Page 33 of The Billionaire's Temporary Governess (French Conquests 2)

Willa looked away. “I heard Grandmère talking about Papa having a girlfriend, down in town. She thinks I don’t know, but I do.”

Was this girlfriend in the picture even when Sofia was still alive? It bothered her to think of that possibility, almost as much as it did to think of the callous way in which William had turned his back on his baby son.

Just this Saturday Madeline had driven into town to collect the baby—from God knew who—and brought him back to her quarters, where Madeline and Willa had played with him for several hours before returning him. Willa made sure to let Naisha know that the Paddington bear she had brought him in London had been a big hit.

If William could do that to his own flesh and blood, then what’s to say he wouldn’t have taken a mistress during his marriage? It was quite common among French men—even men as sophisticated as William.

“Willa,” she began, but floundered. What to say? Should she offer comfort or fish for information?

Willa screamed so loudly that she almost punctured Naisha’s eardrum. She wondered for a second if it was fear or delight. Was there a bogeyman standing behind her?

Then she heard a familiar voice, “How are my favorite homegirls?”

Willa streaked past Naisha and was about to throw her arms around Jacyn when she remembered the prominent baby bulge, and gave her a gentle hug instead. “You’re back from London!”

“Yup!” Jacyn gave Naisha a quick hug in turn. “How you doing, girlie?”

Willa didn’t give Naisha a chance to answer. “Did you buy lots and lots of baby things? Are they here yet? Can I see them?”

“Yes, yes, and yes, but not until after dinner. Your grandmother sent me to call you. She’s waiting in her suite.”

Willa pulled a face, but obediently headed for the door. “I want to see everything, all the baby things, okay?”

“Okay,” Jacyn promised. She waited until she was sure the kid was out of earshot and the door was closed. Then she turned to Naisha, folding her arms and placing them across her baby bump as if it was a convenient shelf. “Well?”

“Well?” Naisha echoed, knowing she was dodging inevitable questions.

Jacyn grabbed her by the arm and dragged her across the room to the sofa, then shoved her unceremoniously down onto it. “Girlfriend, don’t even think of playing, you don’t know what I’m asking about.” She pointed at Naisha’s face to make sure she understood. “You disappeared from the club that night. And, miracle of miracles, so did one huge hulking mountain of Dubois hotness—and I’m not talking about my husband.”

Jacyn plunked her butt down on the sofa beside her. “One minute you were on the dance floor, dressed in something that could get you arrested in other countries, shaking what your mamaandyour grandma gave you, with that man sliding up behind you, looking at you as if you were sizzling on the grill and covered in hot sauce.”

Naisha couldn’t help but swallow a grin at that image.

“Then, he’s dragging you out of there, caveman style. And you didn’t look like you minded. Sooo, here’s my question.”

Naisha tried to look innocent.

“Actually, here are my many questions. Where did you two go, what did you do, and was it good?” Jacyn peered at Naisha’s face as heat flared there. “Scratch that. I know it was good. More like, are you still doing it?”

There was nowhere to run, Naisha knew. And no lies to be told, not while Jacyn was shrewdly eying her. She exhaled gustily in surrender. “Okay, okay. We slept together.”

“No, duh, babe. I saw you when you were getting ready to head for the airport the next evening. You looked all shiny and polished, like a genie’s lamp, soof courseyou slept together. But what now? What’s next?”

“Nothing. It was just one of those things. It happened, and then it was over. It was nice—”

“Nice? Ice cream is nice! Finding the shoes you want in your size is nice!”

“Okay, fine,” Naisha admitted. “It was mind blowing.”

“There ya go.”

“But that’s it. There’s nothing more to tell.”

Jacyn’s face was the picture of puzzlement. “But why? William’s handsome, fit, kind, funny. He’s well respected. Everyone who knows him likes him, and those who don’t like him are jealous. So why not take things further?”

Naisha popped to her feet, feeling restricted, confined by the small space of the sofa when her agitation was so huge. “That’s exactly it. He’s all of that. And more. But you don’t understand. I’ve been there. I loved him once. It was a long time ago, and maybe I was young, but itwaslove, and it was real. And he hurt me.”

“How?” came the soft question.

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