Page 59 of The Boss's Baby Affair

And Jilly had done more…

“Inside Jilly’s journal, I also discovered a codicil Jilly added to her will, leaving her stock in Valentine’s to me.” The codicil was dated shortly before Jennie was born. Nick was grateful she’d taken time to create it.

Desmond picked up the pen again. “My lawyer told me Jilly had instructed him to draw up a codicil, but he didn’t have the signed document. We decided she’d had second thoughts.”

“She signed it. And it’s witnessed. It’s valid. I’ve sent it to my lawyer,” Nick said. “He’ll communicate with the lawyer handling Jilly’s estate.”

After a long moment, Desmond gave a sigh. He looked less arrogant—and much older—than when Nick had first entered the large corner office. “It looks like there’s not much for me to say.”

“You’ll drop the suit for custody?”

Desmond gave a terse nod.

“You will agree to speak to NorthPark about having Alison and Richard’s eviction notice revoked?” Again a nod. “And you will stop pursuing Valentine stock?”

“I’ll do what you want.” There was still anger on the older man’s face.

Nick reminded himself that Desmond had lost his daughter tragically, unexpectedly, and whatever their convoluted father-daughter relationship, he’d loved Jilly in his own way.

Although Nick wanted as little as possible to do with Desmond in the future, he didn’t want the man to be an enemy, forever scheming how to hurt him. There’d been a moment earlier when he’d itched to hit Desmond; he was relieved that he hadn’t.

It would’ve made him less of a man in his own eyes—and he knew that Candace would’ve hated to hear that he’d used violence against a father who must still be grieving.

Bottom line: he wanted the feud with Jilly’s father to be over. To that end he said, “I plan to build a children’s playground at the flagship Valentine’s in Jilly’s memory.” Desmond studied him warily. “I’d like you to open it—I’ll make sure the event has plenty of publicity.”

“Jilly would’ve appreciated that. Thank you.” The anger started to fade from Desmond’s face. “Perhaps you could build a bench somewhere with a plaque dedicating it to her. She loved flowers.”

“I could do that. There’s a rose garden where Jilly often took photographs, with a sundial in the center. A bench would fit in perfectly. Many people could sit and enjoy the surroundings.”

Desmond nodded slowly. “I might come and sit there myself.”

“Good.” He could tolerate that, Nick decided, rising to his feet. He held out his hand. “I’m glad we’ve resolved our differences.” He only hoped the coming confrontation with Candace was going to proceed as smoothly.

Nick knew Desmond Perry would no longer present a threat to his family.

Candace was reclining on a lounger in the shade under the poolside umbrella, rubbing the fluff that was Jennie’s hair dry after a lunchtime swim in the pool, when she heard the scrape of the sliding doors and looked up.

Her pulse picked up as Nick emerged from the house. He’d left early for work this morning, and Candace discovered that she’d missed him. She’d gotten used to the three of them— Nick, Jennie and her—sharing breakfast on the deck on the sunny early mornings but he’d kept himself away since she’d turned down his proposal.

It had left her feeling restless.

Sitting up, she set down the towel and pulled the T-shirt Jennie wore straight, then checked to see that the sarong she’d donned over her own damp swimsuit hadn’t parted to reveal her tummy or legs. Since she’d made love with Nick, she’d taken great care not to allow any opportunity for those burning moments of awareness to arise.

“She’s a real water baby,” she remarked, stroking Jennie’s head before glancing back up to Nick.

“The signs were always there,” said Nick. He barely glanced at Candace’s scantily clad body as he pulled up a chair from the table arrangement where they ate in the morning. “I need to talk to you.”

His face was stern.

“Yes?”

“Desmond has agreed to withdraw the application for custody of Jennie.”

She couldn’t stop the huge grin that lit up her face. “That’s fabulous news. Nick, I’m so relieved. When?”

“As we speak. My lawyers are talking to his.”

“Oh, I could hug you.” Then she wished she hadn’t added they last bit as his face remained set. Nick didn’t even joke in response. Something was wrong. “There’s more isn’t there?”

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