Page 63 of Cinderella's Fling with the Off-Limits Billionaire

“I wondered if you and Harper would join me for dinner?”

Her eyes fluttered closed.

“Or I can come to you.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to say ‘no’. Too complicated. Too much baggage. But he’d done so much for her. Surely she owed him at least a ‘thank you’. And wasn’t that better done face to face?

“Okay,” she said slowly. “We can come to you.”

“I’ll send Alec.”

She didn’t argue.

“Okay.”

“Great.” His relief was palpable. “I’ll see you tonight.”

She nodded, even when he couldn’t see her. “See you then.”

It was a little like stepping back in time. Alec collected them, drove them to the fancy apartment building, swiped them into the lift, and up they went, Harper’s little hand clutched firmly in Skye’s, Bunny in Harper’s other. The doors pinged open, and Leandro was there, an easy smile on his face that she suspected was for Harper’s benefit.

“Hello there,” he crouched down to Harper’s height. “It’s good to see you, young lady.”

Harper grinned. Skye’s heart twisted.

“Are you hungry?”

“Actually, she’s already eaten,” Skye said. “She’s still a little worn out. I was just going to read her a book then pop her in bed, if that’s okay?”

He stood, his eyes flashing to Skye’s. He moved closer, lifting a hand to her cheek, stroking it gently. “You never have to consult me when it comes to doing what is right by your daughter. She comes first, always.”

Skye’s throat thickened. She blinked away and nodded.

“Come,” he gestured to the lounge. “Have a seat.”

He poured some mineral water and a small mug of warm milk, handing it to Harper. She took a sip gratefully then placed it down on the glass table to the left, before snuggling into Skye. They read the same book twice, and Skye was aware of the way Leandro’s gaze was on her, the way he watched her as though she was doing something so much more complex and amazing than simply reading a story. Afterwards, she stood up. Harper was drowsy.

“The same room as…before?” She hesitated a little because ‘before’ now seemed like a whole lifetime ago.

“Actually, perhaps put her into the room Jane used for now.”

Skye didn’t question it, but simply carried the little girl through the apartment and placed her in bed, snuggling Bunny into her side. Harper smiled gratefully, yawned, then drifted off as Skye watched. Leandro was behind her, his eyes showing a softness that took Skye’s breath away.

“She’s so sweet,” he said, as if in complete awe.

Skye’s heart twisted. “Yes.”

Now that they were through the drama of Harper’s kidnapping, and days had elapsed between that awful night and this, Skye had begun to think a little more clearly, to examine all the circumstances before her. And she felt a strange stirring of emotions. Questions. Doubts. Uncertainties.

Hurt.

Because the night she’d called Leandro, he’d been here in New York, and he hadn’t told her. Which is what she might have said she’d wanted, once upon a time—for them to live separate lives. But knowing he’d been in the city and that she hadn’t known had felt like having acid poured over her skin. She hated it. She hated the reality she’d fought for, but what was the alternative?

They walked in silence back to the living room, and Leandro began to pull containers from the fridge. Only Skye wasn’t remotely hungry.

“Do you mind if we wait a bit. Perhaps we could just…talk?”

He flicked a glance at her. Was he nervous? Leandro?

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