A Debt Paid in Passion

by Dani Collins

  Ali’s wiry embrace crushed her. The physical contact was so deeply moving, Sirena thought she’d break into pieces.

  The women held on to each other a long time, making Raoul’s throat close. Ali, as she had said she liked to be called, had chattered excitedly in the limo, her gestures and tone oddly Sirena-like despite the faint accent and fair coloring. She had a measure of Sirena’s steely core, too. When he’d asked why her parents hadn’t come, she’d only said, “Mum can be funny sometimes,” and lifted her chin. He had the impression this trip was a bit of rebellion and wondered if it would have repercussions for Sirena.

  He’d found Faye oddly obstructive, considering he was offering an all-expenses-paid trip to America. It had been hard to sidestep her demand to speak to Sirena, which he suspected might have called off Ali’s visit.

  Navigating future altercations with Sirena’s family was a concern for another time, he decided. This moment, seeing how happy he’d made Sirena, was worth any trouble down the road.

  The women pulled back to stare at one another, glowing in an aura of happiness.

  Ali’s gaze dragged toward him. “Can I meet Lucy? I’ve been dying to hold her.” She took her niece and sighed with adoration. “Oh, Sin, she’s beautiful.”

  Sin, he silently repeated, liking the nickname immediately.

  “Isn’t she?” she agreed shamelessly. Eyes damp and lips trembling, she cupped her flushed cheeks in her hands.

  She looked so taken aback and overwhelmed Raoul couldn’t help moving toward her, but he was almost afraid to touch her. She seemed to be struggling to contain her emotions. Gently he smoothed her hair back from the side of her face. “I didn’t realize this would be such a shock. Are you all right?”

  She flashed him one glimpse of the naked emotions brimming in her, then threw herself at him.

  He took the hit of her soft weight with a surprised “Oof,” then closed his arms around her.

  She buried her face in the middle of his chest, clinging tightly, barely audible as she said, “You have no idea what this means to me. I can’t ever thank you enough.”

  All the sexual heat of last night’s embrace came back as he felt the press of her breasts and was surrounded in her feminine scent of green tea and pineapple. An incredible wash of tenderness accompanied it. He had wanted to do something nice, but had never suspected such a small thing would have such magnificent impact.

  Governed by instinct, he enfolded her and stroked her hair. His chin caressed her silky locks and he had to swallow the emotion from his throat. He’d forgotten this perk in letting yourself feel for another person. When they were happy, you were happy. He should have done this sooner. He’d healed a crack in her heart, filled it with joy, and it had taken nothing. A couple of phone calls and a plane ticket. What did that say about how lonely she’d been?

  “You two,” Ali trilled. “You’re so cute.”

  Sirena realized she was all over Raoul like a coat of paint. After last night she didn’t know where they stood. She always felt this pull around him and at this moment felt positively anchored to him, heart to heart. Misreading their connection had gotten her where she was today, though.

  Pulling away, she swiped her fingertips under her eyes, trying to get a grip. Her overwhelmed emotions weren’t just shock and joy over seeing her sister. There was a huge part shaken to the core that Raoul had done this for her. She tried to remind herself that the cost was nothing to him, but to think of it and make it happen...

  Did he feel something for her after all?

  She was afraid to look at him, fearful of seeing nothing and being disappointed. She was also terrified that her shields were so far gone he’d see right into her soul and the special place she reserved for him beside it.

  “This is like Christmas,” she said, clearing her throat and searching for a stronger voice. “It really puts to shame that tie I haven’t even bought Raoul.”

  They all laughed and the day became a celebration, California-style. Raoul ordered brunch and mimosas and joined them on and off as they sat by the pool, taking turns holding Lucy and catching up.

  By evening, the excitement and time change had caught up to all of them and they had an early night. The next morning, she met Raoul in the kitchen.

  “Can’t sleep?” she said with an attack of nerves, feeling defenseless without Lucy or Ali to still the sexual vibrations that immediately flared between them. “Me, either.”

  “I have a heavy morning before everyone in Europe goes home, but I wanted to give you these.” He showed her some tickets. “I almost spilled the beans about Ali when you were talking about this the other night. I came this close to suggesting you take her.”

  Sirena gasped as she caught sight of the iconic fairy circling the castle with dust. “Raoul!”

  “For the record, these are not for her, although I hope she enjoys the day as much as you do. These aren’t for Lucy either.” The bright tickets came alongside her jaw as he crooked his finger under her chin, making her lift her eyes to his. “These are for you, because it’s something you’ve always wanted.”

  He kissed her. The gesture was so sweet she couldn’t help clinging to his lips with her own. His taste made goose bumps lift all over her body.

  She swallowed and tried to hide how touched she was by joking, “I really don’t know what to think of all this.” Her heart rate picked up, daring to conjecture there might be a hint of tenderness or affection driving him after all. “You’re going to a lot of trouble just to keep things in-house.”

  “Sirena—” His quick, defensive blurt of her name made her wave a quick hand.

  “I’m sorry. I’m being cheeky because I don’t know what else to say, not because I think you have ulterior motives,” she hurried to excuse.

  He sighed. “I realize I’m not demonstrative.” Leaning near the sink, he studied her, his body language heavy. A range of emotions ran across his usually stoic face. They were intimate and, she suspected, indicative of deep scarring.

  She instantly wanted to reach out with reassurance, but felt too shy and uncertain so she wound up standing there with her hands wringing, the silence thick and awkward. What could she say anyway? That a couple of kisses and nice gestures had won her over? They hadn’t. She had tons of misgivings.

  He ran a hand over his face. “After my father, I pushed everyone to a safe distance. What he’d done was too cruel. He was a good man, a good father. We played catch, went fishing. It was a perfect childhood. I’ll never understand why he killed himself or how anyone could say they love someone and hurt them that badly. Letting down my guard with anyone since then...it’s not something that’s comfortable for me.”

  Outwardly she handled what he was saying, taking it on the chin without flinching, even though she was screaming inside. Even though she was pretty sure she paled and her bones turned to powder. Somehow she stayed there, nodding circumspectly, saying, “I understand.”

  Her words seemed to hurt him. He winced.

  “No, I do,” she assured, being as honest as he was. “I have my own baggage that makes me worry you’ll pull up stakes without a moment’s notice. It makes me scared to let things move to...” She swallowed, trying to find a description that wouldn’t reveal too much. “To a level of deeper dependence.”

  “I’m not going anywhere. This is everything I want, right here.” He pointed to the floor between them, suggesting the domesticity of waking every morning with her and their little family, which was nice, but it wasn’t the fairy tale on the tickets.

  She had to let go of that. Better to keep her expectations realistic even if it hurt. And it hurt so much to know he would never love her. Not the way she loved him.

  Oh. The knowledge of how deep her feelings had become went through her like a sweet, potent potion. This wasn’t infatuation with the boss. It wasn’t hormones raging for the wrong man. It was the evolution of feelings and attraction she’d always felt toward him. They had tumbled into deep devotion
and longing to make a life with him.

  Swallowing the lump that came into her throat, she hid her angst with a smile. “Even though you seem to do everything and I haven’t done one thing for you? How about breakfast, at least?” She turned her back on him as she peered into the refrigerator, defusing the charged moment.

  The spoiling didn’t stop, however. After their day at the park, he appalled the upscale clientele of a rooftop restaurant by daring to bring a baby, of all things, into their exclusive establishment. They saw the fireworks from their table, of course. A trip to the beach was arranged the next day and a drive along the coastline the following. They lunched on fresh seafood and local wines and scouted art studios for bargains.

  Then the preparations for the technology awards started. Raoul escorted them into a design house on Rodeo Drive and handed over his credit card to a stylist.

  “Ali, find some things for yourself and if you see something your mother would like, put that on there too. I’m having a prototype of my new gadget flown in for your father. You can take that back for him, but if you see something for him...” He leaned to kiss Sirena’s cheek, trailing off as he prepared to take his leave.

  “Dad’s tastes are pretty simple,” she said blankly, startled by his casual affection. He’d been so solicitous these last few days, a hand often finding its way to the middle of her back or resting at her waist, but she still wasn’t used to it.

  “Whatever you think is best. I’ll be at Armani, having my tux fitted. Because I need another one.” He rolled his eyes. “I’ll come back for Lucy when I’m done.”

  They seated Ali in an overstuffed armchair and offered her champagne. Sirena leaned down to give her Lucy so she could have her fitting and Ali whispered, “It’s like we’re living Pretty Woman. You’re going to marry him, right?”

  “Sweetie, I keep telling you, it’s not like that. We just had a moment that got us into a situation and we’re trying to make the best of it.” She didn’t know how else to explain her circumstances without revealing details that were far from romantic.

  Back when she’d been pregnant and under suspicion, she’d kept the arrest from her family. It hadn’t been her father’s fault, but he would have felt responsible. She certainly didn’t want her sister feeling guilty about pursuing her teaching dream.

  Now, well, she didn’t want to tell Ali everything for fear she’d think badly of Raoul. The things Raoul had shared with her were deeply personal and without being able to balance his actions against his motives, he would look like a cold, unforgiving monster. Which was miles from the truth.

  Sighing a little, she had to admit he was actually what she’d always admired him for being: a strong, ambitious man with a deep streak of responsibility and loyalty to his family. He was gallant after growing up around women, innately desiring to protect and provide for his own. Even if he had been toothless, dirt-poor and overweight, he’d still open doors and show incredible patience for women who couldn’t decide which shoes or lipstick to wear. He’d still walk a baby all night and start the coffee for her mother.

  And she’d still love him.

  “Oh, Sin, you’re gorgeous,” Ali murmured as Sirena walked back to her.

  With a pinch in her heart, she studied the emerald gown and thought about how she was the complete opposite of Raoul. She could dress up in world-class finery, have her teeth whitened, love their baby and he’d still only see her as a thief.

  CHAPTER TEN

  RAOUL WENT IN search of Sirena, hearing Ali saying with exasperation, “She’ll be fine. We both will. I swear.”

  “But call if you need to. Or text. You have Raoul’s number if I don’t hear mine?”

  Suppressing a grin, he stepped into the doorway of the room operating as their nursery. Vaguely aware of Ali efficiently changing his daughter’s nappy, he caught an eyeful of Sin and felt as though his breath had been punched out of him.

  She had her back to him, but he was transfixed. He took in the curls pulled away from one ear to cascade like a waterfall over her opposite shoulder. Her off-the-shoulder gown in gypsy-green dipped to reveal one shoulder blade. A cutout on the other side offered a peek of her waist and spine. The skirt draped gracefully over her rounded hips to puddle sumptuously behind her. Distantly, he realized he wasn’t getting any air, and that she hadn’t even turned around, but she’d stolen his breath.

  “Your date is here. Quite a dish, too,” Ali said, cocking her chin in his direction.

  He barely noticed the girl as the woman turned. Her plump bottom lip was caught in her teeth while her mossy eyes were pools of uncertainty. Always beautiful, Sirena didn’t need makeup and the stylist had known it, only enhancing her stunning bone structure and opulent lashes with a streak of frosted jade and shimmering gold.

  A wink of emeralds dangled from her ears and encircled her wrist. They were loaners, but he decided to buy them. They matched her eyes too perfectly to allow them to go to any other woman.

  “I’m sorry,” she said faintly. “Have you, um, been waiting for me?”

  All my life.

  “Get her out of here,” Ali said with a nudge into Sirena’s back. “She’s being a nervous Nellie even though I keep telling her I babysat all of Sydney until I finally got a proper job at the real estate office.”

  Raoul held out his arm, not trusting his voice to tell her how beautiful she looked, then winced as she got there first, saying, “You look nice.”

  Her light touch curled into the curve of his elbow and a subtle mix of aromas filled his senses with floral and berry notes underscored with tangy citrus and a mysterious anise.

  He waited until they were in the elevator, where he let the doors close without choosing a floor, before he gave in to temptation and reached to adjust the drape of her gown, revealing her leg and a shoe with a dominatrix heel.

  “What are you doing?” She started to step her foot back inside the skirt, but he set a hand on the bared skin of her waist.

  “Don’t move, Sin.”

  She gasped, cocking her hip to escape his touch as though it burned, but the flush of color that flooded under her skin and the spark that invaded her glistening eyes told him it was a more erotic reaction.

  “You look amazing,” he murmured as he removed his phone from his breast pocket.

  Her eyes widened in surprise and her wicked mouth twitched before she screened her thoughts behind a tangled line of mink. “Really?” She settled into a pose with the confidence of a woman who knew she looked her best and was having fun with it. Her shoulders went back, her breasts came up, her hips slanted and her feet parted just far enough to be provocative. “Men are so predictable.”

  She tossed her hair and offered a screen-legend smile.

  “It’s true,” he agreed, snapping the photo. “We’re simple creatures. Now take it off.”

  She laughed and hit the button for the lobby. “I’m keeping it on at least as long as it took me to get into it. Let me see.” Her cool fingers grazed his in a soft caress as she urged him to slant the screen of his phone.

  As he studied the photo with her, he saw what he hadn’t meant to reveal. He’d liked the way the mirror showed the back of the gown and had angled the frame to catch it, but he hadn’t noticed his own expression was caught in the reflection. Lust tightened his face. He wasn’t ashamed of it, but his expression held something else.

  He tucked the phone away, not wanting to examine the naked emotion on his face.

  Discomfited, Sirena told herself she ought to be used to Raoul’s mercurial moods, switching from warm familiarity to all business in the space of a heartbeat. With a pang near her heart, she tried to calm her racing pulse and quit building this into something it wasn’t. But Ali’s romantic nature was contagious. He’s going to propose. Why else does a man go to all this trouble?

  Ali didn’t realize this level of luxury wasn’t trouble for Raoul. It was completely normal and he probably took photos of all his dates, inserting them into his iLi
ttleBlackBook so he could keep track of who was who.

  The biting thought was wiped clear by another and she cringed inwardly. She really was the most misguidedly devoted ex-PA if she had to bite back remarking to him, You know what might be a cool idea for an app?

  She was trying so hard to ground out her electric excitement she didn’t realize the elevator doors had opened onto the opulent lobby.

  “What’s wrong?” he prompted.

  Idiot. Trying to make light of her distraction, she quoted Julia Roberts under her breath. “If I forget to tell you later, I had a nice time tonight.”

  He didn’t get it. In his typically classy fashion, he said very sincerely, “So did I.”

  Oh.

  Her bones went soft as she took the hand he offered and let him lead her to the limo. It was like sitting down to an IMAX film where scenery rushing by became more intense and colorful, pulling her into a surreal world she had seen from a distance before, but that now drew her in three dimensionally.

  Bulbs went off as they walked the red carpet. Action stars were everywhere and this wasn’t even a big awards show. Just Hollywood indulging itself, Raoul had said. Still she could hardly keep her jaw from dropping.

  The show was a pageantry of talent, one woman’s singing almost bringing Sirena to tears. During a break, Raoul said, “You’re really enjoying this.”

  “How could I not? I don’t have any natural talents of my own, so I’m in complete awe of those that do.”

  “You’re an excellent mother, Sirena.”

  “Oh, please,” she deflected, uncomfortable with flattery. “Having a baby nearly killed me and I’m bumbling my way through colic and feeding. I’m hardly gifted.”

  “Don’t joke about that,” he said with gravity. “Ever.”

  Like all criticisms, deserved or not, she took his remark to heart and hid her abraded soul by sitting straight, chin level. His category was called next anyway, putting an end to the short conversation.

  He won, of course, which was well deserved. As he rose, he clasped her hand and tried to bring her up with him.