Page 52 of Cinderella's Fling with the Off-Limits Billionaire

He held his breath.

He waited.

Something strange edged through him. Feelings he didn’t recognize. Darkness and light, a sense of contrast, a feeling of floating and sinking. He gripped the phone more tightly.

“Are you okay?”

“Si, cara. That’s what I want to talk to you about.”

He could practically hear her thinking. “I’m taking her to the playground after breakfast. Do you want to meet us there?”

It was a compromise.

She was reserved.

The night before, she’d invited him for dinner, and now she was putting some space between them. He didn’t think about why. It didn’t matter. He was starting to feel more like himself, and the Leandro of old focused on how to get what he wanted.

“Text me the address. I’ll bring coffee.”

When Leandro arrived a little while later, he had two coffees, a juice box and a paper bag stamped with the logo of a famous Manhattan bakery.

Skye’s whole body reacted to the sight of him. Her stomach fluttered and her blood rushed, her eyes stared, her lips parted, her fingers clamped together, her knees wobbled, even her toes seemed to tingle. But she stood where she was, pushing Harper on the baby swing, one Bluetooth earphone in as she listened to a podcast.

He strode with purpose towards her, but when Harper saw him, she clapped her little hands together with obvious delight. “Leo! Leo!” Then turning to look at Skye, “Down! Down, mama!”

Skye’s heart exploded with love. “Okay, baby. One second.” She tussled Harper’s hair then lifted her from the seat, placing her on the ground. She ran quickly across the grass, almost tripping over a sausage dog that had ambled into her path. She threw her arms around Leandro’s legs and beamed up at him, so Leandro returned her smile in a way that made Skye’s heart thump.

For a moment, she imagined what it would have been like for this to be real.

For her to have been part of a family. A loving dad, a husband—a true partner. Not someone who wanted to control her, as Jay had, but a partner who really wanted what was best for her. Who adored her, and adored Harper. She imagined having someone to share her worries with, to talk to about anything and everything, to help with Harper when she was tired—someone other than her parents, whom she felt guilty for imposing upon. Not that they ever complained, but that didn’t stop Skye from feeling bad.

Leandro looked over at her and when he smiled now, Skye’s whole body turned to mush. She almost melted into the grass.

Get a grip.

He wasn’t her boyfriend, he wasn’t Harper’s dad, this wasn’t real. Or at least, it wasn’t real in the sense of forever and ever. Even if she wanted that—which she didn’t—Leandro wasn’t offering it. And she was glad. It was just her and Harper against the world, when it came down to it. That was safe. That was real.

“Hey,” he scooped down and lifted Harper up, somehow juggling the tray of coffees, paper bag, all the while plopping Harper on his hip as though he had all the experience in the world with young children. He was a natural at everything he did. “This one’s for you.” He held out the coffee tray towards her, indicating which she should take.

She smiled at him self-consciously as she removed the drink. But why? What was it about him today that was making her feel so awkward?

“I was worried about you last night,” she said honestly, taking a quick sip.

“I didn’t mean to worry you. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” The words snagged in her throat a little. “What happened with Max and Andie?”

“I spoke to them,” he said, putting Harper down at their feet then reaching into the bag and removing a small cupcake. “Okay?” He checked with Skye, who nodded, watching as Leandro handed it to Harper. She squealed again, with even more delight, and wandered a little way off, to sit down on a thick patch of green grass, fascinated by the delightful decorations on the baked good.

Skye kept her eyes on the toddler as Leandro spoke. “Actually, better than okay. Talking to you somehow gave me a new perspective on it. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have spoken to them. So, what I really wanted to say is: thank you. I thought you were my escape from all this, but in the end, you were my salvation. You made me stop running, just by being here for me, and I will always appreciate that.”

She shook her head, not expecting those words. Thickness grew in her throat. “I’m glad you were honest with me, and them.” She sipped her coffee. Heaviness shifted through her. She glanced at him quickly then looked away again. “So, what happens now?”

It was such a layered question.

He looked totally relaxed though. “With my family?”

That wasn’t what she’d meant. She’d blurted out the question because she’d wondered if this changed anything with them. Would he stop coming to New York now that he felt free to stop running?

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