Despite the assurances he’d just given himself, the sense of foreboding was back, chewing at his gut. He pulled the door shut behind himself.
‘Excuse me,’ Bea apologised, stifling the fifth yawn in as many minutes.
Ellen’s expression was sympathetic. ‘The baby kept you awake last night?’
Heat suffused Bea’s cheeks as she smiled awkwardly, looking away, infinitely preferring not to think about all the ways in which she’d been kept awake. Not by a baby, but by the sinfully sexy Ares Lykaios instead.
‘Xanthia says you have a heap of experience with children.’
‘I have lots of younger brothers and sisters,’ the girl agreed, her round face dimpling as she smiled affectionately. ‘And I have been hired as a babysitter since I was about nine years old,’ she added.
‘How old are you now?’ Bea prompted.
‘Twenty-one. I know I look younger,’ Ellen laughed.
‘Yes, you do,’ Bea agreed, gesturing for Ellen to walk on ahead, into the lounge. Danica was set up in a playpen, lying on her tummy with a soft baby’s ball in the palm of her hand.
Ellen made a little squealing sound of delight. ‘Oh, she’s so beautiful. May I pick her up?’
‘Please,’ Bea encouraged, interested to see how well Ellen handled Danica. The surge of protective instincts firing through Bea surprised her. As with the first night she’d held Danica, it was an almost maternal humming in her blood, a feeling that there was an invisible cord connecting the two of them, that she would fight to protect with her life.
Ellen spoke in Greek to the little girl, something that was wholly appropriate but which felt like a knife being plunged into Bea’s heart. She felt excluded and unwanted. Old feelings spread through her; she turned away.
It took a moment for Bea to get her own emotions under control, and to remind herself that she had a life and a real job back in London. Despite the fact that Amy had been reassuring in an email—they had an excellent team of staff who would be able to continue to work to the high standards required by the London Connection’s clients while Amy, Clare and Bea were away—she still knew she needed to get back at the end of the month. There was no guarantee Matthaios would be out of rehab by then, despite what Ares hoped. If Bea could leave Danica with someone like Ellen then she’d have the peace of mind of knowing Danica was being not just looked after—but loved.
‘How often can you work?’
‘Every day.’ Ellen smiled sweetly, rocking Danica on her hip. ‘I’m between jobs at the moment, so the timing is perfect.’
‘Yes.’ Bea’s voice caught in her throat. She coughed to cover it. ‘I really need help through the day, so that I can get some work done.’
‘You’re a lawyer?’ Ellen said curiously.
Bea nodded. ‘Not the kind that goes to court though. I think it sounds more exciting than it is.’
Danica made a little noise then, and one chubby arm extended, reaching for Bea. Her heart turned over in her chest, the sense of being wanted and needed by Danica making her ache.
For a moment, Bea resisted. The longing to feel wanted was always followed by the knowledge that she wasn’t—and that would happen here too. While Danica seemed dependent on Bea now, she knew that when she left Porto Heli the baby would have Ellen and Ares, and then Matthaios. Her life would continue without Bea, whereas she would always think of—and miss—the little baby who had so quickly worked her way into Bea’s heart.
She wanted to resist out of a need for self-preservation, but those damned maternal instincts had her crossing the room and taking the baby from Ellen’s arms. Danica put her little head on Bea’s shoulder.
‘Why don’t I give you a tour of the house?’
An hour later, all the terms had been agreed. Ellen was going to spend several hours a day with Danica, and more if needed. She was helpful, flexible and had a kind nature. Bea told herself she was glad, even when she knew that with the admission of Ellen into the household staff, Ares’s need for Bea lessened dramatically. It was a very good thing, then, that she was keeping a level head and not allowing their insane sexual chemistry to make her want more than was on offer.