Feeling sick with guilt, she was conscious of the empty playpen behind her and the ticking clock on the wall. Protecting her son’s future—and her own part in it—was paramount.
‘It’s been a while...’ She forced her parched lips into a smile so he wouldn’t suspect anything. As far as he knew, she still thought he was ‘Ramon.’ ‘How may I help? Did you want to buy something?’
He didn’t take his intense gaze off her. ‘No.’
To her horror he was more stunning than she remembered, with the sort of superhuman good looks that everyone normal couldn’t help but stare at. But as she watched him move closer, she realised he’d become sharper. There was a slight shadow beneath his eyes and stubble on his jaw and an edginess about him that was new. Perhaps it was the stress of his business? Were all those wolfish property takeovers designed to amass his personal fortune wearing him out?
The intensity of his gaze strengthened. He’d looked at her this way when he’d seduced her that night—powerfully mesmerising. Yes, there was still that tiny part positively revelling in being in his presence again. Desperately she dragged that wild piece within her back beneath her control. She couldn’t let him seduce her again. She couldn’t let herself or Luke down like that.
‘It’s been far too long, Emerald,’ he said softly. ‘Why don’t you shut up the shop early?’ But his tempting smile didn’t quite meet his too attentive eyes. ‘Come for a drive with me so we can catch up properly.’
‘What?’ She froze, shocked by the invitation. Panic tightened her throat. ‘I—I can’t leave.’
‘No? I thought you were a woman of freedom and spontaneity.’
Cold sweat slicked her skin. ‘I have work.’ And she had Luke. The baby she’d not told him about.
Bile burned the back of her throat, because she was going to have to tell him and she should have already. As soon as she’d discovered his actual identity she should have reached out—there’d been no barrier to finding him then. She was, after all, the one determined to live a life of integrity and not follow the path of lies and deceit of her own family. But she’d been too scared of his reaction. Not just to the news he’d had a son, but how he’d react to her. She’d been burned before, when people had learned the truth about her background, and she’d been too hurt by his needless lie. Why had he needed to fake who he was?
‘I never expected to see you here,’ he muttered watchfully. ‘I imagined you travelling around the world ticking off that bucket list, but have you been in the Galapagos all this time?’
Nervously she swallowed. ‘Yes.’
‘I didn’t realise you worked on the island.’
‘It didn’t come up in our conversation.’ She looked anxiously to the door. Any minute now Connie would arrive with little Luke. ‘And I really need to get back to it...’
His smile faded as his whole expression tightened. ‘What’s the real reason you won’t come with me now, Emerald?’ he asked quietly.
‘What do you mean?’ Trepidation slithered over her skin. ‘I have work. I’m the only one here, as you can see.’
She felt physically ill at telling half-truths—but what he could do, what he could take...
And then she heard the gurgling chuckle of her beloved little boy. At the next strike of her next hammering heartbeat, Connie appeared in the doorway with Luke in her arms. Emerald’s world teetered, about to smash to smithereens and it was entirely her own fault. There was no way to get Connie to turn around, to run and hide Luke. Her only option was to try to fake it through the next few minutes and tell Javier the truth, alone, later, once she’d had a chance to draw breath. She should have come up with a plan months ago. But she’d been too busy caring for Luke. Too busy surviving.
Swallowing the nausea with a fake smile, she tried to act as if nothing horrific was currently happening. ‘Thanks, Connie,’ she whispered. ‘Can you just go upstairs for a moment? I’ll be there as soon as I can.’
Connie had stilled. Luke too was abnormally quiet, as if he’d sensed something strange in the atmosphere. The elderly woman glanced curiously at Javier. It was obvious her brain was doing the maths and in this case getting it right. But fortunately she said nothing as she walked past the counter, taking Luke with her.
‘Who was that?’ Javier asked, the second the elderly woman disappeared up the stairs.
‘My boss, Connie.’ Emmy could hardly bear to face him, but she forced herself to meet his gaze and her breathing stalled.
Javier was still scrutinising her, his expression sombre. ‘I meant the baby,’ he explained softly.
Emmy’s mind blanked and she stared at him.
‘What’s his name?’ His question was too quiet.
She couldn’t think what to answer.
‘What is his name, Emmy?’ The edge in that repeated question sliced through to her bones.
She gazed up into those achingly familiar brown eyes. She absolutely adored the owner of the smaller set, but these ones held a glint that she couldn’t define. A premonition shook her resolve. He’d be steely and unforgiving, but she couldn’t lie now. Not to his face. Not the way he had to her.
‘His name is Luke.’
‘What’s his full name?’ Javier pressed with unerring precision.