Page 55 of Spare Heir

‘Well, as long as you’re alright. If you bump into her again, please give her my best. I liked her a lot.’

After we end the call, I feel bad for rubbing salt in his wounds, but I had to change the subject and couldn’t take any more talk of me and Lizzy.

It’s been a long week, and I didn’t sleep much last night, so I nod off in the back of the car, my head resting against the cool leather.

The car pulls into the drive and my weary eyes flicker open.

Home sweet home. So, why am I dreading going in?

CHAPTER31

Nathalie

Sebastian is due home this afternoon and I swear my heart’s been beating too fast since he texted me. He kept his promise after the first time we met. Since then, he always texts me to let me know he’s on his way home.

For a while, I let myself imagine it’s because he can’t wait to see me, but really, I know he’s doing it because he’s my boss and he has impeccable manners.

Nathalie, pull yourself together. He’s dating someone suitable now, and he’s probably going to marry her, so you’d better get used to it.

Daisy hears the car first, and shouts, ‘Daddy’ and runs to the door and tries to open it, but it’s locked. I move towards her, but Sebastian unlocks the door from outside before I reach it. And there he is—all gorgeous six feetof him—his blue-grey eyes lock on mine. I feel a tremor as if an electric shock runs right through me as I stare back at him, my heart thumping.

Daisy calls his name and waves her arms in the air frantically. ‘Daddy, pick me up, Daddy!’ The connection between us is broken, and he scoops her up and sweeps her around in the air like an aeroplane.

‘There you are my little pumpkin. I’ve missed you so much,’ he says.

Daisy garbles excitedly in his ear and then looks back and forth between us, and says, ‘We’ve missed you too, Daddy. Nathalie said the house is too quiet without you.’

He drops his eyes to search mine, and I blush. I did say that, and I meant it. But that was before I saw his face in the paper with his future wife. But I can’t look away when he stares at me like that. His eyes activate every cell, and adrenalin shoots through my veins and floods my body.

‘Did she, now?’ he asks, a playful note in his voice.

I’ve missed hearing his voice, and it caresses me all over, and I shiver as goosebumps coat my skin. I can barely breathe as his eyes fix on mine and he waits for me to respond. Images of our night together flash through my mind, and I shift from one foot to the other.

‘She did,’ I say, trying to make light of it and not show him how he affects me.

‘And is she pleased I’m home now?’

His tone is teasing, and I almost let myself fall back into our usual banter automatically, but something in me won’t allow it this time. ‘Great to have you home. Daisy has been counting the days. Looks like you had a successful trip.’

I hope he doesn’t see the hurt in my eyes. I’m doing my best to be pleasant and professional, but it’s at a heavy price. My chest is tight and my stomach churns in his presence.

‘Was it a good trip, Daddy? Who was the pretty lady in the photo with you?’ Daisy bombards him with questions, and he lowers her to the floor without answering.

He glances at me as if to gauge the effect of Daisy’s words, but I look away and avoid meeting his eyes again. I know all I need to know about the pretty lady in the photo, and I turn to walk away.

‘I’ve got something for you,’ he says, before I can put any distance between us.

His words stop me in my tracks. I know without a doubt he’s talking to me.

‘Have you got something for me too, Daddy?’ Daisy squeals.

‘Of course. I’ve got a surprise for both of you. Let’s move out of the hallway, shall we, and I can get your presents out?’

He brings his monogrammed leather case through to the living room and opens it on the coffee table. Daisy is bouncing up and down and can’t contain her shrieks. Considering she’s the only great-granddaughter of one of the wealthiest men in England, she is surprisingly unjaded and appreciative, which I love.

He extracts a colourful wrapped gift from his case and hands it to Daisy. ‘What is it? What is it?’ she says breathlessly, throwing herself on the rug and tearing the paper open.

He puts his hand back into his case, as if it’s an Aladdin’s cave, and a moment later I watch him extract another beautifully wrapped gift.

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