“My father was never happier than when he was with her, and I hated her for that. I blamed her for my parents’ never-ending fights. Now I lie awake sometimes, angry at myself for the way I treated them both when they were together. I was just so young and stupid. I thought that if he gave up your mother, he’d feel the same way toward mine. As a boy, I didn’t understand how feelings really worked. How awkward and harsh an arranged union could be.”
She patted his arm. “We’re all stupid when we’re young.”
He turned back to watch his sons. “Yes, we are… except Talyn seems remarkably astute.”
“Adversity makes you grow up fast and hard. He was never allowed to be a child.”
Lorens took her hand into his, and led it to his cheek. “And neither were you. I’m sorry I was never there for you, Felicia. But I promise that’s going to change.”
Felicia wanted to believe that. She did. However, she had a suspicion that a lot of what he was feeling tonight had to do with his younger brother, who’d died a few months ago. Even so, she was willing to give him a chance. Everyone deserved one.
And the longer she watched Talyn patiently instruct her nephews, the more her heart broke. A male like him deserved to have children of his own that he could laugh and play with.
Life had royally screwed Talyn, and still he got up every day and relentlessly shouldered the scorn and hatred he couldn’t stop. Scorn and hatred he couldn’t help.
She’d never known anyone more courageous or honorable. While she knew it bothered him – she could see it in his eyes – he never spoke of it. Never blamed his mother, his father, or anyone else for the circumstances of his birth.
For that alone, she would love him. But there was so much more to him than that. Honor. Respect.
Tenderness.
She still couldn’t believe how fortunate she’d been to find him. How close she’d come to choosing someone else.
Now she couldn’t imagine not having him in her life.
You’re going to have to let him go. Companions never stayed with their patrons. That just wasn’t how it worked. And they definitely didn’t stay with patrons who lacked lineage. It was a miracle her agency had even allowed Talyn in the door. Most wouldn’t have.
Yet she dreamed of things she knew could never be. A long, happy life with a male so wonderful.
It was useless. Dreams didn’t come true. And life took its jollies by ruining everyone’s plans.
Chapter 12
Peeking into the small window on the dance studio’s door where Felicia was teaching a class of twenty little girls, Talyn froze. Before their contract, she’d worked as a dance instructor in this school, but the small salary hadn’t been enough to cover her tuition and living expenses. After their arrangement, she’d been designated as a floating substitute, which was why she was here for a few hours.
His breath caught in his throat while he watched her laughing and twirling and swaying with the children. From these past few weeks, he’d known she possessed a beautiful heart and soul, but never was it more evident than here and now. She gently corrected and encouraged them, all the while maintaining a dazzling smile and more patience than he could fathom. No wonder she was able to tolerate his assholishness so well.
And the grace she held…
Damn, he was instantly rock hard and in pain. All he wanted was to barge in, sweep her into his arms, and make love to her in the nearest closet he could find.
One little girl fell during a twirl and skinned her knee. Felicia rushed to her and spoke words that had the child laughing through her tears. And it wrung his heart. No wonder Felicia had said on her questionnaire that she wanted children. Like his mother, she was loving and giving. Inspiring.
How could I deprive her of this?
She was born to be someone’s mother.
Feeling like shit, he started to leave, but the moment he did, Felicia looked up and saw him in the window. A beautiful, welcoming smile lit her entire face.
She motioned him in.
Unable to resist her lure, Talyn entered, and would have gone quietly to the corner, but the moment he opened the door, the girls let out a terrified squeal and ran for cover.
Felicia laughed playfully. “He’s not an evil beastie, girls. He’s my