Page 35 of It Happened In Paris

RICHARD

Vivian satacross the room in the hotel suite, elegantly poised on the arm of the plush sofa as she gazed out the window at Albany’s snowy landscape.

The moonlight caught her chestnut hair, making it shine—utterly captivating. Though we had finally found ourselves alone, she immediately asked for a glass of wine and a few moments to herself to decompress from the day.

I couldn’t fault her; with Adrien’s unexpected arrival, the heated confrontation, and the shocking revelation from the paternity test—a revelation that declared Paris as my daughter—anyone would be overwhelmed.

I had handled transferring the money to Adrien’s account, and at last, my driver confirmed that Adrien had left the hotel and was en route to the airport. With him out of the picture, I could now devote myself to Vivian for the night.

She sipped her wine, crossing one leg over the other in a way that could make any man weak, but she was here with me, theonlyman she’d ever need, if I could convince her of that.

Aware of the charged silence between us, I casually set a copy of the paternity test results on the coffee table—a seemingly simple piece of paper that had changed my life in aninstant. Paris was my daughter. Now it was time to claim her mother.

“Feeling better?” I asked as I stepped closer, hooking my thumbs in my belt loops.

“Yes,” she replied after another sip.

I leaned against the tall window, deliberately ignoring the view, and fixed my gaze on her.

“What are you doing?” she asked with a sly smile, raking her eyes down my front.

“I’m savoring this moment,” I replied, reaching for her glass and downing the last of the wine before setting it aside. Without resistance, she allowed me to pull her into my arms.

“Is that so? And what exactly are you thinking about?” Her tone was teasing, yet tinged with uncertainty.

“Not what. Who… We have an incredible daughter.”

“We do.” Her hands caressed up my arms and locked behind my neck. “I think she’s going to love having you for a father.”

“And she means everything to me. But so does her mother.” With a light touch, I traced my thumb along her jawline. “You’re so fucking sweet and sexy, Vivian, like the perfect cupcake.”

“Cupcake?” She arched her brow with a chuckle.

“That’s you. Miriam used to buy our favorite cupcakes for our birthdays growing up. I always scoured the box at first opening to find the perfect one to eat, and only that one. I wouldn’t touch the others.”

“Only the best for you? So spoiled.” She grinned and rolled her eyes.

“Damn right. And I’ve wantedyoufrom the moment we met.”

“You had me once before.” Her pulse quickened under my thumb at her neck—a reaction that stirred a primal satisfaction within me. At long last, this mesmerizing woman was in my arms.

“Believe me, I’m overjoyed our first union gave us our precious daughter. Wish I could remember every second of it with you. Tonight, though, I’m aiming for mutual satisfaction—a night neither of us will ever forget,” I murmured softly while running my fingers through her hair. She leaned deeper into my caress.

“Only one?” She challenged me. Her intense gaze ignited a flame within me. That blend of defiance and vulnerability disarmed me completely. “If all you want is one night, we should stop. It wouldn’t do either of us any favors starting out having another one night stand. We have our daughter to think about. She has to be our priority.”

“You’re misreading my intentions. I told you before. I wantyou.A second chance at something real.”

After a prolonged pause, she said, “It won’t be easy for me to trust again. Look at how quick I was to jump to conclusions when you walked your therapist to the car.”

“I’ll make it easy for you. Whatever it takes. Tonight isn’t one night, Vivian, but the first of many, if I get my way.”

“And I suppose you always do?”

“I rarely lose.”

“So I’m a conquest? A trophy to be had?”

“No, stop putting words into my mouth. You’re the mother of my child. I’m in awe of you, and have total respect for you. I’d give you and Paris a life you deserve, and I believe you know that. So if you would kindly set aside all your fears and give me a chance.”

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