She filled the sippy cup. She turned back to Marie just as the door to the bathroom opened and Daniel emerged. They almost collided, but he caught her in time. “Ah,” he said, taking in the sippy cup. “I see you’re finding your way around.”
“It’s not that big of a plane.” His hand was still on her arm and she was blushing terribly.
His eyes crinkled with what she hoped was amusement. “Size isn’t everything, or so I’ve heard.”
He was teasing her, she realized. Teasing her and rubbing small circles on her inner arm with his thumb. The flush of embarrassment caught and flamed into something hotter. Something needier.
How long had it been? Too danged long.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
Something in his eyes shifted. How could he look at her like that? Like she was somehow glamorous and desirable instead of a disaster with a daughter?
His head tilted toward hers, but he didn’t kiss her. He didn’t even come close to it—not this time. “Thank you for trusting me.” Before she could respond to that, he took the sippy cup and went to sit down by Marie.
No, if this was a dream, she definitely didn’t want to wake up.
Seven
“Oh, thank goodness,” Christine said, exhaustion in her voice as she slumped back into the plush seating of Daniel’s Chicago car.
This Mercedes was longer than his Denver car, the better to accommodate the divider between the driver and the passengers.
“I have to ask—is it always that much fun?” He didn’t know a lot about babies but it’d been obvious that Marie had not enjoyed her first flight.
Christine shot him a weak smile. “Sometimes, it’s even more entertaining. She’s teething. She hasn’t figured out yet how to tell me she doesn’t feel good without crying. The doctor says she’s normal.” She notched an eyebrow at him, her eyes tired. “Didn’t you grow up with any brothers and sisters?”
“No.” That was all he would’ve said to anyone else, but Christine gave him a measured look and he remembered her saying that he knew everything about her and she knew nothing about him. “My mother never married and she was an only child. And, as you know, I didn’t grow up with any of my half siblings on my father’s side.”
She gave him a tired smile. What was it about that look that made him want to pull her into his arms and let her rest? Maybe she could relax at the condo. There, at least, no reporters would be lying in wait. Plus, Chicago did have one advantage over Seoul, Korea—his mother, Minnie.
But even as he thought it, he worried. His mother had been almost as bad as his grandfather about wanting grandchildren. Daniel had refused to get married in Korea, no matter what his grandfather said. He wouldn’t give the old man the satisfaction.
His mother, however, was a different matter entirely. She didn’t want grandchildren to carry on the Lee family name and restore the Lee family honor.
She wanted grandchildren because she wanted grandchildren. And here he was, bringing an adorable baby girl and a single mother back to his condo. Would his mother restrain herself?
Christine slumped back in her seat. “I grew up in Missouri—we had our own local brewery with its own family drama. I don’t know very much about the Beaumonts.”
It was a relief. Being an acknowledged Beaumont brought a measure of personal scrutiny that he didn’t enjoy. “There’s not much to know.”
She lifted her head up and squinted at him through one eye.
“My family legacy—my American family, that is—was something we didn’t talk about growing up,” he said.
He hadn’t even known who his father was until he’d turned six. Apparently, being in kindergarten had made him mature enough in Lee Dae-Won’s eyes to inform him that his real father was a heartless businessman from Colorado who, along with Daniel’s mother, had stained the Lee family honor.
But he pushed that frustration away because Christine had rested her head back against the seat. He thought she might fall asleep—which was fine. Given current traffic conditions, they had about an hour from the airport to his condo on the lakefront. She needed the rest.
What he really wanted to do was slide into the seat next to her, wrap his arm around her shoulders and tuck her in close. He wanted to physically take the burden from her shoulders and let her know she was safe with him.
He also wanted to finish the kiss they’d started in Colorado. Which was not the same as making sure she felt safe. In fact, he was pretty sure those two desires didn’t mesh at all.
So he did the only thing he could do—he stayed on his side of the car. He couldn’t allow this attraction to distract him from the matter at hand—deflecting media attention and protecting the Murray women. He’d just taken out his phone to check his messages when she spoke again. “Was it rough, growing up without any contact with your father or his family?”
The question took him by surprise. No one had ever asked that question before. Not even Zeb.
He didn’t answer fast enough, because she went on, “I’m sorry if I’m prying. Marie’s father doesn’t want anything to do with her, either. Or,” she added with a bitter laugh, “he didn’t, until he realized he could use her for his own aims.”
He set his phone down. “It wasn’t bad. It wasn’t as good as CJ had it—you know CJ, my other half brother?”
“I used to watch A Good Morning With Natalie Baker when I first moved here. She married him, right?”
“Yes, that brother. His mother married and he had a happy childhood. But I think that’s rare for anyone, to have two parents who are completely committed to making sure you have a stable upbringing. The fact that I had one parent committed to that was a gift. I think you’re going to be that person for Marie, too.”
Her head popped up. “You think?”
He couldn’t fight the grin if he’d wanted to—and he didn’t want to. “I know. You’re an amazing mom doing the best you can with what you’ve got—even if what you’ve got is a toxic relative with deep pockets.”
With a groan, she let her head fall back again. “Don’t remind me.” There was another moment of silence before she added, “How much worse is this going to get?”
“Actually, now that we’re on ground level, I think it’s only going to get better from here.”
She snorted, an indelicate noise that made him smile. “I wasn’t talking about Marie screaming. I was talking about the scandal. About what’s happening between us.”
Daniel froze, but she still wasn’t looking at him. There wasn’t anything happening between them.
All right, in a misguided attempt to comfort her earlier, he had touched her. And almost kissed her. And yes, he had flown her across the country and was actively taking her to his condominium—where he had never brought a woman before. And, sure—his mother was going to be waiting there to meet them and would undoubtedly take one look at Marie and fall head over heels in love.
None of that meant anything was happening between them.
Really.
He exhaled heavily. Perhaps if he kept telling himself that lie, he might even start believing it.
Because the truth was, it did feel like something was happening, something strange and unexpected. He had started this endeavor from a position of weakness—he had allowed himself to feel guilt over his actions. Christine didn’t seem to realize how unusual that was—maybe it was better that she didn’t. Maybe he didn’t want her to know how much of a coldhearted bastard he could be. She knew enough, anyway.
He didn’t have an answer for her so he kept quiet, hoping she would doze off. And it seemed like that was what happened because she was silent for several minutes. Then, out of nowhere, her voice came again. “I still don’t know why you’re doing this.”
She sounded sleepy and he had an overwhelming urge to be the soft place where she could land. He had never had that particular urge before. “Maybe you don’t have to know why.”
“That’s a load of malarkey.”
&n
bsp; Even though she couldn’t see it, he cracked a wide grin. “Malarkey? That’s not a word you hear every day.”
“I have this daughter, you see. She has a tendency to pick up on words and repeat them loudly when it’s most inconvenient.” She lifted her head and cracked one eye open. “Do I need to remind you about the Daniel Tiger incident?”
He chuckled. “Trust me, I won’t ever forget the Daniel Tiger incident.”
She was looking at him again with both eyes now. “Why, Daniel?”
“I didn’t want to be another person who let you down.” This was the problem with honesty. Once a person started being honest, it became almost addictive. There was a certain measure of freedom in the truth. He felt like he could breathe.
Something in the air changed between them, charging the space in the limo with electricity. “I don’t want you to be another person who lets me down,” she said softly.
For too much of his life, he had been concerned with his own interests. And his mother’s, of course. He was even concerned with his grandfather’s business interests—up to a point. He wasn’t going to marry anyone for family honor—but Lee Enterprises had made Daniel an insanely wealthy man.
He cared for his siblings—in a fashion. It was in his best interest to keep his siblings protected and the family business solvent.
But what did he have to gain from Christine? What was in it for him to shield Marie?
Nothing. He knew it and Christine knew it, too. He had nothing to gain by doing any of this.
Funny how that hadn’t stopped him yet.
“I won’t be.” It wasn’t an empty promise but, given the worry that crept into the corner of Christine’s eyes, he wasn’t sure that she believed him.
Which was smart. She should absolutely not put her full faith and trust in him. She should keep her guard up.
But he wanted that trust. Suddenly, he needed it.
The car turned and Daniel became aware of his surroundings. They were on Lower Wacker Drive, turning toward Navy Pier.
Quickly, Daniel checked his messages. There were no emergencies from Zeb, so that was good. Natalie had forwarded him several new links to articles that were full of content scraped from Marie’s father’s original interview. Some days, it was like playing whack-a-mole on the internet.
“Where are we?” Christine asked.
“Home.” Huang, his driver, pulled into the garage and parked at the entrance. The doorman had the door open before Christine could blink.
“Welcome home, Mr. Lee.”
“It’s good to be home, Rowell. These are my guests. They have complete access to my condo.” Behind him, he heard Christine give a little squeak. The staff here was highly trained to keep their mouths shut. He turned and held out a hand.
After a moment’s hesitation, she took it and let him help her to her feet. “Hello,” she said nervously to the doorman.
“We have a few things in the trunk.” With a small salute, Rowell went to the trunk. Daniel leaned in to unbuckle Marie. The little girl startled as he lifted her out and handed her to her mother. Christine tucked her daughter to her chest, rubbing her back. It was such a sweet image that Daniel wished he could take a picture of it.
What would it be like, if this were real? If he were returning with his wife and daughter after a business trip, everyone tired and happy to be home? They’d go upstairs and unpack, give Marie a bath and, once the little girl was asleep, he and Christine would...
Would what? Fall into bed, taking comfort in each other? No. He didn’t take comfort from anyone, much less a woman who was still well within her rights to view his every single action as suspect. Even if he wanted to strip her out of her rumpled business suit and make love to her until she was sated, he couldn’t get any closer.
He shook his head at his own foolishness. He was about to introduce Christine to his mother. It didn’t get much closer than that.
In short order, he was leading them down the hall to his corner condo. Before he could get his keys out, the door swung open and there stood his mother, hope all over her face.
This was a mistake, but it was too late now.
“Dae-Hyun,” she said, using his real name. “Naega geogjeonghaessda.” I was worried.
That was just like her, to worry about him despite the fact that he’d been in Denver for a few months. Even though she had lived in Chicago for almost thirty-five years, she spoke Korean with him when they were alone.
Daniel stepped inside and kissed his mother on the cheek. “Annyeong eomma,” he said, telling her hi. Then he stepped to the side and switched to English. “Mom, I’d like to introduce you to Christine Murray and her daughter, Marie.”
Her eyes lit up as she turned to Christine and Marie. “Welcome,” she said, her English softly accented. Mom bowed in their direction. Daniel had been embarrassed by that bow when he was growing up. It had always marked his mother as a foreigner. But now, it was comforting. “I’m so glad Daniel brought you for a visit.”
Which was a nice way of phrasing “mad dash to get away from the press.” He snorted. “Christine, this is my mother, Minnie Lee.”
“Hello,” Christine said nervously, clutching Marie to her chest. Her gaze cut back to Daniel.
He set down the bags his assistant, Beth, had gotten them for the airplane ride. “Mom, have the other things been delivered yet?”
Minnie didn’t hear him. She had eyes for one person and one person only. “Oh,” she cooed, stepping in to place a hand on Marie’s back. “Was the plane ride very hard?”
Christine glanced over his mother’s head—which was saying something, because Christine was not that tall to begin with—and made eye contact with Daniel. He could see the second she made up her mind, the tension in her eyes fading as she smiled a warm smile at his mother. “It was a little bit of a rough flight. She’s never been on an airplane before.”
Mom clucked sympathetically. “You must be so tired. Both of you. I have some snacks in the kitchen. Some fresh fruit and milk? You could take a few moments to freshen up. I had a guest room set up for you.”
Christine blinked in surprise at this, but Minnie turned back to Daniel. “The crib proved to be a problem, but they sent over a portable one.” She turned back to Christine. “I hope that will be all right?”
“Um...yes?”
Mom’s eyes crinkled with warmth. “Come with me. I’m so glad Daniel brought you here,” she repeated.
As if Daniel hadn’t already known this was a mistake, that sentence sealed the deal. His mother was already painting rosy pictures of happy babies and little granddaughters.
With another look, Christine followed Minnie into the apartment. He heard her gasp when she rounded the corner and saw the view. When he caught up with her in the living room, she was standing openmouthed and staring out at the never-ending sky. “This is amazing.”
“I like it.”
Which was something of an understatement. He liked being above everyone on the top floor. He liked looking down on Navy Pier, at the scurrying little dots that were the rest of humanity. He liked being unreachable and untouchable—and of course the privacy that went with both of those things.
Christine turned to his mother. “How long have you lived here?”
His mother’s laugh tinkled lightly. “Oh, I don’t live here. This is Dae-Hyun’s home. I live in Wheeling.”
When Christine looked confused by this statement, Daniel added, “That’s close to where we landed. Mom volunteers at the Korean Cultural Center located there.”
“Oh. Okay.” He could tell that it still didn’t make much sense to her.
At that moment, Marie seemed to come fully awake. She squirmed in Christine’s arms. Christine tried to set her down and hold on to her hand, but the little girl was a lot faster than she looked. She fell to her hands and knees and crawled over to the windows, where she got back to her feet and began cruising and banging on the glass. “Pretty!” she crowed.
Christi
ne gasped, but Daniel put a hand on her arm. “That glass is inches thick. She is not going to knock it out. I promise.”
Mom hurried over and crouched down beside the little girl. “Pretty, isn’t it?”
Marie turned a wide smile to the older woman and Daniel felt something tighten in his chest. It only got worse when his mother clapped her hands and giggled like a schoolgirl.
He leaned down and spoke softly in Christine’s ear. “I think the two of them will be fine for a few minutes. Would you like to see your room?”
She nodded and, without taking his hand away from her arm, he led her through his apartment. He pointed out things like the kitchen and the dining room—which was really an extension of the living room. Then he led her down the hall to the extra bedrooms. “I keep a room here for Mom when she wants to stay in town but she won’t be here tonight, so you can take her room,” he explained. “I have two other guestrooms, but I use one as an office. So you’ll have to let me know if you want Marie to stay in the room with you or if you would like her to be next door.” He showed her the bathrooms and then opened the door to the guestroom.
“You really do live here,” Christine said, a note of amazement in her voice as she stepped away from him to look around.
“Yes, I do. Did you think I would bring you to some dungeon and keep you locked away?”
She shot him a look. “I hadn’t ruled it out. And besides, you don’t need a dungeon to keep someone trapped.”
“You’re free to leave whenever you want,” he said, stepping closer. Too close. He was close enough to touch her now and that was exactly what he did. He took her bag from her shoulder and set it on the bed, next to the boxes he’d ordered from Saks Fifth Avenue.
For the second time today, he brushed his fingertips over her cheek. She didn’t pull away—although she didn’t exactly throw herself into his arms, either. Instead, she stood looking at him as if he were a space alien. “But I’d like you to stay for a little while.”
Billionaire's Baby Promise (Mills & Boon Desire) (Billionaires and Babies, Book 79) Page 8