They’d just let my brother die? Over money?
“I’ll… have to think about this and call you back later,” I told the woman on the phone.
“Okay,” she said, saying it more like a question than a sentence.
I was sure she was thinking, What is there for her to call me back about?
And there really wasn’t anything. I just hated feeling so powerless, and kept hoping that some new answer I hadn’t thought of would come to me.
“Are you okay, Miss Willow?” Ariel asked, looking up at me with big eyes, her fork frozen in the air where she was holding it in front of her mouth after just having taken a bite.
“I hope so,” I told her, and willed myself to try to be strong for her sake.
Chapter 8 – Darien
I spent a good few minutes in my car, staring at my own front door as if I was afraid to go inside.
She was in there. Willow.
I wanted her, and I couldn’t have her, which was not a feeling I was used to. I usually got what I wanted, by whatever means necessary.
But my little girl was in there too, and I knew she missed me. So I got out of the car and grabbed my metal briefcase. Before I could even get to the door, Ariel came springing out of the house and smothered me in a hug. She was dressed in her nightgown, and still slightly damp from a recent bath.
“Daddy, you’re home! Welcome home!” she said, excitedly. “Will Miss Willow be staying? She’s so nice. We had so much fun together.”
“We’ll see. Miss Willow is a wonderful person, isn’t she?”
Willow was still standing in the doorway with her hands together, waiting patiently.
I went up the stairs and smiled. “I hope things went as well as Ariel says.”
“Yes, Ariel is the most well-mannered kid I’ve ever seen. How did you do it?”
He didn’t answer me, probably thinking it was a rhetorical question in the form of a compliment. But I was seriously wondering. Wasn’t there a mom in the picture?
We walked inside the entrance corridor, and Ariel ran ahead and made a bee-line for the stairs.
“I’ll be in my play room, you two!”
“Wait a minute, little miss!” Willow got down on one knee. “Remember what we said about waiting up for your Daddy?”
Ariel skipped back to her. “That I could only stay up waiting until nine o’clock?”
“Right.” Willow nodded solemnly. “And what time is it now?”
“Um…eight forty?”
“Right. So, how much time will you have to play?”
Ariel scrunched up her face, thinking about it. “Twenty minutes?”
I folded my arms and glanced at Willow, who looked at Ariel with as much care as I did.
“That’s right. Good answer. Twenty minutes until lights out,” Willow agreed. “But do you want your Daddy to read you a story?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Ariel beamed up at me.
“So, what if we say ten minutes to play, and ten minutes for a story and bedtime snuggles?”
“Okay, Miss Willow.” She kissed Willow on the cheek, then called over her shoulder, “See you in ten minutes, Daddy!”
I raised an eyebrow as Willow straightened from her crouched position. “Bedtime snuggles?”
Willow laughed. “Hugs, kisses, that sort of thing.”
“Of course. Bedtime snuggles are─” Keep your cool, Thrilling. “─great.”
“I…um, you didn’t tell me when her bedtime was, or how late you’d be, and since tomorrow’s a school day, I didn’t think she should stay up any later than nine.” She glanced up at me hesitantly, through those thick lashes. “She tried to get me to promise to let her stay up until you got home, but I wasn’t about to walk into that trap!”
I smiled wryly. “Yes, she can be too clever for her own good sometimes!”
“I didn’t blame her for trying,” Willow said, laughing. “But I figured I’d better make the deal closed-ended!”
I could see it now, my little lawyer-in-training trying to negotiate a non-specific bedtime, and the image made me laugh too. And then it made me catch my breath, because when had I ever had such a simple pleasure, enjoying my child with someone who loved her also?
I didn’t want Willow to leave.
My eyes scanned the silhouette of her body. I couldn’t help but remember what she had looked like while standing on stage or sitting in my lap, wearing only her red panties.
It had been so long since I’d made love with anyone. And even when I’d had a partner, it was more of a power struggle than an act of love. But here, in front of me, was a spring of youth, a woman with no hidden motivations, no game she was intent on winning.
The image of her nearly naked body, pale skin set off by red lingerie, cautiously dancing in front of all those men, flashed back into my brain and wouldn’t leave. I wanted to claim her, hard, here. I wanted to be the only man to take her, have her, keep her.
Chapter 9 – Darien
“Willow,” I said. My voice was harsh and scratchy. I had to clear my throat. “I don’t want you dancing at that place again.”
A look of sadness crossed her face, but all she did was lift an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
“I— ah.” I shoved my hands in my pockets. I probably shouldn’t have given her an order like that. “I just mean, I really don’t think you should. You’re way too innocent and wholesome to be there. A place like that can ruin you.”
“I wish I didn’t have to.” She shrugged and turned toward the family room. “But I need the money.”
No, I wanted details. I moved to catch up with her.
“Why? How can you need the money that badly?”
“I already told you.” She moved through the room, picking up the few toys that were still out. “My brother is in the hospital and has a lot of medical bills. And you know hospitals, they’ll just let him die if we don’t pay them.”
“Willow, stay…” Damn it, I was going too far now.
“What?” she said, stepping back. “Stay? Here?”
“Let me pay you just as well. I love my little girl and spare no expense when she’s concerned. Tell me what you need.”
She gaped at me for a moment, then shook her head.
“I can’t let you do that, it’s entirely too much. I can do it by my— woah! What’re you doing?”
I scooped her up into my arms and marched upstairs fast enough so that Ariel wouldn’t see. Once I got to a spare room, the closest one to my bedroom, I sat her down in front of the door and opened it.
“This will be yours. I’ll pay you four thousand dollars a week. Is that enough? You can stay here—”
“No, I can’t!”
I pulled her in by her waist and she gasped. Her slender back against my hands… she fit me so perfectly.
“Willow. Stay.”
I was on the verge of begging. I never begged. But Willow wasn’t leaving here. I had my mind made up.
She belonged here. Staring me in the eyes, she sighed and relaxed her shoulders.
“Why don’t you go put Ariel to bed, and we can discuss it?” She pushed me away, gently but firmly. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
I blinked. “The kitchen?”
“Well, what were you thinking? The conference room?” She snorted out a laugh. I couldn’t help but appreciate her sense of humor, even at a crazy time such as this.
“Well… that is why I have it. To have conferences.”
“Um, no. Kitchen. Take your time. Have you eaten?”
“Yeah.”
I shook my head at the memory of my new clients ordering drink after drink at our so-called business dinner. I’d gotten the contracts, but I’d also had to call a cab to get them back to their hotel.
“Fine. Go to Ariel. I’ll be waiting in the kitchen.”
She turned her back to me to pick up some crayons Ariel had left out, so I exited the room to get my daughter. A drink, a story, and several “bedtime snuggles” later, Ariel was asleep in her be
d and I was on my way to the kitchen.
“Four thousand dollars…” she began. She blew out a breath. “That’s a lot. I have some questions.”
“Of course.”
I didn’t know the details about this brother of hers, but I already knew she was loyal. She wouldn’t do anything that would mess up her chance at helping her brother.
“What are the hours?” She held up her hand. “I’m actually pretty flexible, but will I have time to go check on my brother every day?”
“Of course. Ariel will be in school most of the day, so your time is your own until then. For the most part, you’ll have weekends off, unless I have to go on a business trip. If I’m home, you’re free to have your privacy.”
“And you’d want me to…what? Pick her up from school, supervise her after school, see that she eats dinner, and direct any evening activities until you get home?”
“Pretty much.” I got up and went to the cabinet where a decanter of whisky was on display. Now that I was home, I could indulge in a drink. Maybe it would take the edge off the burn I felt every time I thought about having Willow in my home.
“I don’t have a car.”
Oh, yes. I’d forgotten. She’d been content to take the bus, even in the dark hours of the morning when anything could happen to her.
“I have a few extras. You can pick one of those and I’ll have you added to the insurance. I’ll want you to buy a new booster seat for Ariel, so there’s one in each car she spends time in.”
“Oh sure.” She nodded sarcastically. “I’ll just pick one of your extra cars.”
I stared at her, my brow furrowed. “Is there a problem? Do you want me to buy you a new one?”
I would, of course. I wanted to help her, to give her everything she wanted.
She laughed. “Of course not! It’s just…most people don’t live like that!”
“Like what?”
“Like being able to say you have a few extra cars just lying around, and then handing them out to people like candy!”
I smiled wryly. “No, I guess not. Any more questions?”
“Just one. Okay, well, maybe two.”
“Go for it. What are they?”
“Do you really expect me to live here?”
I hesitated. I wasn’t stupid, I couldn’t have a relationship with Willow without risking my daughter, so having her around would be torture. Sweet, exciting torture…
“Yes,” I said anyway, trying to sound more like a successful alpha male and less like a teenager with a crush. “My schedule can be irregular, and if I’m called out late, or even early, I don’t want to leave Ariel alone, and I might not have time to wait for you to get here. I want her to know that one of us will always be here with her.”
“That’s fair,” she said, her mouth twisting a little. I wondered what else was going on in her head. “One more question?”
“Okay.”
“How does Ariel’s mother fit into the picture?”
I exhaled into my highball glass. “That’s…complicated.”
She held up her hands. “I’m not trying to be nosy. I mean, your private business is your private business. That’s cool. But I probably need to know a little bit in order to take care of Ariel, and answer questions if she asks them.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” I contemplated pouring another whisky, but instead put the crystal glass carefully in the sink and returned to the stool next to Willow.
“So…”
“Her mother and I are in the final stages of our divorce. We’re both suing for full custody, but she—” God, how did I tell her any of this without dragging her into all of it? I shoved my hands through my hair. “Anyway, Ariel goes to her house every Friday night and comes home on Sunday morning. I’ll try to be the one who takes her or picks her up so you don’t have to deal with that.”
She looked at me for a long minute. When she started fiddling with her hands, I knew it. She was going to agree.
“Sure, okay. Let’s see how this goes.”
“Good.” I blew out a big breath. At least this part of my life was coming together. “Great, Ariel will be pleasantly surprised to know you’re going to be staying for a while. Why don’t we go to my extended garage and pick out a car so you can get around tomorrow?”
Chapter 10 – Darien
I was quietly impressed that Willow picked out the Audi— one of the safest cars on the market— and not the coupe or the Jeep even though most girls would probably think they were cuter. After getting Willow situated, I locked myself in my office and forced myself to do some work. Knowing that Willow was down the hall, practically within arm’s reach, was too much. The night had settled in and that was when times like these became trying.
I wanted to loom over her and watch her. I wanted to press my ear to her door and listen for all those sounds that signify that a woman was in the room— her low, sweet voice, her breathing…
I rubbed my crotch and sighed. After Morgan, I thought I had lost all taste for ever loving a woman again. Much less for sex, which made it easy for me to agree to Morgan’s insane stipulation that I not date anyone while Ariel lived with me. At the time I’d thought it’d be a small sacrifice for having my little girl.
But Willow? She made me burn.
My cock had never experienced such visceral reactions before. Lust was one thing— I’d always appreciated beautiful women in a sexual way, just as any other straight man did— but this went beyond that. I was getting obsessed with her. My cock was getting obsessed with her. Just thinking about her made it hard.
Which was why I buried myself in emails and paperwork.
I grunted and shifted in my seat, opening more emails.
These people were going to think I had a bot go through and answer these emails. Rarely anyone got an email back from me. It was usually my assistants or if it was urgent enough, a phone call.
A knock came from the other side of the door.
The soft little knocks on the double oak doors only could come from one precious person. I took a breath to settle my cock down before my daughter came into the room.
“Come in, Ariel.”
I smiled as she opened the door and slipped in with her favorite teddy bear hugged close to her in her arms. Her breath was hitching and tears streamed down her little face.
“What is it, sweetheart?” I scooped her up and took her to the small couch.
“I had a bad dream,” she sobbed.
“What was it?”
She hugged her bear and curled into my shoulder. “I had a dream that Mommy tried to take me away from you! I tried to run, but she was dragging me by the arm,” she cried softly. Her wet eyelids fluttered as she looked up at me. “You’re not gonna let her do that, right? I don’t wanna live there, I wanna be with you, Daddy!”
She leaned over and I hugged her.
This was why I couldn’t let my heat escape me. My daughter needed me. I had to save her from these nightmares that could become reality if I weren’t careful.
“No, Daddy will never let that happen.”
I rocked her in my arms until her tears abated and her breathing was more relaxed.
“Thank you, Daddy.” She looked back up at me. “I wish Willow was my mommy. She’s nice. She taught me how to do a back roll today.”
“Willow would be glad to hear that,” I said, standing up. “What would you think of Willow staying with us? I want to hire her to be your nanny, and look after you when I’m at work.”
Her face was still tear-stained, but her smile lit up the room. “Yay! Willow is staying! She’s my favorite, Daddy!”
Ariel stood and relaxed her grip on her teddy bear.
“I love you, Daddy. Bedtime snuggles?”
I chuckled and gave her a piggy back ride to her room where I let her down. Willow had already changed the way we talked, with her phrase “bedtime snuggles.” It was playful and affectionate, and perfect for cuddling a sleepy child. Willow was a natural at this.
“Let’s tuck you tight like a burrito!”
She giggled as I tucked her tight into her bed.
“Goodnight, Daddy!”
“Goodnight, princess.”
I left her door cracked open the way she liked and returned to my office.
Willow…
It wouldn’t hurt to check on her, make sure she was settling in all right.
So I went down to her room, which was between mine and Ariel’s.
I knocked─ most young women her age stayed up late, didn’t they? Though she was an exception to every rule, so she probably was asleep.
I drew my hand back in, willing it to not touch the door knob.
No, I couldn’t—I—fuck.
Quietly, I turned the knob to check and see if she was in her room. I wasn’t looking to get my cock off, and while it might have had some say in the matter, I only wanted to see if there was a lump in the bed, an indication that she was safe and sound.
Her bed looked smooth, flat, from what I saw. So, I cracked it open some more and peeked all the way in.
She was gone.
“Willow?” I called out softly. “Willow, are you here?”
No response.
It wasn’t like she had to have my permission to leave, but a part of me felt insulted, hurt that she left and it was already so late at night.
Calm down. She can take care of herself. But why didn’t she say something?
I went back to my office and picked up my cell phone, where I’d already entered Willow into my contacts.
The phone rang a few times, then it dropped me into voice mail.
I called her another time, voice mail wasn’t going to cut it.
“Where are you, Willow?” I mumbled.
The clock on my desk said it was nearing eleven o’clock. Maybe she went to her home to go get some extra things to take back? No, she didn’t have a car.
Damn it. Despite Ariel being asleep, I was worried that if I went to look for Willow, she’d wake up from another nightmare.
If I were gone, she’d panic. And since, unlike her mother, I was actually a good parent, I knew full well that seven was way too young to leave a child alone at night.
Royal Baby Double Trouble_A Two Princes MFM Menage Romance Page 51