Tempted by the Tycoon's Proposal

by Rachael Stewart

Lily nodded and took Sophia’s hand as she straightened up. ‘Come see.’

  She started to drag her along and Sophia looked from Lily to him and back down to the wellies again.

  ‘We went for a few different sizes,’ he said, ‘but hopefully one of these pairs will fit.’

  ‘You bought me wellies?’ Her blue eyes sparkled as she looked up at him, her glossy pink lips stretching wide. ‘I don’t think anyone has bought me wellies before, not since I was a child at any rate.’

  ‘Well, it’s not a blizzard out there,’ he said, recalling their conversation the night before, ‘but it’s certainly been raining cats and dogs.’

  ‘Cats and dogs?’ Lily frowned. ‘That makes no sense, Daddy.’

  Sophia laughed. ‘You’re right, it doesn’t, but I still can’t believe you’ve bought me wellies.’

  ‘Well, Daddy said you like muddy puddles too.’

  ‘Did he now?’

  He gave a shrug. ‘It may have come up in conversation.’

  ‘You need to try them on, Sphea, then Daddy can ask Alice to take the others back.’

  ‘Alice?’

  ‘My PA and general life organiser.’

  She smiled. ‘You really shouldn’t have.’

  ‘Technically, I didn’t.’

  She shook her head, her eyes wide with some unknown thought, and then she looked at the wellies and to Lily. ‘Do you have a size six there?’

  ‘I’ll find it,’ his daughter declared, pulling out the right pair quicker than he could even say anything.

  Not that he knew what to say because every phrase that entered his head seemed too inappropriate and...gushy. It was a word he had never used, let alone attributed to himself. And he could be neither of those things, particularly in front of Lily. But he wanted to tell her how lovely she looked, how much they’d been looking forward to this outing, how much—

  Stop, just stop.

  ‘Here you go...’ Lily lifted the pair of shiny red wellies high above her head. ‘The colour matches your hair and Daddy got me a matching pair too!’

  ‘Thank you.’ Sophia smiled down at her, her expression so unguarded with affection for Lily. He could be excused for getting wrapped up in that same look, surely. It had nothing to do with him softening towards her, nothing whatsoever.

  He’d hardly been soft with Elena, hardly let such emotion in at all until he’d first held Lily in his arms.

  ‘I’ll just go and put my shoes away.’

  She turned to leave and Lily grabbed her hand. ‘Wait!’

  Lily bent low and picked up a small bag, offering it out. ‘Daddy got you welly socks too!’

  ‘He did?’ Sophia’s brow lifted, her eyes widening further on another laugh. ‘How thoughtful...’

  ‘Sorry if it’s too much...’ he started but she shook her head.

  ‘No, not at all. I won’t be long.’

  She was still shaking her head as she returned, her eyes dancing bright and blue as she pulled a knitted beige bobble hat from her pocket and slid it on. ‘Let’s go before those ominous grey clouds return.’

  * * *

  ‘Higher, Daddy, higher!’ Lily squealed as Jack pushed her on the swing and Sophia watched on.

  The play park was relatively quiet—people avoiding the wet equipment, she supposed—but it meant Lily could hop from one thing to the next, no jostling for best position, and she was keeping them both on their toes as she rushed about.

  They’d done jumping in puddles, they’d done ice cream in the freezing cold, and they’d made themselves sick on the roundabout and enjoyed the grown-up slide, which had produced waves worthy of a log flume, much to Lily’s delight, not so much Jack’s. He’d managed to get a shower of it to the face as he waited for her at the bottom, something which had evoked fits of giggles from both Lily and Sophia, and no matter how he’d frowned at them they couldn’t quit it.

  Even now, Sophia was still grinning and laughing, her cheeks and belly aching from the effort.

  It was such a perfect afternoon, perfect and so different to how she’d spent the previous weekend and the weekend before that. Memories of Amy haunted her as they always did this time of year but it was so nice to be out in the fresh air and not be worrying, not be anxious.

  She’d known Jack would prove to be a distraction and though she knew he and his daughter were a fleeting presence in her life she couldn’t stop herself from taking pleasure in every second.

  ‘Hey, Soph, what are you doing here?’

  Oh, God.

  She turned to see Samantha, her friend and next-door neighbour, heading towards her, her son Noah scooting along in front, and she felt her cheeks flush.

  ‘Hi, guys!’

  She could sense both Jack and Lily watching her and her smile felt forced, her voice too. It was one thing enjoying her time with the McGregors, but it was another to merge her fantasy life with the real.

  She embraced Samantha and gave her a kiss to the cheek, ruffling Noah’s hair too. ‘You’ve come to enjoy the park?’

  ‘Yeah,’ Noah said, his blond hair escaping from beneath his knitted beanie so like his mum’s; his grin was wide and showed off the gap in his front teeth.

  ‘Gotta get out while the sun is shining,’ Samantha added, her head tilted towards the swings, her eyes wide and gesturing. It was obvious Sophia was with them. Why else would she be standing there watching them like some oddball? She was going to have to introduce them; the alternative was even more awkward. She only had herself to blame too—bringing them to this park, her local park.

  She brushed her hands down her coat and took a breath, looking over to Jack and Lily, who were clearly waiting on her to say something. Jack looked mildly curious but Lily looked strangely apprehensive.

  ‘Jack, Lily, come and meet my friends...’ she called out, trying to relax her smile and her voice, both of which were supremely difficult with Sam making goo-goo eyes at a grinning Jack. Sophia nudged her subtly in the side, saying between her teeth, ‘You’re married.’

  ‘Nothing wrong with looking, Soph,’ she returned under her breath.

  Lily hopped off the swing with a leap but soon shied away behind the legs of her father as they approached, her usual confidence non-existent.

  ‘This is my friend, Samantha, and her son, Noah.’

  ‘Nice to meet you, Samantha.’

  Jack held out his hand and her friend was quick to shake it.

  ‘Oh, Sam, please.’

  Her friend giggled and the sound had Sophia’s cheeks flushing deeper, even more so when Sam’s eyes flitted from Jack to Sophia and back again. She was so in for it next time Sam had her alone.

  ‘Jack is a guest at my hotel.’

  ‘A guest, you say?’ Sam’s voice was drawn out with various other possibilities running rife through her gossip-charged brain.

  ‘Yes,’ Jack confirmed as Sophia’s brain screamed at her friend to quit whatever she was thinking. ‘My Lily has taken quite a shine to her.’

  And speaking of Lily, the girl was still hiding behind Jack’s legs. Sophia ignored her internal panic and crouched down to the girl’s level, wishing to put her at ease. ‘Hey, Lily, you and Noah are the same age, you know.’

  She edged out just enough to look at Noah beneath her lashes.

  ‘Hi, Lily.’ Noah grinned at her, all confident and a total contrast to the shrinking violet Lily had become. ‘When’s your birthday?’

  ‘The twenty-eighth of February.’

  ‘Oh, cool. Mine’s next weekend. You having a party?’

  She looked up at her father and Sophia caught the faint grimace on his face.

  ‘I don’t know,’ she said, her eyes back on Noah.

  ‘Do you want a go on my scooter?’ He pushed it out towards her. ‘I can show you some tricks if you like?’

 
; She bit her lip and looked from Jack to Sophia, before looking back to Noah. ‘I don’t think I’d be very good on one.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘I’ve never been on a scooter before.’

  Noah’s brows disappeared into his hat. ‘You’re kidding, right?’

  Lily turned the colour of her wellies. ‘No.’

  ‘Come on, there’s a ramp over there—I can show you some moves. Don’t worry, I won’t make you do it too, not unless you want to... I can help you, if you like?’

  ‘Go easy, Noah, love.’ Samantha rested her hand on her son’s shoulder. ‘Lily’s only just met you.’

  Noah shrugged, his grin wide and widening further when Lily smiled at him.

  ‘I’d like that.’

  ‘Cool!’

  ‘So long as you have the time, Sam?’ Sophia asked her friend, half wishing Sam had some place else to be, because this felt too real, as if Jack could really belong in her world if she let him in.

  ‘Sure we do. Dan’s had to pop into the office, a last-minute hiccup with a high profile project; you know that kind of thing.’ She rolled her eyes dramatically. ‘Best he gets it sorted and then we can at least enjoy tomorrow in peace.’

  ‘Great—thanks, Mum. Come on, Lil!’

  Noah started scooting away and Lily looked to her father and then to Sophia. She was nervous, unsure of herself, and Sophia’s heart ached for her.

  ‘Noah’s good fun, Lily, you’ll see,’ she encouraged her softly. ‘Go on, we’re coming too.’

  The little girl started off in his direction, glancing back over her shoulder twice just to be sure they followed and then she was fully focused on Noah as he whooped his way around the ramps, her shyness gradually falling away as he called out to her and involved her.

  It was strange to see Lily stripped of her confidence. She glanced at Jack as they followed them across the park and though he watched his daughter there was no indication he thought anything amiss...unless she recalled the grimace he’d given when the birthday party had been mentioned.

  Sophia would hazard a guess that the answer to the birthday party question was a no. No party. No celebration with kids of her own age. And though she knew he meant well, would he see that Lily was actually missing out on things that were considered a normal part of growing up?

  A real childhood, with playdates, friends, fun and laughter.

  She didn’t doubt how happy Lily was with her father, but she couldn’t ignore the fact that the little girl was missing out on playing with children her own age. Her shyness with Noah a sad result of it.

  ‘So how long are you staying for then, Jack?’

  Sophia pulled herself out of her thoughts at Samantha’s conversation starter. She needed to keep her wits about her. She wouldn’t put it past her friend to say something completely inappropriate that would have Jack wishing for the ground to open up and swallow him whole. Or, worse, running in the opposite direction and taking his dear, sweet Lily with him.

  It was an outcome she should perhaps be grateful for, but it wasn’t gratitude that made her chest ache at the idea.

  * * *

  The Italian Jack had chosen for dinner that evening was bustling, but his request to add two to the reservation had only resulted in a twenty-minute delay and the kids had decided the extra time would be perfect for sampling milkshakes at the bar.

  Even now they were thick as thieves, laughing about something as they sucked on their straws, barely coming up for air. Quite a change from the Lily who had hidden behind his legs at the park...

  ‘This really is very kind of you both, letting us gatecrash like this,’ Samantha was saying. ‘I think Noah had resigned himself to a day with just me and him.’

  ‘Nothing wrong with that,’ Sophia told her. ‘Mother-and-son time is awesome too.’

  Samantha twirled her straw in the mojito she’d opted for, her face losing some of its exuberance. ‘I’m not so sure. Not when it’s becoming routine that Dan has to work Saturday and miss out on his footie practice.’ She gave a little sigh but then smiled. ‘Still, he’s promised to make up for it tomorrow and that’s better than not at all.’

  ‘Well, his loss is our gain,’ Sophia said, gently shoulder barging her friend. ‘And in the meantime you get to enjoy our scintillating company and pizza.’

  ‘That’s true.’ Samantha gave her a grin and looked back to the two kids who sat opposite each other, leaning forward so that their heads were practically glued together as they talked. ‘I think Noah’s certainly found a firm friend there; just a shame you’re not stopping longer, Jack.’

  He felt that same weird tightness in his chest, a sense that the sand was flowing too quickly through the hourglass, but he masked it all with a smile. ‘We’ll be back in London at some point... We’ll have to keep in touch.’

  He looked to Sophia. Would they keep in touch too? And what did he really hope to achieve by doing that?

  ‘Mum!’ Noah suddenly turned to them. ‘Can Lily come to my party on Saturday?’

  Samantha looked to Jack. ‘She’s more than welcome. He’s just having a few friends over to play some party games and eat far too many E numbers to count.’

  ‘She’s not lying about the E numbers,’ Sophia warned him. ‘Choose wisely.’

  He laughed as Lily pleaded, ‘Please, Daddy!’

  ‘Okay, okay, I don’t see why not.’

  Sophia and Samantha both smiled at him.

  ‘What can I say—she has me wrapped around her little finger.’

  ‘Nothing wrong with that, Jack,’ Samantha said, nodding her approval.

  ‘No, nothing at all.’ Sophia’s voice had a softness to it, kind of wistful. He caught her eye and she quickly shifted her attention to Samantha and party preparations, food and things that Jack really knew little about.

  He was a good father now. He knew he was—he put Lily first in everything. But party planning, kids’ get-togethers, games...there he was lacking.

  And did that mean Lily was too?

  He spent the rest of the meal listening to both sides of the table, mentally taking notes and accepting that perhaps it was time for a change. He just had no idea where to start.

  He was still pondering it long after they’d taken Sam and Noah home, Sophia heading back to the hotel with them, thanks to a pleading Lily who wanted a bedtime story. Not from him, but from her.

  The alarm bells were starting to ring in earnest. How long could they keep up the association before Lily became attached? And if she did become attached, what did that mean for the future?

  He approached Lily’s door, his bare feet quiet on the marble floor, and listened. He could hear Sophia’s soft, dulcet tones as she read from Lily’s latest book, felt the soothing effect of her voice over himself too and he no longer questioned his daughter’s choice. Given the option, he’d opt for Sophia to read to him too.

  He reached the gap in the door and stilled; his heart caught in his chest. Sophia was in his place, fulfilling the role he had done almost every night for the last three years. She was lying on Lily’s bed, her arm hooked around Lily, Baby Bear tucked between them as she read.

  He dropped back a little, wanting to remain inconspicuous, wanting nothing to disturb the perfect scene before him. He could see Lily was drifting off, her eyes slowly closing before snapping wide again. She was doing her best to stay awake, but tiredness was winning out. And Sophia was doting on her. Every now and then she’d nuzzle into Lily and place a kiss to her brow, stroke her hair or brush it from her eyes. They looked so perfect together, so...normal.

  He told himself it was because he wasn’t used to it. That it had been so long since he’d witnessed anyone else in this role.

  He told himself it had nothing to do with his feelings towards Sophia.

  He also told himself he was a liar.

&nb
sp; He settled against the doorframe and just watched, a slight smile lifting his lips as he let the vision work its magic over him. He couldn’t deny that a part of him wished this was the norm. That Lily had a mother and he had a wife, and all was merry and bright.

  Only he knew the truth of it. Life wasn’t like that. It wasn’t all roses and happily ever afters.

  He worked hard to be able to provide for his daughter; he worked hard to ensure that money was never an obstacle, but he couldn’t control life outside of that.

  And he couldn’t control his heart either. He wasn’t capable of loving another like they deserved to be loved. He could love Lily, he could be there for Lily, but over and above that...no.

  He’d tried once with Elena and failed.

  He’d witnessed too many failed marriages before that too, lived with too many messed-up kids who were the unlucky result of such marriages and he had no interest in exposing Lily to that kind of life. It was safer just the two of them; there was less that could go wrong, fewer variables at play.

  And now you sound like you’re talking about a business deal...

  But then he had a head for business. He’d promised Elena, sworn on her dead body, that he would do everything to make amends for what he’d done. That he would keep Lily safe, he would love her and cherish her, and be there for her. He had no room in his life for more, for someone as beautiful and enchanting as the woman now cuddling his sleeping child in her arms.

  A weight settled in his gut as he pushed himself off the doorframe and made his presence known, realising as Sophia caught his eye that, regardless of his promise and all that he had sworn to live by, a small part of him wished things could be different.

  It was the same part that wasn’t ready to let Sophia out of their lives just yet.

  ‘Hi,’ he whispered.

  ‘Has she gone?’

  He nodded, his smile filled with the warmth persisting in spite of his mental turmoil. ‘I’ll help you.’

  He crossed the room and leaned over the bed, lifting Lily’s heavy head from Sophia’s arm so that she could slip out. He laid his daughter back down and Sophia pulled the quilt higher up her body, tucking it beneath her chin. He leaned in to kiss his daughter’s head and ended up being head to head with Sophia as she’d gone to do the same. Their eyes collided and in that one look he saw so much, felt so much deep inside.