But for a second Darcie could only stare after him as she struggled to compute what he’d just said. Did that mean that while she’d spent the weekend out of her mind with bliss in his arms, he’d been organising a house purchase on the side? How had he managed to do that? Because he’d have supervised all this even from the distance, no way would he have delegated it completely. Slowly she followed him. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate it, she was just stunned that he’d thought of so much while that whole time she’d barely been able to think atall. Clearly he hadn’t been as swept away as she. Andthatwas a reality check.
She drew breath as she glimpsed more of the property. ‘There’s a lawn.’
‘A place for her to play, yes.’ He unlocked the door with a security code and stood aside for her to enter. ‘I believe it’s a little sparsely furnished, it’s been empty, but we can work on that.’
Darcie couldn’t believe her eyes. The house wasfourstories high, spacious, stunning and doubtlessly eye-wateringly expensive. She walked through the two living spaces into the gorgeous open-plan kitchen and family living area.
‘It’s not a stone’s throw from a Michelin restaurant but I got them to deliver us a few meals,’ Elias drawled softly.
But Darcie was too blown away to be able to answer. The living area opened out to that lawn—a private little park already complete with a small swing and slide set. There was even a luxurious yet cosy cinema room farther down the corridor. Darcie could so easily see herself curled up on that big plush sofa watching the latest cartoon musical movies with Lily. Or snuggled next to Elias late at night...only Elias didn’t watch movies, did he?
‘You don’t like it?’
‘Likeit?’ She shook her head at him. ‘It’s incredible, Elias.’
He was incredible. She was stunned that he’d thought of all this, done all this in those few days.
His eyes narrowed on her. ‘You can redecorate anything, of course, I won’t be offended. It wasn’t as if I chose anything in here.’
‘You hired an interior designer.’
He nodded. ‘A team have been working round the clock since Thursday.’
‘And they’ve done a fantastic job. It’s beautiful, Elias.’
‘There are a couple of rooms for home offices. And a gym. An indoor pool. But the bedrooms are up here.’ He led the way. ‘I thought maybe this could be Lily’s room.’
And there was the giveaway—he must have done a virtual tour of the place, planned out what he’d wanted, consideredeverything. She stopped just inside the doorway and stared at the framed photograph on the wall. It was the one photograph she had of Zara and Lily.
‘I took a photo of the one in your wallet and a studio did a digital touch-up.’ He looked awkwardly at her. ‘I hope you don’t mind.’
‘Mind?’She blinked rapidly. Because Lily remembering Zara meant everything to Darcie and that photo was a personal touch thathe’dthought of. ‘It’s a really nice thing to do.’ Yet her nerves rose. ‘How many bedrooms are there?’
‘Seven. Even more bathrooms.’
Darcie’s mind whirred. There was more than room for Lily. There was room for a wholebunchof kids. And was her lower belly aching all of a sudden? She pressed a hand to her stomach as for the first time in her life she realised she craved a child. She yearned to give Lily a sister. A brother, too. She would love to centre Lily in a huge, whole family. Andshelonged to be part of a huge, whole family, too. Something lurched inside as for the first time such a prospect didn’t seem quite so impossible. But this was such a secret dream—something she’d always longed for but never let herself acknowledge...because itwasimpossible. Wasn’t it?
‘This is the main bedroom.’ Elias had moved up to the next level.
Darcie stood in the doorway and absorbed the stunning room. There were wide windows opening onto a balcony with a view of the trees. There was a the massive bed made up with luxurious-looking linen. On the other side of the room an open door revealed a large dressing room. A selection of his clothes already hung there and the glimpse of the bathroom made her bones melt. She knew they’d both fit in that massive bath easily.
‘I’ll send someone to get your clothes from your flat,’ he muttered.
Darcie’s heart thudded. On one level this was so very real. They were going to live together and share that big bed and all of this most gorgeoushome. The thought literally shook her. She had to turn her back. She had to walk away. She couldn’t look at him just this second because she couldn’t let him see how much this meant to her. He wouldn’t have intended for her to take this as seriously, or as emotionally, as she was. This was nothing to him. He’d whipped up in a couple of days. But for her? This was like having her most secret wish granted.
A beautiful big home in which she’d live with the ones she loved.
It was everything she’d ever wanted. But it wasn’treal—the intention was forLily. Not for her. She had to remember that she and Elias weren’t going to last. There weren’t going to be siblings for Lily and there would be no forever for them. This was just for now. One year. Maximum. That was the deal.
Darcie was so silent Elias grew increasingly concerned. He followed her back downstairs to the living areas. ‘I should have checked with you first.’
He’d stupidly thought it would be a good surprise but maybe she didn’t like this part of London. Or the size of the house. Or the fact that she’d had no say in any of this whatsoever. He should haveaskedher. Should have given her choices.
Was it that big main bedroom that had freaked her out? Did she not want to sleep with him in there? But he’d deliberately chosen a large house so there would be plenty of room for them to have their own space. She could have her own bedroom if she preferred. Because they’d not discussed the duration of their affair at all. Perhaps she wanted it to end now they were back in Britain? He didn’t know. And he hated not knowing. Hated thinking he’d somehow screwed up.
And still she didn’t say anything.
Elias gritted his teeth. Turned out hewaslike his father—controlling everything, assuming that he knew everything and doing what he thought best without consultation. He felt increasingly awful. Chilled, he strove to regain his self-control. He couldn’t let his emotion get the better of him here. He had to apologise. ‘I should have—’