Louis recalled Ivy’s comments about him not being true to himself about what he really wanted. He had been true to himself about his desire to pursue architecture. He hadn’t let anything or anyone get in the way of his hopes and dreams. But his personal life had suffered. He had fixed things with his parents but his relationship with Ivy was still a sore point. He kept revisiting it, mulling over each moment he’d spent with her, wondering if he could have done anything differently and not ended up with this infernal pain burrowing into his chest. It wasn’t indigestion. It wasn’t a heart attack...or maybe it was. Not a genuine, medical heart attack, but his heart was definitely hurting in a way it never had before.
But he would have to get over it. Work would have to go back to filling the hole Ivy had left in his life. A hole he had foolishly allowed to open.
Louis was thinking about how much he needed a coffee when his office door opened after the briefest of knocks. He looked up to see Natalie, his secretary, who was currently on maternity leave, standing there with a baby strapped to her chest in a sling carrier.
‘Hi, Louis. How come no one’s manning the desk? Where’s the temp—Maureen?’
Louis pushed his computer mouse aside and scowled. ‘She called in sick.’ He didn’t wish ill health on anyone, but he was relieved he didn’t have to deal with any more of Maureen’s questions about why he’d come home early from Paris.
Natalie’s brows rose and she came further into the room, one of her hands carefully cradling her baby’s downy head. ‘Do you want me to call for a replacement? You look busy as usual, and more than a little frazzled, to be perfectly honest.’
His scowl deepened. ‘You’re supposed to be on mat leave.’
‘And you’re supposed to congratulate me on the birth of my baby and gush over him like everyone else does.’
‘Didn’t you get the flowers and presents I sent you?’
‘Yes, they were lovely. You’re great at buying presents.’
‘Glad somebody thinks so.’ His tone was so dry, he could have offered his services as a nappy for the baby. He still had those wretched pink diamonds. He looked at them every day just to remind himself of his foolishness in agreeing to Ivy’s plan.
He moved a little closer to Natalie. She could have been carrying a bomb strapped to her chest by the way he was feeling. Babies freaked him out a bit. More than a bit. They were so tiny and needy and...and cute. Yes, heart-squeezing cute, even if he said so himself. ‘What’s his name?’
‘Thomas Charles,’ Natalie said, unclipping the carrier, taking the sleeping baby out and handing him to Louis. ‘Want to have a cuddle?’
Louis wanted to say no but didn’t want to offend her. Mothers had a thing about their babies. His mother had told him recently about her utter devastation as each of her subsequent pregnancies since his birth had failed—how she had loved and grieved for those unborn children, even though she had only been a few weeks along. Somehow, he found himself holding the baby, not as expertly as he would have liked, but the kid didn’t seem to mind. Thomas opened his tiny mouth and yawned, and one of his little starfish hands came out. Louis offered his index finger and the baby grasped it. His chest felt as if the baby had grasped onto his heart as well. ‘Oh, wow, he’s really cute. I can’t believe how tiny he is.’
‘He didn’t feel tiny when I was pushing him out.’
‘Spare me the details.’ Louis couldn’t stop staring at the baby’s tiny features and thought about how amazing it must be to see a part of yourself in the next generation. The baby broke wind loudly and Louis quickly passed him back to his mother with a grimace. ‘You’d better take him back. This suit is expensive.’
Natalie crooned over the baby as she strapped him back into the sling carrier. ‘So, how have you been, Louis? Seen any more of Ellen?’
He stared at her blankly. ‘Ellen?’
‘Stalker Ellen. Has she been hassling you any more or has she finally got the message?’
Louis raked a hand through his hair, went back behind his desk and sat in his chair with a thump. ‘Haven’t heard a peep, thank God.’ He hadn’t thought of anyone but Ivy. She filled his thoughts every hour of the day and most hours of the night.
Natalie studied him for a moment. ‘Are you all right? You don’t seem yourself at all. You look like you’ve had no sleep for a week.’
Was he all right? Not really. And, yes, he hadn’t slept for a week, and not just because of his dad’s health scare. He hadn’t been right since Ivy had left him in Paris. But then, maybe he hadn’t been right since the first time he’d kissed her. Making love with her had changed him and he couldn’t change back to who he had been before. He couldn’t slip back into his old life as a carefree, freedom-loving playboy because, damn it, holding his secretary’s adorable little baby had shown him a part of himself he had strenuously denied existed until now. He had refused to acknowledge these past few days, even though it was there in how he had come to his parents’ aid, supporting them both through a harrowing time.
He was capable of love—more than capable.
He loved Ivy.
How had he not realised until this moment? Why had he shied away from the core of who he was as a person? He adored her. Worshipped her. Missed her so badly it was destroying him day by day.
Louis sprang out of his chair and swept past Natalie. ‘Sorry, Nat. I have to go.’ He stopped at the door, came back over to her, kissed her on the cheek and dropped a kiss to the baby’s head as well. ‘Thank you for making me see what a stupid fool I’ve been.’
Natalie’s smile spread over her face and her eyes twinkled. ‘Well, look at you. If I’m not very much mistaken, I’d hazard a guess and say Mr Amazing One-Night Stand has fallen for someone and fallen hard. Am I right?’
Louis grinned. ‘You’re right.’ And then he shot out the door.
Ivy was home alone on Friday night watching a box set—story of her life—when the doorbell rang. Millie and Zoey were supposedly both working late, but she knew from Millie it was a ruse—they were doing last-minute party preparations for tomorrow night. She clicked off the TV and tossed the remote back on the sofa. She went to the front door and opened it to see Louis standing there with a huge bunch of pink roses and a box of chocolates. But, sadly, no black velvet jewellery box.
‘May I come in? I have something to say to you.’ His expression was tightly set and she mentally prepared herself for another argument. Why did he have to come here and rub it in?
She held his gaze, raising her chin a fraction. ‘I think you said everything back in Paris.’
He handed her the roses and the box of chocolates, the tension around his mouth loosening. ‘Please, Ivy, hear me out. I wish I could rerun that night and do everything differently.’
Ivy wasn’t brave enough to pin too many hopes on his coming to see her. It had been a week since she’d left him in Paris. Over a week with not a single word from him. Why should she think anything had changed? She took the roses and chocolates from him and stepped aside to let him in. ‘All right. But make it snappy because it’s my birthday party tomorrow and I—’
He frowned. ‘You know about the party?’
She blew out a breath and closed the door. ‘Millie let it slip but I’m pretending I don’t know for Zoey’s benefit. She’s gone to a lot of trouble and I don’t want to ruin it for her.’
‘I got an invitation, but I wasn’t sure if you’d want me there.’
Ivy moved further inside her flat and put the roses and chocolates on the coffee table. ‘I can’t imagine how you’d want to be there now.’
‘Ivy. Look at me.’ His tone had a note of desperation about it, his expression etched in remorse. ‘I can’t begin to tell you how much I regret how I handled things in Paris. I was a fool to let you go like that. I don’t know why it took me all this time to see what has been staring me in the face from the sta
rt. You were right when you said I wasn’t being true to myself. I wasn’t. I was living a lie, denying any feelings in case they made me vulnerable. But, over the last few days, I’ve come to understand how little I knew myself—the real me. I had stopped listening to my heart for so long, I didn’t recognise the signs that were there all along. I love you. I adore you. I can’t imagine my life without you in it—not just as a friend but as my lover, my partner. My wife.’
Ivy stared at him, speechless, for long, heart-stopping seconds. Was she hearing him correctly or was her mind and the foolish hopes it contained conjuring up the words she longed to hear from him? ‘I don’t know what to say...’
He came to her and grasped her by the shoulders, his eyes pleading. ‘Say yes, mon ange. Say you’ll marry me. Say you’ll have babies with me and build a life together.’
Ivy’s eyes filled with happy tears, joy bursting out of every cell in her body. She threw her arms around him and hugged him close. ‘Oh, Louis, you can’t imagine how wonderful it is to hear you say those words. I love you so much. I’ve been so unhappy, so desperately miserable since I left you. I’d given up hope that we could be together.’
He tilted up her face to gaze into her eyes, his face wreathed in a smile. ‘I love you to the depth of my being. I can’t bear the thought of another day without you by my side. Marry me, ma chérie? I need to hear you say yes otherwise I won’t believe you’re really mine at last.’
Ivy pressed a kiss to his lips. ‘Yes, I will marry you. I can think of nothing I’d love more than to be your wife. You’ve made me so happy I can barely stand it.’
He cradled her cheeks in his hand, his eyes so full of love it made her heart contract. ‘I love everything about you. Your goodness and kindness, your ability to always see the good in people instead of focussing on the bad. You have opened my heart like I thought it never could be opened. I feel I can cope with anything with you by my side.’
Ivy stroked his lean jaw. ‘I love everything about you too. You’re kind and generous and hard-working to a fault. You’re everything I’ve ever dreamed of in a partner. I know we’ll be happy together. I will do everything in my power to make you the happiest man on earth.’
‘You made me that by saying yes just now.’ He reached into his jacket pocket and took out the flat rectangular jewellery box she’d left behind in Paris. ‘I want you to have these. They’ll match the pink diamond I’ve purchased to go with them. I thought Millie might like to design our engagement ring.’
Ivy took the velvet box off him and peeped inside to see the pendant, earrings and beside them a loose pink diamond. ‘Oh, Louis, that’s so thoughtful of you. She’ll be tickled pink. Ha ha.’ She closed the box and put it to one side so she could return to his warm and loving embrace. Back where she belonged. ‘But what changed your mind about being with me?’
‘My dad had a heart scare a few days ago. I spent a fair bit of time sitting with my mother while he was being attended to in hospital. I came to understand the dynamic between them a little better. They don’t always show it but they truly care about each other. And something you said a while back really started to resonate with me. You said at least my father hadn’t run off with someone else but had stayed loyal to my mother. I’d always seen that he’d stayed out of fear of her trying to take her life again, but he stayed with her because he loved her and didn’t want to lose her. He’d only suggested a separation all those years ago because she was so unhappy after a miscarriage. He thought she might be better off with someone else. I’ve been looking at all the things that were wrong in their relationship instead of all the things that are right.’
‘Oh, I’m so glad you understand them both a little better. Do you think I can meet them some time? I’d really love to.’
He grinned. ‘Of course. I can’t wait to show off my beautiful fiancée.’ He pressed another kiss to her lips. ‘I don’t want a long engagement. I want to be married to you as soon as possible. And let’s not leave it too long before we start on making a baby.’
Ivy smiled up at him. ‘You really mean it? You want to have babies with me?’
He kissed her again. ‘Yes. A baby or two, and we’ll get a dog too. And I’m going to make your boss an offer on his business. I think you’d be great at running your own antiques business. Or would that be too much?’
Ivy wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, leant her head on his chest and sighed with pure joy. ‘That would be perfect.’
EPILOGUE
LOUIS DIDN’T NEED to drink champagne at Ivy’s birthday party the following night to feel tipsy. He was drunk on the sight of her dressed in a scarlet velvet dress that clung lovingly to every sweet curve of her body. She was wearing the earrings and pendant he’d given her, and her friend Millie was already working on a design for the engagement ring.
Ivy had done a brilliant job of acting surprised when she’d come into the venue where the party was being held, but ended up being completely surprised by the presence of her brother and father. Louis had taken upon himself to meet with Keith Kennedy that morning and insist he not spoil Ivy’s birthday, because Millie had let slip to him in a follow-up email that Ronan and his partner Ricky were flying all the way from Australia to attend. Fortunately, Keith had had the grace and maturity to accept he was wrong and came to the party with an apology in hand. Of course, there was more work to do on Keith’s relationship with his son, but these things took time.
Louis had his own family relationships to continue to work on. He could never thank Ivy enough for helping him to see how he’d been far too critical of his parents, viewing their relationship too negatively without seeing the positives. And there were so many positives now his focus had changed. His father had never had an affair...he had never walked out on his wife or son. His father had put all his own dreams and aspirations to one side so he could carry on his own father’s business. That was a sacrifice that took enormous courage and commitment. His mother had suffered great sadness and Louis hadn’t fully understood how it had impacted her mental health. But he was hoping the birth of grandchildren one day in the future would help his mother continue on her journey to a happier, more positive state of mind.
Ivy moved away from greeting one of the guests and came back to Louis. ‘Darling, this is the best party I’ve ever had. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier than at this very moment. I love you.’
He slipped his arms around her and planted a kiss on her lips. ‘Je t’aime, mon ange. I am happy too. More than I can say. More than I thought possible.’
And he would spend the rest of his life being thankful for his sweet, adorable Ivy.
Coming next month
CHRISTMAS IN THE KING’S BED
Caitlin Crews
“Your Majesty. Really.” Calista moistened her lip and he found himself drawn to that, too. What was the matter with him? “You can’t possibly think that we would suit for anything more than a temporary arrangement to appease my father’s worst impulses.”
“I need to marry, Lady Calista. I need to produce heirs, and quickly, to prove to my people the kingdom is at last in safe hands. There will be no divorce.” Orion smiled more than he should have, perhaps, when she looked stricken. “We are stuck. In each other’s pockets, it seems.”
She blanched at that, but he had no pity for her. Or nothing so simple as pity, anyway.
He moved toward her, taking stock of the way she lifted her head too quickly—very much as if she was beating back the urge to leap backward. To scramble away from him, as if he was some kind of predator.
The truth was, something in him roared its approval at that notion. He, who had always prided himself on how civilized he was, did not dislike the idea that here, with her, he was as much a man as any other.
Surely that had to be a good sign for their marriage.
Whether it was or wasn’t, he stopped when he reached her. Then he stood before her and
took her hand in his.
And the contact, skin on skin, floored him.
It was so…tactile.
It made him remember the images that had been dancing in his head ever since he’d brought up sex in her presence. It made him imagine it all in intricate detail.
It made him hard and needy, but better yet, it made her tremble.
Very solemnly, he took the ring—the glorious ring that in many ways was Idylla’s standard to wave proudly before the world—and slid it onto one of her slender fingers.
And because he was a gentleman and a king, did not point out that she was shaking while he did it.
“And now,” he said, in a low voice that should have been smooth, or less harshly possessive, but wasn’t, “you are truly my betrothed. The woman who will be my bride. My queen. Your name will be bound to mine for eternity.”
Continue reading
CHRISTMAS IN THE KING’S BED
Caitlin Crews
Available next month
Copyright ©2020 by Caitlin Crews
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One Night On The Virgin's Terms (Mills & Boon Modern) (Wanted: A Billionaire, Book 1) Page 15