Page 40 of My One-Night Heir

‘What’s wrong?’ I watch her tearing through her few clothes. ‘You’ve lost something?’

‘A toy Romy gave to Lukas.’ She tips one bag upside down and keeps shaking it even though there’s clearly nothing else to fall from it. ‘I can’t find it. It isn’t anywhere. But I was sure I’d packed it.’

Her whisper is urgent and upset.

I freeze. ‘Are you talking about that ripped-up rabbit?’

‘Yes.’ She whips her head up. ‘Have you seen it?’

‘It was almost decapitated—’

‘I hadn’t had time to fix it.’ She’s suddenly in a fury. ‘You took it?’

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Talia

‘IT WASN’T YOURS to take.’ Anger surges into me. ‘What did you do with it?’

He’s frozen. ‘Talia—’

‘You got rid of it? Threw it out?’ I gape at him in horror. ‘Because it was ragged?’

He walks out of the room and I’m so furious I follow him, not stopping to see where he’s going, not stopping my tirade. He doesn’t want to deal with my emotion? Too bad. ‘Wasn’t it good enough for your standards? Didn’t it fit into this perfect nursery you’ve put together like magic?’

It was broken and it wasn’t perfect but it was loved. But it wasn’t good enough to stay here. I’m so hurt. This place is so perfect and I most definitely do not fit in. Because I’m like that toy too—worn out and worthless to a guy like him.

‘Talia—’

‘It mightn’t have met your standards but it was given with love and—’

He bends down to the bag at his feet and turns back to face me, his hand outstretched.

I’m instantly silenced. I stare at his hand and slowly take the rabbit from him. His ear and head have been stitched back on properly.

‘I wouldn’t have thrown out a clearly much-loved toy, Talia.’ His breathing is jumpy. ‘I assumed it was one of your childhood toys. I didn’t realise it had come from Romy. And I’m sorry if repairing it was the wrong thing to do.’

For a moment I struggle for air. Tears spring to my eyes as I study the soft little animal. I’m relieved. I’m touched. And I’m utterly embarrassed.

Swallowing hard, I run my finger over the neat stitching. ‘You did this?’

‘Yeah.’

‘When?’ I finally glance up at him.

He looks a little embarrassed. ‘Before we drove to Dunedin.’

‘You said you had work to do.’ I try to smile but it doesn’t really work. ‘Did you lie to me?’

‘This was work.’ His shoulders lift. ‘Of the unpaid parental kind.’

My heart absolutely melts.

‘I didn’t know toy surgery was on your CV.’ But then he has a bunch of skills and talents.

‘I’m sorry if I overstepped,’ he says quietly.

‘You didn’t. You were really thoughtful.’ Guilt washes over me. ‘I just haven’t had the time...’

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