For the Sake of Their Son

by Catherine Mann

  “But your risk was so much higher...with your dad.” She squeezed his hand. “You did the knightly thing. That meant a lot to a scrawny girl no one noticed except to make fun of her clothes or her mom.”

  He looked up at Lucy Ann quickly. Somehow he’d forgotten that part of her past. He always saw her as quietly feisty. “What elementary school boy cares about someone’s clothes?”

  “True enough, I guess.” She studied him through the sweep of long eyelashes. “I never quite understood why you decided we would be friends—before we started taking the blame for each other’s transgressions.”

  Why? He thought back to that time, to the day he saw her sitting at the computer station, her legs swinging, too short to reach the ground. The rest of the class was running around their desks while the teacher stepped out to speak with a parent. “You were peaceful. I wasn’t. We balanced each other out. We can have that again.”

  “You’re pushing.” She tugged her hand.

  He held firm. “Less than a minute ago, you told me I have the right to be mad at you.”

  “And I have the right to apologize and walk away.”

  Her quick retort surprised him. The Lucy Ann of the past would have been passive rather than confrontational. Like leaving for a year and having his baby. “Yeah, you’re good at that, avoiding.”

  “There.” She looked up quickly. “Tell me off. Be angry. Do anything other than smile and pretend everything’s okay between us while we tour around the world like some dream couple.”

  Her fire bemused him and mesmerized him. “You are the most confusing woman I have ever met.”

  “Good.” She stood up quickly, tugging her camera bag back onto her shoulder. “Women have always fallen into your arms far too easily. Time to finish the tour.”

  Seven

  Lucy Ann swaddled her son in a fluffy towel after his bath while the nanny, Mrs. Clayworth, placed a fresh diaper and sleeper on the changing table. After the full day touring, then dinner with the nanny so Lucy Ann could get to know her better, she felt more comfortable with the woman.

  Elliot’s thoughtfulness and care for their son’s future touched her. He’d charmed Mrs. Clayworth, yet asked perceptive questions. The woman appeared soft and like someone out of a Disney movie, but over the hours it became clear she was more than a stereotype. More than a résumé as a pediatric nurse. She was an avid musician and a hiker who enjoyed the world travel that came with her job. She spent her days off trekking through different local sites or attending concerts.

  Lucy Ann liked the woman more and more with every minute that passed. “Mrs. Clayworth, so you really were a nanny for royalty? That had to have been exciting.”

  Her eyes twinkled as she held out her arms for Eli. “You have seen my list of references. But that’s just about the parents.” She tucked Eli against her shoulder with expert hands, patting his back. “A baby doesn’t care anything about lineage or credentials. Only that he or she is dry, fed, cuddled and loved.”

  “I can see clearly enough that you have a gift with babies.”

  The nanny’s patience had been admirable when, just after supper, Eli cried himself purple over a bout of gas.

  “I had two of my own. The child care career started once they left for the university. I used to be a pediatric nurse and while the money was good, it wasn’t enough. I had bills to pay because of my loser ex-husband, and thanks to my daughter’s connections with a blue-blooded roommate, I lucked into a career I thoroughly enjoy.”

  Having lived the past months as a single mom, Lucy Ann sympathized. Except she had always had the safety net of calling Elliot. She’d had her aunt’s help, as well. What if she’d had nowhere to go and no one’s help? The thought made her stomach knot with apprehension. That didn’t mean she would stay with Elliot just because of her bills—but she certainly needed to make more concrete plans.

  “I want the best for my son, too.”

  “Well, as much as I like my job, you have to know the best can’t always be bought with money.”

  So very true. Lucy Ann took Eli back to dress him in his teddy bear sleeper. “You remind me of my aunt.”

  “I hope that’s a compliment.” She tucked the towel into the laundry chute.

  “It is. Aunt Carla is my favorite relative.” Not that there was a lot of stiff competition. She traced the appliquéd teddy bear on the pj’s and thought of her aunt’s closet full of themed clothes. “She always wears these chipper seasonal T-shirts and sweatshirts. She has a thick Southern accent and deep-fries everything, including pickles. I know on the outside it sounds like the two of you are nothing alike, but on the inside, there’s a calming spirit about you both.”

  “Then I will most certainly take that as a compliment, love.” She walked to the pitcher on the desk by the window and poured a glass of water. “I respect that you’re taking your time to get to know me and to see how I handle your son. Not all parents are as careful with their wee ones.”

  Mrs. Clayworth placed the glass beside the ornately carved rocker thoughtfully, even though Lucy Ann hadn’t mentioned how thirsty she got when she nursed Eli. Money couldn’t buy happiness, but having extra hands sure made life easier. She snapped Eli’s sleeper up to his neck.

  “I do trust Elliot’s judgment. I’ve known him all my life. We’ve relied on each other for so much.” There had been a time when she thought there was nothing he could do that would drive a wedge between them. “Except now there’s this new dynamic to adjust to with Eli. But then you probably see that all the time.”

  Lucy Ann scooped up her son and settled into the wooden rocker, hoping she wasn’t the only new mother to have conflicted feelings about her role. As much as she loved nursing her baby, she couldn’t deny the occasional twinge of sadness that the same body Elliot once touched with passion had been relegated to a far more utilitarian purpose.

  “You’re a new mum.” Mrs. Clayworth passed a burp cloth. “That’s a huge and blessed change.”

  “My own mother wasn’t much of a role model.” She adjusted her shirt, and Eli hungrily latched on.

  “And this favorite aunt of yours?” The nanny adjusted the bedding in the cradle, draping a fresh blanket over the end, before taking on the many other countless details in wrapping up the day.

  “She helped as much as she could, but my mother resented the connection sometimes.” Especially when her mom was between boyfriends and lonely. Then suddenly it wasn’t so convenient to have Lucy Ann hang out with Aunt Carla. “I’ve been reading everything I can find on parenting. I even took some classes at the hospital, but there are too many things to cover in books or courses.”

  “Amen, dear.”

  Having this woman to lean on was...incredible, to say the least. Elliot was clearly working the fairy tale–like life from all angles.

  She would be pridefully foolish to ignore the resources this woman brought to the table. Isolating herself for the past eleven months had been a mistake. Lucy Ann needed to correct that tendency and find balance. She needed to learn to accept help and let others into her life. Starting now seemed like a good idea.

  She couldn’t deny that all this “playing house” with Elliot was beginning to chip away at her reservations and her resolve to keep her distance. Elliot had said they needed to use this time to figure out how to parent Eli. She knew now they also needed to use this time to learn how to be in the same room with each other without melting into a pool of hormones. Time to quit running from the attraction and face it. Deal with it.

  “And that’s where your experience comes in. I would be foolish not to learn from you.” Lucy Ann paused, patting Eli’s pedaling feet. “Why do you look so surprised?”

  “Mothers seek help from me, not advice. You are a unique one.”

  “Would you mind staying for a while so we can talk?”
>
  “Of course. I don’t mind at all.”

  Lucy Ann gestured to the wingback chair on the other side of the fireplace. “I’d like to ask you a few questions.”

  “About babies?” she asked, sitting.

  “Nope, I’d like to ask your advice on men.”

  * * *

  The winner’s trophy always felt so good in his hands, but today...the victory felt hollow in comparison with what he really wanted. More time with Lucy Ann.

  Elliot held the trophy high with one hand, his helmet tucked under his other arm.

  His Beauty and the Beast plan had gone well. They’d spent a low-key day together. Her pensive expression gave him hope he was on the right path. If she was ready to check out and return to Columbia, there would have been decisiveness on her face. But he was making headway with her. He could see that. He just needed to keep pushing forward with his plans, steady on. And try like hell to ignore the urge to kiss her every second they were together.

  A wiry reporter pushed a microphone forward through the throng of fans and press all shouting congratulations. “Mr. Starc, tell us about the new lady in your life.”

  “Is it true she was your former assistant?”

  “Where has she been this year?”

  “Did she quit or was she fired?”

  “Lovers’ spat?”

  “Which designer deserves credit for her makeover?”

  Makeover? What the hell were they talking about?

  To him, she was Lucy Ann—always pretty and special. And even though she had come out of her shell some in the past year, that didn’t change the core essence of her, the woman he’d always known and admired.

  Sure, her new curves added a bombshell quality. And the clothes his new assistant had ordered were flashier. None of that mattered to him. He’d wanted her before. He wanted her still.

  The wiry reporter shoved the mic closer. “Are you sure the baby is yours?”

  That question pulled him up short in anger. “I understand that the press thinks the personal life of anyone with a little fame is fair game. But when it comes to my family, I will not tolerate slanderous statements. If you want access to me, you will respect my son and his mother. And now it’s time for me to celebrate with my family. Interviews are over.”

  He heard his assistant hiss in protest over the way he’d handled the question. The paparazzi expected to be fed, not spanked.

  Shouldering through the crowd, Elliot kept his eyes locked on Lucy Ann in his private box, watching. Had she heard the questions through the speaker box? He hoped not. He didn’t want anything to mar the evening he had planned. She’d actually consented to let the nanny watch Eli. Elliot would have her all to himself.

  He kept walking, pushing through the throng.

  “Congratulations, Starc,” another reporter persisted. “How are you planning to celebrate?”

  “How long do you expect your winning streak to run?”

  “Is the woman and your kid the reason your engagement broke off?”

  He continued to “no comment” his way all the way up the steps, into a secure hallway and to the private viewing box in the grandstand where Lucy Ann waited with a couple of honored guests, local royalty and politicians he only just managed to acknowledge with a quick greeting and thanks for attending. His entire focus locked on Lucy Ann.

  “You won,” she squealed, her smile enveloping him every bit as much as if she’d hugged him. Her red wraparound dress clung to her body, outlining every curve.

  He would give up his trophy in a heartbeat to tug that tie with his teeth until her dress fell open.

  “I think we should go.” Before he embarrassed them both in front of reporters and esteemed guests.

  He couldn’t wait to get her alone. All he’d been able to think about during the race was getting back to Lucy Ann so he could continue his campaign. Move things closer to the point where he could kiss her as he wanted.

  “Right.” She leaned to pluck her purse from her seat. “The after-parties.”

  “Not tonight,” he said softly for her ears only. “I have other plans.”

  “You have responsibilities to your career. I understand that.”

  He pulled her closer, whispering, “The press is particularly ravenous today. We need to go through the private elevator.”

  Her eyebrows pinched together. “I’m not so sure that’s the best idea.”

  Damn it, was she going to bail on him before he even had a chance to get started? He would just have to figure out a way around it. “What do you propose we do instead?”

  She tugged his arm, the warmth of her touch reaching through his race jacket as she pulled him closer to the observation window. “You taught me long ago that the best way to get rid of the hungry press is to feed them tidbits.”

  The tip of her tongue touched her top lip briefly before she arched up on her toes to kiss him. He stood stock-still in shock for a second before—hell, yeah—he was all-in. His arms banded around her waist. She leaned into him, looping her arms his neck. He could almost imagine the cameras clicking as fast as his heartbeat, picking up speed with every moment he had Lucy Ann in his arms.

  He didn’t know what had changed her mind, but he was damn glad.

  Her fingers played along his hair and he remembered the feel of her combing her hands through it the night they’d made love. He’d kept his hair longer then, before the accident.

  Lucy Ann sighed into his mouth as she began to pull back with a smile. “That should keep the media vultures happy for a good long while.” She nipped his bottom lip playfully before asking, “Are you ready to celebrate your win?”

  * * *

  Lucy Ann stepped out onto the castle balcony, the night air cool, the stone flooring under her feet even cooler but not cold enough to send her back inside. She walked to the half wall along the balcony and let the breeze lift her hair and ruffle through her dress before turning back to the table.

  Elliot was showering off the scent of gasoline. He’d already ordered supper. The meal waited for them, savory Spanish spices drifting along the air.

  There was no question that Elliot had ordered the dinner spread personally. The table was laden with her favorites, right down to a flan for dessert. Elliot remembered. She’d spent so much time as his assistant making sure to remember every detail of his life, she hadn’t considered he’d been paying just as close attention to her.

  She trailed her fingers along the edge of her water goblet. The sounds below—other guests coming and going, laughing and talking—mingled with the sound system wafting more madrigal tunes into the night. She didn’t even have the nursery monitor with her for the first time since... She couldn’t remember when. Mrs. Clayworth had already planned to watch Eli tonight since Lucy Ann had expected to go to an after-race party with Elliot.

  Then she’d kissed him.

  Halfway through that impulsive gesture, Lucy Ann realized that holding back was no longer an option. Sleeping with Elliot again was all but inevitable. The longer she waited, the more intense the fallout would be. They needed to figure out this crazy attraction now, while their son was still young enough not to know if things didn’t work out.

  Her stomach knotted with nerves. But the attraction was only getting stronger the longer she denied herself. It was only a matter of time—

  As if conjured from that wish, Elliot stood in the balcony doorway, so fresh from the shower his short hair still held a hint of water. He’d changed into simple black pants and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. With the night shadows and flickering sconce lights he had a timeless air—the Elliot from the past mixing with the man he’d become.

  She wanted them both.

  Lucy Ann swallowed nervously and searched for something to say to break the crackling silence betwe
en them. “I can’t believe the press actually left us alone after the race.”

  “We did slip away out a back entrance.”

  “That never stopped them before.”

  “I ordered extra security.” He stalked toward her slowly. “I don’t want anyone hassling you or Eli. Our lives are private now. I’m done playing the paparazzi game. At least we know this place is secure.”

  “As private as the woods we hid in as kids.”

  How many times had he made her feel safe? As if those quilted walls could hold out the world while they huddled inside reading books and coloring pictures like regular kids.

  He stopped in front of her, his hand brushing back a stray lock of her hair. “Why did you kiss me after the race?”

  “To keep the press content.” To let other women know he was taken? “Because I wanted to.”

  He tugged the lock of hair lightly. “I meant why did you bite me?”

  A laugh rolled free and rode the breeze. “Oh, that. Can’t have everything going your way.”

  “You’re more confident these days.” His emerald eyes glinted with curiosity—and promise.

  “Motherhood has given me purpose.” Even now, the need to settle her life for her child pushed her to move faster with Elliot, to figure out one way or another.

  To take what she could from this time together in case everything imploded later.

  “I like seeing you more comfortable in your skin.” He sat on the balcony half wall with unerring balance and confidence. “Letting the rest of the world see the woman you are.”

  As much as she feared trusting a man—trusting Elliot—she couldn’t help but wonder if he would continue trying to spin a fairy-tale future for them long beyond tonight and ignore the fact that she had been the unnoticed Cinderella all her life. She wanted a man who noticed the real her—not the fairy tale. Not the fantasy. If she was honest, she was still afraid his sexual interest had come too late to feel authentic.