Page 18 of The Nicolaides Baby

“I hate to leave you alone,” he said, “but I have some business calls to make.”

“Oh, we’re fine,” Rowan said with a slight smile. “Mara and I will have to go get cleaned up—again. Won’t we?” She smiled lovingly at her daughter before giving her a swift kiss on the cheek. “Baby, how’d you get so much egg in your hair?” She picked a few pieces out then looked at him. “Go. We’re fine.” She smiled again. “I’ll see you this afternoon.”

He reluctantly walked away from the two, their shared conversation and laughter filling his ears.

* * *

Ten hours later, he was tired, but happy.

They’d held Lukas.

He sat back in his office chair and grinned, thinking back to the moment he’d pressed the fragile little body against his bare chest and felt him breathe against him. The barely there thumping of his tiny heart beat against his own. The nurse had informed them skin to skin contact was best. So, he’d taken off his pullover shirt without thinking and sat in the rocking chair. The nurse placed Lukas on his body before covering both of them with a blanket. Rowan had sat next to him in the other rocker with her hand on Lukas’s back under the blanket. He’d rocked with him for several minutes before he’d caught Rowan’s longing gaze.

“Here,” he’d said, carefully wrapping Lukas up and handing him over to an eager Rowan who had quickly undone her shirt to display the full curves of her breasts. He’d looked away while she’d placed him inside and covered them both up again with the blanket. It had not been the time to feel any kind of lust, but it had still hit him out of nowhere. He’d had to work to tamp it down.

“Leo,” Rowan had whispered, looking at him with tears in her eyes. “I don’t want to let him go.”

He’d pulled his shirt back on and watched contentedly while she’d rocked and softly sang to Lukas. In that moment he’d longed for nothing more than to be able whisk them both away to his home and keep them there. They’d stayed like that for what seemed like hours and were the last to leave—albeit reluctantly.

It had been a good afternoon.

But he needed to refocus. He pushed thoughts of Rowan and babies away and looked over the paperwork on his desk. He hadn’t been in the office since the day of the accident, and he had piles of work waiting on him. Monday was going to be a headache. And this, he thought picking up the document waiting for Gia’s signature, could have waited until then. Or, hell, she could’ve signed it without his presence at any time. But she’d insisted it needed to be signed immediately and that he be here when she did. He sighed over what she might have planned. At least Rowan wasn’t here. He’d left her at the hotel she’d been staying at before the villa to gather the rest of hers and Mara’s things while he took care of this. She was probably wondering what was keeping him. Maybe he should call. He’d left her there more than an hour ago after telling her he would be back to pick her up in thirty minutes.

“Leo.”

He looked up to see Gia breezing her way into his office in a buttoned-up purple silk blouse and tight black skirt. She shut and locked the door behind her, even though it was after hours and the rest of the offices were empty.

He looked at his watch. It was well past seven. “I thought you said six-thirty. You know I don’t like to be kept waiting.”

“Is that what I said?” She undid the top button of her blouse. “So sorry. I had some last-minute things to get before meeting you.” She unbuttoned another one and walked toward him.” But I think you’ll appreciate why I was late.” Another button came undone, revealing the tops of her breasts in black satin and lace. “Care to see what I purchased?”

His jaw tensed. He didn’t have time for aGia moment. And once he told her no, that was exactly what he would get. He leveled his gaze at her. “I’m only here for you to sign these papers.”

She pouted her full, red lips. “But it’s been almost four weeks since you’ve made love to me, and I need you.” She cupped her breasts and leaned over the front of his desk—he was sure to tempt him to stare at what she was offering—but he didn’t let his gaze waver from her eyes. “You were gone on business before… Well, before the incident.”

“Theincident.” He stood up and leaned close to her, but there was no way she would be able to interpret his intention as anything other than blazing anger. “My brother died,” he gritted out between clenched teeth. “My sister-in-law, who I loved,died.” Gia straightened and took a step away from him while rebuttoning her blouse. “I have a nephew who will be in the hospital for several more weeks and who will never know his parents. And you’re calling it anincident.” He shoved the papers toward her. “Sign these so we can leave.”

“Semantics, darling. You’re blowing one word out of proportion.” She gave another pout and sauntered around his desk, her gaze calculating. She was wasting her time if she thought she was going to manipulate him. “Of course you’re devastated, but that’s what I’m here for.”

She ran her hands over her breasts and then down over the curve of her hips. “Let me comfort you.” He wasn’t tempted. Nor did he take pleasure in the hand she ran over his cheek or the finger she pressed against his lips. “It’s okay to use my body when yousodesperately need to. And don’t worry. I’ll enjoy myself too.” She smiled her patented sultry smile.

He grabbed her by her shoulders and held her away. “Now isn’t the time.” He lightly squeezed her flesh. “I don’t need comforting in that way.”

She wrenched herself from his grasp, her face flushing. “I see. I didn’t know grief could make one impotent,” she said, eyeing him up and down. Her gaze lingered on the front of his pants. He didn’t rise to the bait, so to speak. “Well, once you’ve had more time and you’re ready, I’ll be waiting.” She smoothed her hair and went back around the desk to the papers. She picked up a pen and began to sign the first of several pages. “And then when enough time has passed to satisfy some outmoded tradition, we can announce our engagement.”

“We need to talk about that.”

Her pen paused at the second page and she peered up at him through narrowed eyes. “What is there to talk about?”

He hadn’t planned on having this conversation at this exact moment, but he had to say what needed to be said. It was best for both of them—whether she might agree or not. But she had expected a future with him, so the least he could do was be gentle about it.

“Gia, my life has changed and—”

“I’m well aware of that.” Her eyes narrowed even more. “You’re going to be president one day of The Nicolaides Group.” She let out a slight chuckle. “And honestly, darling, it’s a position much more suited to you than Andreas, God rest.” She flipped another page and went back to signing. “Then once you take your rightful place, you and Xander can let this business go and he can come work for us.”

“There’s not going to be anus.”

“Of course there is,” she said, setting the pen down and straightening, her words heated as she glared at him. “We agreed it was the smart thing to do. In fact, I think we should announce our engagement next month.”

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