The Problem with Seduction - By Emma Locke Page 0,32
story we’ve told. He’ll think I don’t give a farthing about him. Whatever happened between you and Finn, it’s probably better if I don’t know. But don’t take Oliver away and make it all but impossible for me to be there for him. My father didn’t give a farthing about me and I don’t wish that on any child. I would do my best for him, if you’d let me.”
She shook her head. “I couldn’t ask that of you. It’s not even reasonable. Who would do that?”
He knew without thinking. “I would.”
Her head tilted slightly as though she was trying to make sense of him. He couldn’t explain his answer, even to himself. “Why?” she asked quietly.
“Let me do what you’ve paid me to do.” And with that, he knew why he’d followed her. His job was not done yet. Ten thousand pounds was a lifetime of being her child’s father. Not a few hours.
For a few, buoyant seconds, she looked like she might agree. Then she tucked her hands into her lap, becoming very small. “You didn’t even know us before last week. Just…take the money. It’s yours. All I ask is that you never reveal the truth.”
There was no going back. His only path forward was in front of him. “It’s not that simple. I can’t have Oliver think I don’t care. I wouldn’t be able to face myself in the mirror.”
Because his mother was right. He couldn’t just walk away as though nothing had happened. He’d made a commitment. By God, he intended to honor it.
Now he knew why his brothers had been so adamant. He hadn’t been man enough to see it.
Elizabeth bit her lower lip. She looked away. “I won’t tell him it’s you, then. It’s not, anyway. You are not responsible. Please, leave us alone.”
He bit back a flippant argument that Oliver did need him. She needed him. The last hour proved it. “But I will know. Don’t you see? I will know I took him from his real father. How could I live with the guilt? A boy needs a father. If you won’t allow it to be Finn—”
“Finn!” she came out of her seat again. “Finn would take him! I can’t…I can’t be separated from my baby. I will die.” Her voice cracked. Tears glistened in her eyes. “Nicholas has no use for me.”
He well understood the despair born of feeling useless. He hated knowing she felt that way about herself. Not even the threat of one of those tears falling, however, could sway him from his position. He folded his hands on the table. “You can’t leave.”
“Ha.” Her eyes slid away. “Spoken like a man. The law is always in your favor, isn’t it?”
He didn’t have a defense for that. “The thing is,” he said matter-of-factly, so as not to provoke another passionate outburst, “I don’t want you to leave. We must be able to think of a way to keep you here, where you belong.”
She darted him a surprised look so full of hope, he knew without a doubt that he would do anything to make good on that promise.
Her gaze fell to the rickety table between them. “I can’t stay.” She did sound more even-tempered, as if she were considering his request rather than swinging wildly at her demons. “Even if I wanted to. Finn will easily prove you and I don’t have an agreement. There’s already no proof we knew each other a year ago.”
He set his hands flat on the table. “That’s only true from your perspective. Me? I’ve been aware of you ever since I became a man. I’m positive we have more of our past in common than you think.”
She gawked at him. “You watched me?”
Even he was surprised by his admission. He hadn’t meant to tell her that.
Going for the whole pound, he continued, “You’re one of the most beautiful, sought-after women in England. I’d have had to be dead not to notice you. I’m sure we can remember an event we both attended. Some dazzling night that might have ended in bed. Can’t you imagine it?”
Her breath caught. He could almost believe she was considering what that magical night might have been like. Then she shook her head, and the spell broke. “He won’t believe I was with anyone else. He only did at first because you caught him by surprise.” Her lip curled up with satisfaction. It had been her idea to shock him.
Then her expression turned bitter. “He knows how much