Accidental Father

by Nancy Robards Thompson

  Luc refilled their brandy snifters while Henri got up and stoked the logs in the giant fireplace.

  Alex swirled the liquid in his glass and contemplated the warm amber color, fighting the feeling that he should’ve insisted on walking Julianne and Liam back to the room.

  But the truth was he needed to put some distance between them. He needed to not lead her on, and walking her home as if they’d been on a date might mislead her into drawing that conclusion. Although, if circumstances were different—if Liam weren’t in the middle—he would want to date her.

  It was the truth.

  But in this case, truth and necessity were enemies.

  “So, our little brother is a father.” Henri chuckled. “Looks like it’s time to finally pay the fiddler.”

  Alex didn’t see the humor in this. “While we’re tossing around clichés, isn’t that like the pot calling the kettle black?”

  Henri held up his hands. “I don’t have any little ones running around. I’m careful about that.”

  Alex frowned. “Yeah, well, so was I.”

  Or at least he’d thought he was until that night. The night that should never have happened.

  “Did you have a paternity test?” Luc asked.

  Alex’s heart gave a weird twisting sensation as Liam’s face appeared in his mind’s eye.

  “He’s mine,” Alex said. “All you have to do is look at him to see that.”

  If the night hadn’t happened, then he wouldn’t have Liam. It was the strangest, most inexplicable dichotomy. He loved the boy, even if he’d never been in love with the boy’s birth mother. A birth mother who was no longer alive and had given his child to her sister, to whom Alex was attracted.

  But because of Marissa, the attraction should be a moot point; because of Liam, Julianne would forever be in his life, presenting one of those unfortunate you-can-read-the-menu-but-you-can’t-eat situations.

  Unfortunately, every time he looked at Julianne he was ravenous.

  “This is the first woman you’ve ever brought home to meet the family.”

  Luc’s voice startled him back to the present. Alex sipped his brandy to buy time.

  “I didn’t bring her home. I brought my son home.”

  “Technically, you did bring her home,” Henri interjected. “Even if you wanted to bring your child here, you didn’t have to bring his aunt to St. Michel.”

  Alex acknowledged the truth in what his brother said with a shrug. “They’re a package deal. That’s actually a huge problem.”

  The room smelled lightly of smoke and the fine leather furniture and the long-stemmed white roses displayed in vases around the room.

  Roses were among the notes in Julianne’s perfume. The thought floated absently through his head, settling in the back of his mind, along with the way she tasted and the ragged, sexy sound of her breathing as they’d come up for air after the kiss.

  He wanted to taste her again.

  “How is that a problem?” asked Luc.

  “Pourquoi?” Henri chimed in. “She’s gorgeous, smart, seems very attached to Liam.”

  “It’s more complicated than I can explain.”

  “We have all night,” Henri said.

  Alex knew now was as good a time as any to confide in his brothers about the circumstances surrounding Marissa, Liam and Julianne.

  “How old are you now?” Luc asked.

  Thirty.

  “Old enough to know better,” Alex said.

  Luc grimaced. “Exactly. Everything changes when there’s a child involved. You’ve had a chance to live, when are you going to settle down?”

  Alex bristled at the question, staring silently into his snifter.

  “It sounds like I’m lecturing you. I’m not. Of course, I’m not. Liam is welcome to stay here, but a child should not be raised by nannies when he has two loving parents. Of course, nannies help, but they shouldn’t take the place of a parent. How are you and Julianne going to work this out?”

  “I have no idea. Liam’s safety is what I’m concerned about right now. The threats I’ve received from a rather militant group of terrorists are serious. And, as we’ve discussed, they apply to the rest of the family and close friends.”

  “So, by virtue of Liam, Julianne could be in danger, too?”

  Alex nodded. “I’m sorry she had to be dragged into this. I’m sorry Liam had to be born into this. But these types of threats are the reason I’d decided I was never getting married and having a family. I knew it was a choice when I chose this career path. After what happened to mom…” Alex’s voice cracked.

  As St. Michel’s former minister of security, Luc had been their father’s successor in the position. Luc knew better than anyone the toll that a job in law enforcement could take—he’d given it up once he’d fallen in love with Sophie. Then again, the extenuating circumstances of her being the heir to the throne had been a contributing factor, but the bottom line was that Luc had chosen love over the adrenaline rush of law and order.

  Even though Alex had initially chosen a career in law—and Henri had shunned the family tradition altogether—Alex had ended up following in their father’s footsteps after all, when he took the position at iWITNESS.

  That’s also when he’d decided he’d never marry and have a family. It was too hard to do both. It wasn’t fair for the loved ones waiting at home.

  Loved ones who often turned into sitting ducks and pawns for schemes of retribution.

  Alex and his brothers were intimately acquainted with the terror and sorrow; their mother had paid the ultimate price.

  Her life had been taken as retribution for their father’s putting away a terrorist who’d made an attempt on the late King Bertrand’s life.

  After losing their mother, the boys—their family—had never been quite the same. It was the catalyst that drove Alex away from St. Michel, away from thoughts of family and death. It had only been since they were older that the brothers had come back together as friends.

  Alex cleared his throat. “I’m just saying, it’s not fair to put anyone through that kind of life.”

  “I don’t know,” said Luc. “Since the boy regards Julianne as a mother figure, and it’s obvious he does, she will always be a part of your life.”

  “That’s a given.” Alex swirled the brandy in his snifter and nodded.

  “Her home is in Washington,” he continued. “How are you going to make this work? Are you going to share custody?”

  Alex’s head jerked up at the suggestion. “I’m not sending Liam to Washington. It won’t work. It’s not safe, and I don’t want him that far away. Plus, shipping a baby back and forth on long overseas flights wouldn’t be the best thing for him.”

  The fire crackled.

  Henri, who’d been uncharacteristically quiet finally contributed. “Well, then, it sounds like the best thing for everyone is to convince Julianne to move here or to Paris.”

  Alex shook his head. “Easier said than done. Even if I could convince her to pack up and leave her life back in Washington to start over in Paris, which is where I’ll be, where I want Liam to be, there would be the issue of visas.”

  “Unless you get married,” Luc said.

  Alex quashed every positive emotion that the thought dredged up, Marriage—to anyone—was not for him. Not even for his son’s sake. And certainly not when it involved a woman for whom he was starting to develop deep feelings.

  Chapter Ten

  Downtown St. Michel was a gorgeous little medieval storybook village. Storefronts with hand-painted signs lined a cobblestone square, with narrow streets jutting into it like spokes of a wheel. They passed a butcher and a baker…and Julianne was sure they’d stumble upon a candlestick maker before the day was through.

  Turning her face into the sunshine, she was glad she let Alex convince her to get out today.

  She’d awakened to find a voice message from him: “Are we still on for sailing today and/or a tour of St. Michel? Please call or text on
ce you’re up and around.”

  Julianne had been reluctant to spend the day with Alex, feeling as awkward as she was after telling his family she and Liam wouldn’t be staying in St. Michel. Now that she was rested and they were outside with Liam in a stroller enjoying the fresh morning air, things were starting to feel better.

  “There’s a great little patisserie around the corner,” Alex said. “Why don’t we get some pastry and take it with us on the boat?”

  It was chilly out, but not as cold as it had been in Paris. In fact, if they stayed out of the shadows of the buildings and walked in the sun, it was quite pleasant. “I could use a strong cup of coffee to go with that good pastry.”

  Alex smiled at her. “Follow me.”

  He was looking particularly good this morning in jeans and a moss-colored polo shirt that brought out the green in his eyes. As he picked up the pace, walking a few steps ahead, she noticed that his gorgeous eyes weren’t his only asset.

  Yeah. She’d definitely spent worse days with far less attractive people.

  The downtown square was free of people except for a couple of merchants sweeping their entryways and an artist painting at his easel. Liam seemed to be happy to be outside in the fresh air. He was sitting up in his stroller, taking in everything. He pointed to a cat perched on a windowsill, only to be distracted by a black dog lolling in the doorway of the cheese shop.

  She remembered what Alex had said about March being off season, and was grateful for this insider’s look at the town.

  Julianne drew in a deep breath and was treated to the tantalizing aroma of fresh baking bread mingling with a hint of cinnamon, vanilla and…chocolate. The scent was so tempting that it made her mouth water.

  The chocolate shop that Sophie had mentioned at dinner last night had to be close by.

  “Are you familiar with Maya’s Chocolate Shop?” Julianne asked.

  “It’s a legend,” Alex said.

  “I’d really like to visit it before we leave today.” She inhaled another whiff of the chocolate which was calling to her, and when she glanced at Alex, she noticed he was looking at her in a particular way that made her feel as if she’d intruded on something private. Awkwardly, she cleared her throat.

  “I can smell the chocolate. It has to be close by.”

  He picked up his pace and walked slightly ahead of her once more. They turned a tight corner that led them to a street that was more of an ancient alleyway than a road built for anything other than pedestrian traffic.

  “There you go,” Alex said, pointing upward toward a sign.

  Julianne followed the direction of his finger to a hand-painted sign that read Maya’s Chocolate Shop.

  The shop window was adorned with white lace curtains and was brimming with tins and boxes tied with colorful ribbon. Pyramids of chocolate were arranged on several glass-dome covered stands; even more—chocolate-dipped fruit, bonbons, truffles, petits fours—were set out in bountiful exhibits on doily-covered trays.

  It was a feast for the eyes that tempted Julianne to press her nose against the glass.

  Maybe it was the allure of decadence, or perhaps just the promise of what she’d tasted last night, but Julianne was drawn to the shop like the eye would be pulled to a shiny coin caught between the cobblestones.

  “Alex, I want to go in,” she said, nearly breathless.

  “Of course,” he said. “Why don’t you go in there and I’ll get the coffee and pastries? Unless you want to see the patisserie?”

  He seemed eager to get to the boat. Of course, the downtown area was probably old hat to him, good for nothing more than a bakery indulgence.

  “Go ahead,” Julianne said.

  “I’ll meet you and Liam back here.”

  Before he left, he pulled opened the glass shop door for her. A wind chime sounded, and Julianne was immediately struck by the scrumptious scent of chocolate as she’d never smelled it before. Alex held the door open until she’d maneuvered the stroller inside.

  “I’ll see you in a minute,” he said. As he closed the door, the chimes sounded again.

  “Bonjour!” a lilting voice rang out.

  “Bonjour,” Julianne answered, suddenly wishing she’d asked Alex to stay to serve as interpreter. She’d not brought her lexicon and had forgotten that French was the St. Michelian native language. Sophie was so American. Maybe that’s why she and Julianne had related so well.

  At first, Julianne didn’t see where the voice had come from. She glanced around the shop, taking in the copper candy molds decorating one wall, the gift baskets artfully arranged on glass shelving, the confectionery displays adorning the case, and the marble wrap table standing regally in the center of it all. That’s when she caught a glimpse of curly, fire-red hair and a woman whose expression was nearly as vibrant.

  “Hello,” said the woman, as she stepped out from behind a display. This time she greeted her in heavily accented English. “Good morning.”

  The woman’s broad smile was nearly as warm as the color of her hair. “Well, look at you,” she said. “There’s a woman in love if I’ve ever seen one.”

  For the span of a heartbeat, Julianne was too shocked by the woman’s suggestion to move. She glanced behind herself to make sure Alex wasn’t still standing there, even though she knew he’d gone and would’ve heard the chimes if he’d come back into the shop.

  “The only person I’m in love with is this little guy right here,” Julianne said, finally recovering her good sense.

  The redhead tilted her head to the side and furrowed her brow as if something didn’t make sense.

  Finally, she shrugged.

  “Well, if not now, soon. Very soon.” She nodded resolutely. “Don’t worry, everything will work out fine.”

  If not now, soon. Very soon.

  Julianne blushed as she replayed the words in her head. The woman had audacity to assume such things.

  What? Did she fancy herself some sort of psychic?

  “I’m Maya. What may I get for you?”

  Despite her bold comments, warmth seemed to radiate out of Maya’s every pore. Julianne felt every bit as drawn to her as she did the tiny little shop.

  After Alex had steered them safely out of the harbor, he set the sailboat’s steering lock and turned his attention to the chocolates Julianne offered him. He pulled the ribbon from the small white box. Inside were two heart-shaped pieces of dark chocolate.

  “Did you pick these out?” he asked.

  “No, Maya gave them to me, one for each of us. Why?”

  An odd sense of letdown tempered his mood.

  She looked gorgeous sitting there in her turtleneck sweater and windbreaker, hugging Liam in his little orange life vest, trying to keep the boy wrapped in a blanket to shield him from the wind.

  It was warmer today, and Liam didn’t seem to be at all bothered by the wind or the sea spray. In fact, Liam kept alternately sticking his head up so that the spray misted his face and then burying his head against Julianne’s chest, in a game of sorts.

  Alex loved watching them, the way they interacted, the way the wind whipped Julianne’s dark hair, the way her eyes rivaled the color of the Côte d’Azur.

  He took his piece of candy and handed her the box.

  She peered into the box, to see what it held while keeping it far enough away that Liam couldn’t grab it.

  “Oh.” Her gaze flicked from the contents of the box to meet his eyes. Color flooded her cheeks.

  Why was she blushing?

  Maybe for the same reason he’d thought a piece of heart-shaped chocolate might have had some significance. What was wrong with him? In the past, if he’d thought for a moment that a woman was giving him chocolate hearts, that would’ve been the precise moment he would have turned his boat around and politely sent her back to shore.

  Then again, when was the last time he’d taken a woman out on his boat?

  “Maya is a piece of work,” she said. “Do you know her?”

  �
��No. Before today, I’d never had the pleasure.”

  Julianne had introduced him when he’d gotten back to the shop after fetching their pastries. Then it had only been a quick bonjour and they’d said goodbye, ready to head to the boat. In fact, he hadn’t realized the chocolates had been a gift, or there would’ve been a merci with the bonjour.

  “She claims her chocolates have medicinal properties,” Julianne said. “That the right piece of chocolate can help a person solve their problems.”

  “Sounds to me like she’s a great business-woman,” Alex murmured before biting into his piece of candy.

  “Mmm…” The throaty note of pleasure escaped before he knew what he was doing. He glanced at Julianne just as she bit into hers. Although she was a little less vocal, a bit more delicate about her pleasure, bliss was definitely written all over her pretty features.

  “I think I might need a daily dose of this medicine,” he murmured. He didn’t realize he’d said it aloud until Julianne answered him.

  “Oh, do you have a sweet tooth?”

  He hadn’t been talking about the chocolate.

  “Yes, something like that. What’s in the chocolate?” He peered at the bit of candy that remained. It contained flecks of red.

  “I think those are rose petals,” Julianne said. “Whatever they are, they’re delicious.”

  As Alex unlocked the wheel and steered the boat, he watched the rapturous look on Julianne’s face as she savored the last bite of chocolate. Luc’s suggestion that he marry her elbowed its way to the forefront of his mind. Last night, the thought had terrified him. Today, it still didn’t sit well, but at least it didn’t give him the urge to jump overboard and swim toward shore.

  No, today his thoughts were tiptoeing around the fact that marriage was nothing to be taken lightly. Especially when one had a job as dangerous as his with iWITNESS. It was one thing to put himself in harm’s way, but it was quite another to drag a woman and child into it.

  His heart clenched as he inwardly acknowledged how Liam, by virtue of being his son, had been dragged into it without asking. That’s why Alex would make the boy’s safety his top priority.