‘It is. And the bodyguards? I need your complete cooperation there too, for Nico’s safety.’
‘Absolutely. I understand,’ she said, but he could see the new struggle. She’d been doing this on her own for so long, he supposed she was finding it hard to let go of control. He tried not to gloat. ‘But would it be okay if they wore something more casual?’ she added. ‘And made an effort not to be too intimidating? Nico’s a very sociable kid when he’s well, but he’s been through a lot recently and he’s fragile. I don’t want their presence to freak him out.’
‘Of course.’ Lukas nodded, realising her show of defiance had only been because she was putting the boy’s needs first. Needs that would never even have occurred to him. ‘I will speak to my security people, tell them to employ men and women who have experience guarding children and know how to relate to them.’
‘Thank you.’ Again her gratitude seemed heartfelt. ‘Could I say something else?’ she said, her stubborn chin firming up again.
‘Go ahead.’
‘I don’t want Nico moved to a private hospital.’
He quelled his immediate instinct to shoot down her request. He must force himself to negotiate—not something he had a lot of experience with. But then, when was the last time he had been faced with a woman—or anyone really—who was prepared to refuse him?
‘The security in a public hospital isn’t strong enough,’ he said.
‘Then hire more bodyguards, or figure out a way to make it more secure...’
‘There’s no need to...’
‘This hospital is the leading centre in its field on the experimental treatment they’re advocating for Nico,’ she cut in, jumping on his slight hesitation. ‘Without these doctors and this staff, Nico wouldn’t even have this chance. Not only that, but he has friends here, among the other patients and the nurses and doctors. It may be a public hospital but it’s where Nico needs to be to get well.’
She wasn’t asking him, he realised, she was telling him, but the passion in her voice and the vibrant colour in her cheeks told him Nico’s welfare was driving her determination and he found he couldn’t bring himself to push back. He would get expert independent medical advice to ensure all she was telling him was true—but it was already clear she believed in this place. And maybe that was enough, for now.
For the first time in a long time he found himself forced to back down. ‘All right, we’ll play it your way for now. You know the boy best.’
‘Thank you,’ she said again, but the slight edge to her voice suggested she wasn’t feeling all that grateful this time. ‘And about the staff...’
‘The staff are non-negotiable.’ This was one issue he would not be backing down on, he decided as he registered the dark smudges under her eyes again.
‘But I really don’t think I need staff,’ she said. ‘I’m perfectly capable of looking after Nico and myself on my own,’ she added, the edge in her voice annoying him—almost as much as the strange pressure in his chest at the evidence of her exhaustion.
‘Well, you won’t be doing that any more. You’ll need a chauffeur, a gardener, cleaning staff and a nanny at the very least.’ She was being stubborn now. And he was not about to allow her to make herself ill because of some ludicrous sense of misplaced pride.
‘Why would I need a chauffeur?’ she said. ‘I don’t even have a car. And I don’t need a nanny either. I can look after Nico myself, especially if I won’t be able to go back to scrubbing johns,’ she said, but her rising frustration had the opposite effect on him as it occurred to him that her determination not to need him, or anything his money could provide, made her the opposite of the gold-digger he’d originally taken her for.
Why that should matter, he had no idea, but it seemed that it did.
‘You’ll need secure transportation to and from the hospital. Hence the chauffeur.’ And the three bullet-proof cars he would be supplying them with, but he didn’t see the need to mention that just yet and inflame the situation further. ‘And the nanny is simply for backup,’ he added, not quite sure why he was so determined to provide one. Maybe it was those damn dark smudges again. He didn’t like the idea of her having to struggle on alone—the way she’d struggled so much already.
His nephew’s well-being was all that mattered to him. Not hers. But, even so, he felt oddly relieved when he saw the last of the fight go out of her.
‘Okay, but I still don’t want to employ a stranger. Maybe I could ask Maureen if she’d like to move in with us?’
‘Who’s Maureen?’
‘You met her.’ She frowned, clearly unimpressed that he hadn’t remembered the woman. ‘When you arrived. She’s my next door neighbour and she’s fabulous with Nico.’
‘Is she trained?’ he asked.
‘She’s a retired nurse,’ she replied flatly, the green fire of indignation making her eyes sparkle.
So not trained in childcare then. He held back the retort as a lungful of her scent—fresh and beguiling—invaded his senses.
He nodded. ‘Okay, I’ll instruct Lisa to ensure the housekeeper’s quarters are made ready for her. And arrange a suitable salary.’ He needed to end this conversation now. He’d spent enough time sparring with this woman over unnecessary details. Details that really shouldn’t matter to him this much.
Bronte opened her mouth, as if she were going to disagree with him, but then closed it again. Tension rippled through her small frame. And he knew she felt it too, that visceral tug of yearning.
‘I should go back to the ward,’ she said, glancing at the door and tucking her hands into the back pockets of her jeans.