that was hard to pin down—nearly made her drunk with pleasure. The two combined were a seductive mix, that teased her senses, making her feel hot and sexy and just a little bit reckless.

  Best of all, here in his arms, she didn’t feel like she had to drive. She wanted to melt into him, let him take charge for a while.

  As he tasted and teased, the last bit of reason she possessed took flight with the realization that it had been far too long since a man’s touch had made her blood churn and her body long to be fully taken.

  She was lost in the feel of him, the smell and taste of him, until something out of place pushed its way into her awareness.

  Finally, a low but determined knock, knock, knock on the door pierced her conscious thoughts.

  She jumped, dropping her arms from around his neck, pulling away, suddenly desperate to regain her personal space.

  Alex froze for a heartbeat. Then he sat back on the couch, looking a little disoriented. They stared at each other for a moment until the next knock began, louder this time.

  “That’s probably Liam’s snack,” Julianne murmured.

  He let out a long breath and raked a hand through his hair. “I’ll get it.”

  He pushed himself up off the couch and the magnitude of the situation washed over her.

  What on earth had she been thinking?

  Well, obviously, she hadn’t been thinking at all.

  She watched his back as he crossed the room toward the door. Those broad shoulders and narrow hips… They were a lethal combination. On a physical level, Julianne couldn’t deny she was fiercely attracted to him, and she knew lots of women would be thrilled to change places with her, to find themselves in a storybook castle in the arms of Alex Lejardin.

  But what the heck was she doing? She hadn’t touched a man in years and here she was playing with fire. The most potentially dangerous fire she’d ever dealt with: the man had the power to take away the one person she loved most in this world, the only family she had left. Alex was smooth and cultured and used to getting his way no matter what. Could she have picked anyone worse to…?

  To what?

  What exactly were they doing?

  Well, it didn’t matter because it wouldn’t happen again.

  Chapter Nine

  Alex hadn’t intended to kiss Julianne. It was the last thing he should’ve done. He’d let things slip completely out of control. Yet, it had nearly turned him inside out to feel her surrender in his arms. To give up control—even if it was only for a few minutes.

  Still, it was a mistake—especially when his son was sleeping in the next room and the word lawyer had been fresh on Julianne’s tongue.

  It was odd that the nasty word hadn’t left a bad aftertaste. No, she’d tasted just as sweet and sexy as he’d imagined. In fact, the kiss had left him craving more. The next time, it could come back to bite him. The one way to ensure it wouldn’t was to make sure there wasn’t a next time.

  Their relationship was already precarious, and Julianne was in his life long-term because she was Liam’s aunt. She wasn’t like the other women, the ones he could kiss and dismiss. She was there whether he liked it or not. He couldn’t muddy the waters.

  He knocked on her door a couple of minutes early because he wanted to talk to her before they met Luc and Sophie for dinner. He had to set the record straight, to explain that he knew he’d over-stepped. That even though he was devastatingly attracted to her, it wouldn’t happen again.

  His heartbeat kicked up a notch when she opened the door. She was in her bathrobe, barefoot, her hair still a little damp, as if he’d interrupted her blow drying.

  Despite her sexy, tousled
appearance, the look on her face told him she’d already been thinking along the same lines as he: Another kiss like that wasn’t going to happen again. The ice queen was back. Any traces of the hot-blooded woman who’d made him melt in her arms were gone.

  “You’re early,” she said, immediately turning and walking toward the living room, expecting him to follow.

  “I am,” he said. “I wanted to talk to you.”

  Her toenails were painted hot pink, and the startling color caused his gaze to linger on her feet. He’d only ever seen her in black, which made sense because that was her uniform for the orchestra. To glimpse her not quite so put together, in nothing but a plush white robe with this sexy burst of color at her feet was…so different. And quite alluring, he had to admit, despite the icy glare.

  She folded her arms across her chest. “Look, I know what you’re going to say—”

  Liam’s cry sounded from the other room.

  She held up a hand. “Excuse me.” She turned to go to the boy.

  “Wait a minute,” he said.

  How did she know what he was going to say? Maybe it was going to be something positive. How could she know what he was thinking?

  She stopped and turned to look at him.

  “Why don’t you go finish getting dressed and I’ll take care of Liam?”

  “No, he wants me.”

  “If you don’t hurry, we’re going to be late.”

  He could tell by the look on her face that she didn’t want to give in, but she did.

  “Okay, fine. I’ll only be a minute. If you could just bring him out here, I have some milk warming in the bottle warmer on the table. Go ahead and give him that and I’ll be right out.”

  He followed the crying into one of the bedrooms and saw Liam standing in the crib, holding on to the rails, his tears subsided to a whimper.

  “Hi, little guy,” he said. “Your mom…er…that is…your aunt…Aunt Julianne is getting ready. You’re going to spend some time with your father for little bit. Then we’re going to a party. Are you good with that?”

  His mom? That was a Freudian slip. Purely accidental.

  The boy had stopped crying and was looking at Alex as if trying to understand what he was babbling on about, and perhaps why he wasn’t Julianne. Liam looked cute in miniature blue jeans and a tiny shirt with a baseball bat with the word Slugger on the front of it. The All-American baby. He wondered if Julianne had dressed him this way on purpose. To send a message?