Her tone softened. “Because you knew you were wrong, but you needed someone to say it.”
He half laughed in self-depreciation. “She’s going to think I’m crazy when I knock on the door now.”
“Do you remember that time Dominic sent you into the Republic of Dabron to talk them into honoring their contract even as their government was under attack by rebel leaders? I asked you if you were afraid-”
This was not the time to reminisce. “I don’t see what that has to do with this situation.”
Marie corrected him gently. “You said, ‘Fear is the first guest you should un-invite to any party.’”
“I’m not-” he stopped mid-denial.
He could handle rebel leaders. He could talk his way around irate dictators. For the right incentive, he could even negotiate a lucrative truce between two governments that were out to destroy each other. There was something invigorating about bringing order and calm to where there had been none.
Lil was different.
She scared him because around her
“Dominic sent me to make sure she was safe, Marie.”
With a wry tone of humor, Marie responded, “Painful as the revelation is, Jake, you’re not perfect. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t fix this situation, though. Lil just had a new life dumped on her. Imagine how lost she must feel.”
“I already feel badly about how I behaved.”
“So, what are you going to do about it?”
Before the question was even completed in his mind, an idea came to him.
He hung up, turned around and headed back into the building.
He knew exactly how to make this right.
Chapter Seven
Lil heard the knock on the door and wondered if such a place had room service. Maybe some of her things had arrived? She secured her jacket over her now button-free shirt. A quick look in the hallway mirror confirmed her fear that her hair was tumbling down out of its bun and her face was still flushed from sex.
She opened the door and almost slammed it shut. It was Jake, jacket flung over one shoulder, looking a bit more disheveled than she remembered from just a short while ago.
“May I come in?” he asked politely as if they hadn’t recently engaged in wild, animalistic table sex.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” she said, holding the door firmly in one hand to block his entry.
“We need to talk,” he said bluntly.
“I think we said everything that needed to be said.” She went to close the door, but he moved one foot forward and blocked it from fully closing.
“I didn’t.”
“Don’t make this ugly, Jake.”
He gave her that bland look that she was learning meant that regardless of what she said he was going to wait out the situation and then do as he pleased.
With a sigh of resignation, she swung the door open. How much worse could today get? “Oh, come on in.”
Barefoot, she led the way to the living room and sat on one of the oversized chairs; he sat on the couch across from her. The silence was heavy and prolonged.
He cleared his throat. “So you have everything you need for Colby?”
“Yes,” Lil said slowly.
“And the pantry is properly stocked?”
Lil shook her head in confusion. What was he doing? She defaulted to sarcasm. “I have no idea. I haven’t gotten much farther than the couch.”
His face reddened ever so slightly, but he didn’t counter. Instead, he stood and crossed to the refrigerator and then the cabinets, opening and closing each. “Your books will arrive in twenty minutes along with some clothes, but the rest of your things will be delivered tomorrow so you won’t be disturbed tonight.”
“Thank you?” The stilted and superficial conversation between them felt a bit surreal. Where was the man who had torn her shirt off with one lustful move?
He returned to the living room area, looking unsure if he wanted to sit down or pace the room. “Your car is still valet parked in the garage. You’ll have a choice tomorrow morning of taking it or calling for a driver. I left the number with the front desk. They know to have a car seat for you.”
“It wasn’t necessary…”
“It’s what I came here for.”
Lil stood and took a step toward the door.
Instead of responding to her jab, he said, “So, you have an exam tomorrow morning?”
“Yes,” she replied, wondering where this conversation was going.
“I contacted the nanny you’ve used before. She should be here in an hour. That should allow you to study tonight.” Wow, Jake thought of everything. Too bad leaving so she could start pretending today had never happened had not yet occurred to him.
She had to admit that getting her a babysitter for the night was thoughtful. Not that she wanted to see him as anything but an arrogant, controlling ass, but having someone there that night would help her.
“She did, but she was willing to leave it. The service found a replacement for her.”
“Just like that?” Did anyone say no to Jake?
“Everyone has a price.”
She put her hands on her hips. “I don’t and I’m not comfortable with a nanny who can be bought, either.”
His eyebrows rose in recognition of her point. “I’ll cancel her and have the service send someone else.” He took out his phone.
Lil shook her head and reached out to stop him, pulling back just before she touched him. “No, I’ll see who I can find. I might have to drop Colby off, but I have friends who will help me on short notice.”
“I’ll watch her.”
One of his eyebrows rose as if to say that she had heard him perfectly well and he didn’t appreciate repeating himself. “I’m already here; it makes sense for me to do it-unless you’re not comfortable with me watching her either.”
“You’re serious.”
“I don’t joke much.”
He couldn’t seriously be offering to watch her daughter while she studied, could he? He was a billionaire, a man in charge of countless companies. He didn’t get to where he was by hanging around. Was he hoping she’d sleep with him again? If so, he was sure going about it in an odd way.
“Colby is going to wake up hungry,” she said, testing his offer.
“I’m sure you can direct me to the necessary supplies.”
“And wet.” When he said nothing, she added, “You might have to change her diaper.”
