Glancing over at Holly before he switched the light off, he noticed that she slept with Lilly lying peacefully in her arms. He also saw the milky white flesh of her exposed breast and a couple of inches of smooth stomach. What a beautiful picture they made. He thought once more of the Madonna and Child painting. If he ever got the chance, he would buy it in memory of this pair who had crossed his path, however briefly.
Instinct told him she would be embarrassed at showing so much bare flesh, but he didn’t have the right to pull her windcheater back into place. She must have dropped off to sleep while feeding the baby.
Should he call the flight attendant? What if the male attendant turned up? The thought of another man looking at her creamy breast made his stomach contract. He leaned down and picked up the airline blanket from near his foot, unfolded it and draped it across the pair of them. He couldn’t understand why he felt so protective toward them. These days he only worried about his own comfort.
She slept beautifully, her blonde hair scattered around her face as most of it had escaped from its restraint. Her soft pink lips were pursed ever so slightly. What would they taste like? Sweeter than honey, he fantasized, wondering whether he had been struck down by some kind of madness. Hell, a man could look couldn’t he?
Down boy, he urged his hormones. She isn’t for you. Too young, too sweet, too vulnerable. For God’s sake, she had recently buried her husband.
Infuriated with himself, he switched off the light. He couldn’t sleep, not now anyway. He stood up and did a few stretching exercises before striding down the aisle to the bathroom.
When he came back, he tapped Holly on the shoulder. “Are you awake?”
“What!” Holly blinked. She must have dozed off while feeding Lilly.
“Wouldn’t you be more comfortable if you put her in the cot?”
“Yes.” She laid her sleeping daughter in the cot and covered her with a blanket and the child didn’t stir.
“You should try and sleep yourself.”
“I know, but it’s so uncomfortable,” she said. “At least I know what a sardine feels like now.”
“Here.” He didn’t know why he did it, but he lifted up the armrest between them. “This should give you a little more space.”
It amazed him that he could genuinely feel sympathy for this girl.
“Come on, lean against me if it’s more comfortable. You’ll need all your strength if little missie wakes up in a stroppy mood.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I wouldn’t have offered otherwise.”
“Thanks.” Leaning against his arm she curled up with her feet on the seat.
“No, this is better,” he whispered, moving his arm and draping it around her. It surprised him when she snuggled trustingly into him. She was so vulnerable. Outside the confines of this plane, a big bad world waited to gobble her up.
It felt somehow right having her soft warm body pressing against him. He inhaled her perfume ‑‑ a subtle mixture of roses and something he couldn’t quite put a name to.
As she slept, he pulled her even closer, wrapping both arms around her so he could rest his chin on her soft hair. He didn’t know why this felt so right. For now, he didn’t even try to work it out.
Chapter Three
“Good morning, breakfast in ten minutes.”
Holly woke up with a start on hearing the flight attendant’s cheery greeting. She couldn’t believe it. She was wrapped up in Justin’s arms. She felt cosseted, safe. Justin wouldn’t let anything hurt her.
“Hello, sleepy head,” he whispered.
His eyes were as soft as his voice, a tender caress that she had no right accepting if she valued her sanity. They were transient companions, destined never to meet again once they reached their destination.
“Good morning.” She wriggled out of his arms and sat up straight. Her hair was scattered all over her face, and she pushed it behind her ears with a trembling hand. What a wreck she must look. She glanced at Lilly who still slept soundly. If she was quick she might be able to go to the bathroom and freshen up.
“Go to the bathroom if you need to, I’ll make sure little missie doesn’t climb out of the cot if she wakes up.”
Justin had taken a liking to Lilly. It pleased her, and not just because she was a doting mother who thought her child beautiful.
“Would you? Thanks.” Grabbing up her handbag, she hurried to the washroom. Thank goodness there was only one person ahead of her. She felt grubby and untidy.
In the washroom, she brushed her hair, deciding to leave it loose. She cleaned her teeth, washed her face and hands and sprinkled on some of the airline’s perfumed skin spray. What she wouldn’t give for a nice hot shower and fresh underwear.
When she returned to her seat Lilly was awake, standing up in her cot. Justin jiggled the colored keys in front of her, almost letting her touch them but pulling away at the last minute, and she squealed with delight.
Her heart turned a somersault, and once it righted itself, started pounding. Justin, like a magnet, effortlessly drew her to him. Who said ruthless tycoons didn’t have a softer side? “Thanks for minding her. Looks like you’ve got the touch.”
“It was easy.”
He flashed a devastating smile. A woman would have to be cast from stone not to respond to such a handsome, virile man. His clothes were rumpled, his jaw and chin were covered with black stubble, yet it didn’t detract from his rugged good looks, but somehow enhanced them.
Robbie had been a complete opposite to him, as fair as Justin was dark. It took about three days without shaving for faint golden stubble to appear on his chin. She shouldn’t be comparing the two men. She didn’t have the right.
She changed and fed Lilly before washing her face and hands with one of the moist towels provided by the airline. By this time, breakfast had arrived.
It wasn’t much better than the meal they received last night. Sandwiches, a croissant and fruit juice. Holly ate every scrap. It would save her buying more than one meal on their seven-hour stopover in Bangkok.
Justin obviously ate his because he was hungry, not to save money. He downed two cups of coffee to her one.
***
They landed in Bangkok. Justin got the pink bag and the fold up stroller down for her. He only had an overcoat, laptop and briefcase.
“I’ll help you get off with all this stuff,” he said.
“Thanks.”
As soon as they were in the transit lounge, he unfolded the stroller and waited until she strapped Lilly in. Suddenly, a surge of people surrounded them, and Justin disappeared.
Holly slung the pink bag over one shoulder and hesitated. Seven hours waiting at the airport, what could she do to fill in time? Wander around the duty free shops admiring things she couldn’t afford to buy?
Frantically she looked around for Justin, but he was nowhere to be seen. Stop this dithering she told herself. She couldn’t rely on him. He was a stranger who had been kind. She couldn’t ask any more of him. She would never see him again, just read of his exploits in the daily papers. Her limbs felt weighted down with lead.
“We’re on our own again, darling.” She started pushing the stroller. The shopping gallery was packed. Several planes must have landed within a short time of each other. She wanted to buy a couple of bottles of water to keep her fluid intake up so her milk supply would be adequate. Lilly didn’t like drinking from a bottle, so breast milk remained her major food source combined with some solids.
She didn’t want to do it, but once she found somewhere to live in Melbourne and obtained a job, she would have to wean Lilly off the breast. So much to do. What an awesome responsibility having a baby completely dependent on one with no backup to call upon in an emergency.
Old Mrs. Harris had been good to both her and Robbie when they rented the self- contained bungalow in her backyard. Would it still be vacant? Please God that would be an answer to her prayers. It was situated close to Melbourne, more importantly cheap. Mrs. Harris h
ad wanted a tenant, not for money, but security purposes and to help with the gardening.
Robbie used to mow the lawns for her, and Holly did the weeding. No reason why someone young and strong like her couldn’t mow the grass. A poky little apartment in some run down high-rise would be a horrible environment for Lilly. There were massive waiting lists for government-subsidized accommodation. If Mrs. Harris couldn’t help them, what then? Her shoulders slumped and anxiety and fear pressed down on her again. She felt as if she was being relentlessly hammered into the ground.
***
Justin strode out of the airport hotel. Thank goodness he had thought to ring through before leaving London to book a room. A nice hot shower and a shave, and he felt like a new man. He had checked his E-mails. Nothing too pressing there. A decent meal, then he would get stuck into some work.
He spotted Holly sitting all alone on a seat. Her head drooped, and her shoulders slumped. It tugged at his heart. He hadn’t given her a second thought after they got separated in the transit lounge, having been too selfishly intent on his own creature comforts.
I owe them nothing he told himself, cursing under his breath as he somehow found himself striding towards them. He couldn’t just walk away and leave the pair of them when they were so vulnerable.
“Justin.”
Her eyes lit up and chased the shadows away from her face. He felt the strange tug at his heart again.
“I tried to find you after we were separated.” How pathetic it sounded.
He was cleanly shaved now. Having recently showered, his hair fell into damp waves. It made her feel even more disheveled and grubby.
“Yeah, sorry about that. I have to confess I couldn’t wait to get to my room at the hotel here. I just assumed you’d be going there too.” He leaned over and ruffled Lilly’s hair. “How are you, little missie?”
Gurgling happily, the baby grabbed his hand. He let her hold on to his fingers for a moment or two before straightening up.
“I’m on my way to get something decent to eat. Come with me.”
“No, thanks.”
“Why? You didn’t have much on the plane, and you look as if you could do with a bit of fattening up.”
“It’s nice of you to ask,” she lowered her voice, feeling hot with humiliation. “I haven’t got much money.”
“Oh, is that all. If I ask a lady out to dine, I always pay.”
“It’s nice of you, it really is. You’ve been kind to Lilly and me. I couldn’t impose on you any further.”
“You’re not imposing. I don’t like eating alone. You would be doing me a favor.”
“I…I can’t.”
“All right,” he snapped, obviously taking offence. “I’ve got the message.” He swung away.
“Justin, please I’d like to, but I feel so grubby.” She probably had body odor if the truth were known.
He turned back to her. “You should have booked yourself…” He muttered a swear word. “I’ll see if I can get you a room. You could have a shower, rest on nice clean sheets for a few hours and let Lilly loose for a while.
He picked up the pink bag. “And don’t say you can’t afford it. I’m paying.”
“Why are you being so kind to us? We’re strangers.”
He shrugged. “I don’t know.”
What a great idea having a hotel virtually next to the duty free shopping area, she thought. It would be a gold mine. Weary, cashed up travelers in transit wouldn’t mind paying a premium for such comfort.
When they arrived at the hotel reception and Justin asked for a room for them, she could have cried because there were no vacancies.
“Nothing at all?” he asked.
“No, velly solly, Mr. Develeux,” the girl said in a singsong voice.
“Damn.”
Typical, if Holly Kirwan looked forward to something nice, it would inevitably be snatched away from her.
“It’s all right. It was nice of you to offer, but we’ll be okay.” She felt weighed down with fatigue and worry and he must have noticed.
“You’re welcome to share my room.”
“Share?”
“Yeah.” He grinned. “The room, not the bed.”
She gave a nervous giggle. Butterflies swirled around in the pit of her stomach at the thought of sharing a room with him.
“Is it all right if Mrs. Kirwan and her baby use the shower and the spare bed in my room?”
He took out a fifty-dollar note and handed it over with a smile. “For you.”
“Thank you, thank you.” The receptionist bowed her head deferentially. “Is okay.”
“I guess that means she’s accepted my bribe and it is okay for you to stay.” Justin laughed.
“Thanks.” Holly touched his arm. “I wish I had some way of repaying your kindness.”
“Come on. You can have a shower and attend little missie’s needs before joining me for lunch.”
The hotel room wasn’t luxurious, but appeared spotlessly clean and well fitted out. Travelers staying here were obviously prepared to sacrifice a five-star rating for the convenience of not leaving the airport.
A large armchair separated the two king-size single beds. There was a television and tea making facilities. More importantly, it had a bathroom.
Holly dumped her things on the floor. She hadn’t put much in the bag for herself, just a couple of T-shirts and underclothing. It would be summer in Australia, so she could buy a couple of inexpensive skirts and blouses to tide her over until her finances improved.
He turned away as she delved in the bag for what she wanted. She would give Lilly a wash and change her clothes when they got back from lunch. She didn’t want to hold him up too long.
“Leave her here,” he said. “I’ll keep an eye on her.”
“Thanks. She’ll be all right in the stroller for a while longer.”
She hurried into the bathroom to take a shower. There wasn’t a bath, but she could bathe Lilly in the large hand basin. What bliss standing under warm water and feeling it running down over her body. She found an unopened tablet of soap to use, no shampoo, but washing her hair in soap for once wouldn’t matter.
She didn’t dally as it wasn’t fair to hold him up. She dried herself and pulled on her jeans and a pale pink T-shirt with a rose embroidered on the front. Running a brush through her hair to get the tangles out of it, she wished there was time to use the hair dryer. She grimaced at her appearance as she applied pink lipstick and eye shadow. She appeared presentable, but only just.
When she returned to the bedroom, he sat at the dressing table tapping away on his laptop. Lilly stood up holding on to his knee.
“Mumma.” She gave a toothy, dribbling grin.
“Were you good for Justin?” She picked up Lilly and swung her around a couple of times.
“She was all right, weren’t you, missie?” After saving his work, he exited the screen.
“Thanks. I feel like a new woman.” She smiled at him. Had she heard him catch his breath? Of course not, her imagination must be in overdrive.
“You didn’t take long.” He snapped the lid down on the laptop and stood up.
The silicone-enhanced beauties orbiting around his airspace would take hours perfecting their appearance. Spend a fortune on it as well.
She strapped the baby into the stroller. “We’re ready.”
“Good, I’m hungry. What would you like ‑‑ Asian or English food?”
“Sausages, eggs, bacon and tomato if it is possible to find such a thing, but you choose.” She laughed, feeling light hearted for the first time since Robbie died.
It wasn’t being disloyal to his memory to have lunch with another man or to enjoy masculine company, surely? Robbie, a generous kind-hearted person in life, wouldn’t begrudge her finding any scraps of happiness she could now that he was dead.
“It’s just lunch. He wouldn’t mind,” Justin said, and Holly felt the dreaded hot flush come to her cheeks once more.
“Was I
that transparent?”
“You have expressive eyes. They’re the mirror of your soul.”
“Is that all?” She smiled. “I thought you were a mind reader.”
“I wish.” He gave a deep-throated chuckle.
They went upstairs to a small French restaurant, not much more than a café really. It contained bamboo tables and chairs. Huge potted ferns graced the room. There were numerous people here with children, probably why Justin chose it. The five star restaurant downstairs would be more his style.
“They don’t have sausages,” he said, glancing down the menu that was written in French.”
“I don’t want snails or frogs legs, but anything else that’s not too exotic will do.”
He grinned. “Their specialty is omelets. Tomato, cheese, spring onion and ham or…”
“An omelet sounds good. I’m not adventuresome when it comes to food, I’m afraid. Robbie would try anything, but I always stuck to the tried and true. You don’t get disappointed then.”
“Is that the way you lead your life?” He touched her hand. “Not taking chances?”
“Yes. When you don’t have much, you can’t afford to lose what you have got.”
“I’m the opposite, a risk junky when it comes to business. Shall I order anything for Lilly?”
“No, she can nibble at some of mine. I’ll feed her once we get back to the hotel room.”
A waiter brought over a bottle of water and placed it on the table. Without speaking, he waited for Justin to order. “I’m having a seafood omelet. Strawberry crepes for dessert?” He cocked an eyebrow.
“Yes, sounds great.”
“We’ll have coffee too. Thanks.”
“I’ll never forget how kind you’ve been to us.” Holly touched his hand. “You’ve restored my faith in humanity.”
He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. “What are you going to do when you get back home?”
“Find somewhere to live then get a job.” She lifted the glass and took a sip of the cool water
“What do you do? I mean, what work skills do you have?”
“I’m an audio-typist. Well, I used to be before I married Robbie. I typed out medical reports. I suppose my speeds have dropped, but I used to be fast, I’ve got excellent references.”
The Millionaire's Redemption Page 3