The Millionaire's Redemption (5 page)

She didn’t dally as it wasn’t fair to hold him up. She dried herself and pulled on her jeans and a pale pink T-shirt with a rose embroidered on the front. Running a brush through her hair to get the tangles out of it, she wished there was time to use the hair dryer. She grimaced at her appearance as she applied pink lipstick and eye shadow. She appeared presentable, but only just.

When she returned to the bedroom, he sat at the dressing table tapping away on his laptop. Lilly stood up holding on to his knee.

“Mumma.” She gave a toothy, dribbling grin.

“Were you good for Justin?” She picked up Lilly and swung her around a couple of times.

“She was all right, weren’t you, missie?” After saving his work, he exited the screen.

“Thanks. I feel like a new woman.” She smiled at him. Had she heard him catch his breath? Of course not, her imagination must be in overdrive.

“You didn’t take long.” He snapped the lid down on the laptop and stood up.

The silicone-enhanced beauties orbiting around his airspace would take hours perfecting their appearance. Spend a fortune on it as well.

She strapped the baby into the stroller. “We’re ready.”

“Good, I’m hungry. What would you like
-
-
Asian or English food?”

“Sausages, eggs, bacon and tomato if it is possible to find such a thing, but you choose.” She laughed, feeling light hearted for the first time since Robbie died.

It wasn’t being disloyal to his memory to have lunch with another man or to enjoy masculine company, surely? Robbie, a generous kind-hearted person in life, wouldn’t begrudge her finding any scraps of happiness she could now that he was dead.

“It’s just lunch. He wouldn’t mind,” Justin said, and Holly felt the dreaded hot flush come to her cheeks once more.

“Was I that transparent?”

“You have expressive eyes. They’re the mirror of your soul.”

“Is that all?” She smiled. “I thought you were a mind reader.”

“I wish.” He gave a deep-throated chuckle.

They went upstairs to a small French restaurant, not much more than a café really. It contained bamboo tables and chairs. Huge potted ferns graced the room. There were numerous people here with children, probably why Justin chose it. The five star restaurant downstairs would be more his style.

“They don’t have sausages,” he said, glancing down the menu that was written in French.”

“I don’t want snails or frogs legs, but anything else that’s not too exotic will do.”

He grinned. “Their specialty is omelets. Tomato, cheese, spring onion and ham or…”

“An omelet sounds good. I’m not adventuresome when it comes to food, I’m afraid. Robbie would try anything, but I always stuck to the tried and true. You don’t get disappointed then.”

“Is that the way you lead your life?” He touched her hand. “Not taking chances?”

“Yes. When you don’t have much, you can’t afford to lose what you have got.”

“I’m the opposite, a risk junky when it comes to business. Shall I order anything for Lilly?”

“No, she can nibble at some of mine. I’ll feed her once we get back to the hotel room.”

A waiter brought over a bottle of water and placed it on the table. Without speaking, he waited for Justin to order. “I’m having a seafood omelet. Strawberry crepes for dessert?” He cocked an eyebrow.

“Yes, sounds great.”

“We’ll have coffee too. Thanks.”

“I’ll never forget how kind you’ve been to us.” Holly touched his hand. “You’ve restored my faith in humanity.”

He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. “What are you going to do when you get back home?”

“Find somewhere to live then get a job.” She lifted the glass and took a sip of the cool water

“What do you do? I mean, what work skills do you have?”

“I’m an audio-typist. Well, I used to be before I married
Robbie
. I typed out medical reports. I suppose my speeds have dropped, but I used to be fast, I’ve got excellent references.”

“Have you heard of Glen Fern Private hospital?” he asked.

“Hasn’t everyone in
Melbourne
? It’s one of the most prestigious hospitals in the country.”

He nodded in agreement. “My company owns it.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’ll give your name to their recruitment department. If you want a job, they’ll find you something.”

A warm feeling swept over her, a heart felt gratitude because he cared. He genuinely wanted to help. “Thank you. I won’t let you down. I promise.” Should she tell him that she once worked for one of his subsidiary companies?

“Ah, here’s our food.”

The chance was lost, but she could mention it later.

The omelet looked delicious, soft, fluffy and a deep golden yellow. She ate with enjoyment, feeding Lilly a few pieces off her fork. “Mm, this is good.”

“Not bad,” he agreed.

If the omelets tasted good, the crepes were to die for. They were so light they almost floated off her spoon. The strawberry sauce quite the nicest she had ever tasted.

“You’re spoiling me,” she enthused, and he laughed.

Dear God, she was so refreshing, so lovely and naïve, he had trouble believing it. She belonged to a long dead era when woman were decent and trustworthy.

Holly Kirwan spelt danger with a capital ‘D’. She represented something he wanted no part of. He didn’t want a woman in his life that needed to be nurtured and looked after, especially one with a baby. He didn’t have the time or inclination to be bothered. He only wanted hot, commitment-free sex when he felt in the mood. Better for both of them if he stuck to selfish, brittle sophisticates who knew the score.

“I really enjoyed this. Thank you.” Holly wondered why he suddenly looked morose and brooding. Whatever his thoughts, they were unpleasant.

Did he regret asking them to dine with him? Perhaps embarrassed because Lilly squashed tidbits of omelet in her hand before eating them?

“Have you finished?” he asked abruptly, picking up the bill.

“Look.”  She twisted a strand of hair anxiously around her finger. “I’m sorry about Lilly’s eating habits. They are rather disgusting, but she’s only a baby.”

“What!” He gave her puzzled scowl.

“The baby’s eating habits
-
-
”

“Let’s get out of here.” He strode over to the counter, leaving her to follow in his wake, struggling to maneuver the stroller between the tables and chairs. With barely concealed impatience, he waited outside for them. What had they done to aggravate him? If it wasn’t Lilly’s messy eating, then what?

“Do you want me to pay my share of the meal?”

“No,” he barked.

She jumped nervously “Why have you gone cold on us?”

“Sorry.” He thrust his fingers through his hair and took a couple of deep steadying breaths. “I can be a moody bastard sometimes.”

He didn’t speak as they made their way past the duty free shops crammed with colorful, expensive merchandise. The scent of French perfume wafted on the air, heady as wine.

They caught the elevator up to the second floor. With an economy of movement, he opened the door with the magnetic key card. He stepped back so she could enter first, studiously avoiding any physical contact with her whatsoever. She didn’t know how to heal the rift opening up like a chasm between them.

“Do what you have to for the baby. I’ve got a couple of calls to make then I want to try and get some sleep.” He pulled out his mobile phone, and she knew she had been dismissed.

She lugged the pink bag and Lilly into the bathroom. Why Justin’s anger should upset her was a mystery. But why he was angry was an even greater mystery.

Laying a towel on the floor, she undressed Lilly. Good thing she was going to give her a bath as she had dirtied her nappy.

“You’re a little stinky bum,” she crooned, cleaning up the mess.

She washed the hand basin out to make sure it was clean then wiped it over with the antiseptic impregnated cloth she always carried as double insurance against germs. Filling up the basin with warm water, she sat Lilly in it.

The baby loved her bath. She shrieked and kicked, splashing water everywhere. It was a good fifteen minutes before they were ready to venture out to the bedroom once more. Hopefully he would be asleep, although with Lilly’s racket it would be hard for him.

He lay on his back under the sheet, his head resting on one arm, the other arm hanging over the side of the bed. In repose, he looked peaceful. The harsh lines previously so clearly evident around his mouth were gone. She hadn’t noticed it before, but he had thick dark eyelashes. She shouldn’t be noticing it now, either.

Stripping off her jeans, she climbed into bed and gave Lilly her breast. Hopefully, she would fall asleep sucking as she often did. A few hours rest in a nice air-conditioned room would be a lifesaver for both of them.

***

Something woke Holly up. Her first thought was for Lilly, but the baby slept soundly. It was Justin moving around.

Her bra was still undone, her T-shirt rolled up exposing her breasts. She tidied herself before sitting up.

“Sorry if I woke you,” he apologized.

“Is it time to go?” She swung her legs out of bed.

“Your flight isn’t leaving for another ten hours. There’s been a delay.”

“Oh?”

His laptop was in its carry bag, his briefcase and coat rested on the dressing table, and he was fully clothed. He wasn’t wearing the cashmere jumper now but a beige short- sleeved polo shirt.

“You’re leaving?”

“Yes, I’m needed in
Sydney
urgently, so I changed flights.”

Holly jumped up, forgetting that she wore only a bra, T-shirt and lacy V-string briefs.

“Don’t worry. I’ve paid for the room and asked them to give you a wake-up call.”

“You were going to sneak away without saying goodbye?” She couldn’t understand why she felt so hurt.

“I would have left a note. Goodbye, Holly. Good luck.” He turned away to pick up his things.

“Wait.” She hurtled across the room. “Thank you for being so kind.” She leaned over to kiss his cheek. Somehow, she miscalculated and caught him on the mouth.

He exhaled a noisy breath. He stiffened momentarily before clamping his arms around her, slamming her against his hard, gym toned body.

“I’ve wanted to do this for hours.” He took her lips and they were just as soft and sweet as he dreamed they would be. He deepened the kiss. Instead of pushing him away as he thought she might, she opened her mouth to give his tongue deeper access, letting him taste at will. And taste her he did. Thoroughly. Deeply.

His impatient tongue explored her mouth now, savoring it, drawing out all its purity but still wanting more. His head told him this was madness, his libido said otherwise. He smelled her special woman’s scent. He was intoxicated with it, intoxicated with her.

Sliding his hand up under her T-shirt, he worked on her front opening bra with frantic, desperate fingers. If he couldn’t suckle the tight rosy bud like Lilly did, he feared he might die.

“Mumma.”

“Hell.” Dumping her on the bed, he turned away and muttered. “A man must have bloody rocks in his head.”

Holly wanted to say something but didn’t know what. She felt too shaken up by her heated response to him. What would have happened if Lilly hadn’t woken up? Robbie was barely cold in his grave, and she was betraying him with another man. Maybe she
was
a trollop like April Kirwan said.

He snatched up his things. “Goodbye. I hope everything works out for you.”

The door opened, then shut with a loud click and she was left alone with Lilly. What must he think of her behavior? She was promiscuous? Trying to trap him into something? He couldn’t know Robbie had spent most of his time away from them before he died. In all the weeks they lived in
England
they had never spent longer than a few hours together at a time because of the specialist training he undertook.

It wasn’t an excuse. She picked up Lilly and cuddled her close. She should be ashamed of herself, betraying Robbie’s memory and forgetting what they had shared by falling into the arms of the first man who came along and showed her a little kindness.

After she made the first move did he decide that he wanted to be repaid with sex? She couldn’t believe he would be so despicable. The most logical explanation was that, like her, he lost his head. They had been sharing a room together. Both were jet lagged. Who was she trying to kid?  It was lust, pure and simple. The age-old urge to mate.

His girlfriend had dumped him. Her husband had been tragically killed, but that didn’t make it right for them to kiss so passionately. She felt ashamed of her wanton behavior. She could have stopped it. Justin wasn’t the kind of man who forced himself on a woman. His wealth and rugged good looks had proven to be a powerful magnet, and like all the other women who flocked around him, she hadn’t been strong enough to defy its pull
.