Liv took his cap off his head and put it on hers. It immediately fell over her eyes and half her face. Digby took it off her and, ignoring her squawk of annoyance, tightened the band and put it back on her head. It was still too big but didn’t completely cover her suck-you-in eyes.
Digby looked at Olivia and rested his hand on her chubby thigh. She was dressed in a little rash vest and matching shorts, designed to keep her from burning. In his cap, she looked too cute for words and his heart stumbled and banged off his chest.
“Here you go, sweetie.” Bay handed Olivia her cup filled with weak, unsweetened tea. Leaning to the side, she placed her lips on Olivia’s, who happily accepted her affectionate gesture. “Love you, baby girl.”
“Love you more,” Olivia automatically replied, telling Digby it was an oft-repeated phrase.
How could Bay’s parents want to split these two up? Okay, Bay wasn’t her biological mother but damn, she loved her niece with everything she had. Olivia was her entire world and Digby felt a pang of jealousy deep in his heart. He was, he reluctantly admitted, jealous that he’d never had a mother who loved him like that...
He felt stupid for wanting a moment that was long gone...
But he was damned if he’d let Olivia and Bay be separated. If the judge didn’t rule in her favor in the custody battle, he’d contact his lawyers and he’d find out what he could do to ensure that Bay and Olivia stayed together, that she became Olivia’s mommy in all the ways that counted.
He had wealth and power and he had no problem using both to get the outcome he wanted...
Digby yawned and lifted his hand to cover his mouth. Despite making love to Bay quite a few times, he’d slept like a rock. No, he’d only thought he’d slept well because he couldn’t remember the dream that woke Bay up.
Damn, would he ever be free of them? And he still hadn’t managed to shake the memory of the very weird dream he had of Bay taking Radd’s place in that coffin. Digby shuddered and his skin turned to gooseflesh.
“I knows what I’m going to be when I grows up,” Olivia announced, her sweet voice the distraction he needed. Under the bill of her cap, her eyes radiated determination.
“Really?” Digby asked, sitting up but holding on to Olivia so that she stayed on his lap. “What are you going to be? A doctor? A scientist? An astronaut?”
Olivia looked at him like he’d grown two heads. “No, silly.”
“What are you going to be when you grow up, Liv?” Bay asked her, leaning back on her elbows, her long body sporting four bright pink triangles. Digby’s glance went to her stomach and he stared at her belly ring, remembering the way his tongue swirled around that small, sexy indentation. And those long, shapely, stunning legs had wrapped around his hips...
Right, couldn’t think of that right now. Mustn’t think of anything they did until they were alone...
“I’m going to be a penguin.”
“Huh?” Digby asked, having lost track of the conversation.
Olivia sent him a “keep up” look. “When I grows up, Digby, I’m going to be a penguin.”
“Good plan,” Digby told her, unable to hold back his grin. Man, he loved this kid. He surged to his feet and tucked her under his arm like a rugby ball. “And do you know what penguins must do?”
“What?” Liv squealed as he headed to the surf.
“They must swim and catch fish!” Digby yelled, charging into the surf and releasing a banshee-like cry.
Olivia, being a warrior herself, did her best to outyell him.
Bay, he noticed when he looked back, just grinned before rolling onto her stomach and burying her nose in her book.
CHAPTER NINE
ONTUESDAYMORNING, back in Cape Town, Digby woke up feeling anxious and unsettled. After a long swim that failed to clear his head, he went into Green Point and the exclusive offices of Mabaso, Gumede and Klein, the lawyers dealing with his parents’ estate.
It was also the day Bay would appear in court, fighting to keep Olivia. God, he wished he could be with her, giving her moral support, but his presence might harm her chances rather than help. It was a comfort to know that Mama B would be with her, as well as other members of the Samsodien family. Olivia would be in court as well and he hoped that she was too young to understand why she was there and what they were discussing.
But, because he needed Bay to know that he was thinking about her, he sent her a text message.
I’ll be thinking of, and rooting for, you today. I know that the judge will make the right decision because you are what’s best for Liv. You’re a fantastic mom, sweetheart.
Call me as soon as it’s over—I want to know how it went. Thanks for one of the best weekends of my life...
Digby turned his phone onto Silent and put it into the inner pocket of his suit jacket. Today was the day he and Radd were meeting the heir to their parents’ fortune and, frankly, there were a million things he’d rather be doing today. Sure, it would be great to see Radd—he and Brin flew in late last night—but he had a million things to do and not much time to do them in.