He shook his head and the truth hit him, knocking him off his emotional feet. He didn’t know how to be a dad, how to protect his heart, but he was not going to give up his sons, for any reason. Yes, he was terrified he’d make the same mistakes as his father, but he couldn’t get anywhere if he didn’ttry. Winning the fight was impossible if you didn’t step into the ring.
It was that simple. And that convoluted.
‘Let’s get something straight, Thadie. They are my sons, and theywillknow that I am their father. Maybe not right now, but some time soon. Start wrapping your head around that.’ He bent his head to kiss her temple, inhaling her scent again. ‘I’ll call you in the morning, early, for details about when we depart and from where. But get some sleep, you look shattered.’
‘I am,’ she agreed, sounding cross. ‘And your unannounced arrival didn’t help.’
‘We’ll sort it out,’ he said, not knowing whether he was trying to reassure her or himself. ‘We’re smart people, we can find a way to be friends, lovers and raise our kids without any drama. I don’t do drama.’ Not giving her a chance to reply, he stepped onto the path and walked towards his car, moving swiftly.
He was half inside his car when she twigged. ‘We’re not going to be lovers, Docherty!’
Oh, yes, they were. That was the only thing he was sure of. He glanced back to see her standing in the doorway, the light behind her highlighting her many curves. Gorgeous. ‘Want to bet?’ he asked, before sliding into his car and shutting the door.
She’d lose money if she did.
CHAPTER FIVE
THADIETIPPEDHERface up to the hot sun and released a long breath, thankful to be in the powerful speedboat on their way to the island. They’d spent the morning travelling—flying with the twins on her brothers’ private plane was so much easier than flying commercial—and they would arrive at Petit Frère in five or so minutes, in time for a late afternoon swim and to watch what would be a stunning sunset.
Thadie opened her eyes to check on the boys, decked out in their small life vests, sitting between Jabu and Micah, bouncing with excitement.
Her eyes—hidden by the lenses of her very dark sunglasses—skipped over her family and fell on Angus, his nut-brown hair blowing in the wind. The wind plastered his white button-down shirt against his wide chest, reminding her of his chest and stomach muscles. Beneath his rolled-up-to-his-elbows sleeves, his forearms were tanned, the hair on his arms bleached by the sun. His easy-to-wear shorts ended above his knees and his legs were tanned too.
Could she be blamed for her insane attraction to him? The man was incredibly, deliciously hot.
Enough of that, Thadie, pull yourself together!
It had been another strange day, starting with sending her brothers a message telling them Angus would join them, explaining that he was accompanying her to Seychelles as her friend, and as extra protection in case the press followed them to the island. But, thankfully and for the first time ever, they kept their comments to themselves, shook his hand andwelcomed him on board their private jet. The twins bumped the fist he held out and Finn even gave him a shy smile.
She couldn’t tell her family, not yet, that Angus was the twins’ father. For all she knew, they might’ve guessed. But she was still wrapping her head around the idea of him meeting Gus and Finn, being in her life, and wasn’t ready to discuss anything with anybody. And she had no idea how to answer the questions she knew they’d ask: would he see the boys? Would they take his name? Pay maintenance? What role would he play in their lives?
She didn’t know and until she did she’d keep everything under wraps. Until she was ready to explain, Angus was a friend she’d recently rediscovered.
Angus leaned forward so that his words wouldn’t fly away with the wind. ‘Can you orientate me?’
Thadie looked around, easily identifying verdant islands popping up from the flat blue sea. Her father had negotiated a lease from the Seychelles government the year she turned eighteen, and she’d been visiting Petit Frère for twelve years. In the beginning, there were just a couple of houses but when her brothers inherited his business, they developed the island into a super-elite, exclusive resort that guaranteed luxury.
‘We’re north-east of La Digue, and north-north-west of Felicite Island. The island is south-west of Petite Soeur,’ Thadie explained. The speedboat did a long turn and Thadie knew they were close to Petit Frère. Two minutes later, they entered the bay and Thadie pointed to the beach. ‘There’s the pier.’
The boat slowed to an idle and approached the long pier. A wooden pathway started at the bottom of the pier stairs, crossed the white sand beach and zigzagged up a hill. It ended, as Thadie knew, at the entertainment area, with its huge pool, sprawling lounge, bar and open-air kitchen. Micah hopped off the boat to tie it down and the twins bounded to their feet. As her family stepped off the speedboat, Angus joined her and, withoutasking, helped Finn to unclip his life vest, and she bent down to help Gus. He looked at the clear water and back at the twins.
‘Can they swim?’ he asked, worried.
Thadie nodded, pleased he was thinking about their safety. ‘Like fish,’ she replied. Then she shrugged. ‘But, obviously, they aren’t allowed to go near water without an adult.’
The twins dumped their life vests and scrambled off the boat. After Angus picked up the vests and handed them to the skipper, who took them down below, he turned to Thadie and captured her hand, giving it a quick squeeze. ‘Are you okay?’
She thought about giving him a breezy answer but shrugged instead. ‘I didn’t sleep much last night. It’s been a stressful few days.’
In the space of four days, she’d been dumped, caused a scene in front of the press, been mobbed and been reunited with her never-forgotten lover and her son’s father. It was a lot to cope with and maybe that was why she responded to Angus the way she did. Her world had been rocked, she’d felt battered and bruised and his kisses made her forget her name.
And everything else.
He pushed his hand through his hair, remorse on his face. ‘You might not believe me, but I never intended to place more stress on you. I just want to spend some time with my sons and find a way to move forward that works for all of us.’
He placed his back to the pier, creating a solid barrier between her and her family, keeping his voice low so that only she could hear his words. Unfortunately, when he lowered his voice like that, it turned deeper and sexier, like rich velvet sliding over her skin. His fresh cologne took on a hint of sea and Thadie pushed her knees together when she felt that low, warm hum between her legs.
She turned away and looked out to sea.