Page 36 of Billion-Dollar Baby Shock

He glanced at her and back to the road.‘Fine, I just hadn’t planned on taking you on the sand like some sort of…animal.’

Tara could see that pride in the line of his jaw.It obviously mattered to him that he behaved with decorum…to counteract his upbringing?Prove he wasn’t unsophisticated?

‘You can blame me if you want.I led you astray.’When he didn’t respond right away, she said, ‘I enjoyed it.’

The line in his jaw relaxed a little.‘Iletyou lead me astray.My control seems to vanish when I’m around you.’

It won’t last.His voice in her head.

She said lightly, ‘Just as well this kind of thing doesn’t last for ever?’

‘It doesn’t.’He sounded determined.

When they got back to the villa they heard the sound of Niko crying.Dion had stopped the car and was out and walking into the villa before Tara could catch up.

She saw Maria, walking up and down with an inconsolable Niko, and watched as Dion reached for his son, taking him into his arms.Niko stopped crying almost immediately, his little head falling into the crook between Dion’s head and shoulder.It almost took Tara’s breath away—so much had begun to change between father and son in the space of days.

She walked in and Maria looked at her, clearly upset too.‘I couldn’t settle him.I don’t know why—’

Tara put her hand on Maria’s arm and hoped the debauchery of the last few hours wasn’t evident in her creased and sandy clothes.‘I’m sure it’s just his teething and he’s probably overtired.I’ll shower and change quickly and I’ll take over, okay?You could do with a break.’

The young woman smiled gratefully.‘I’ll get a bottle ready.He had some food earlier.’

Tara looked at Dion, who was rubbing Niko’s back.‘I’ll be back in a few minutes.’

Dion looked tense.‘It’s my fault, isn’t it?Because he’s had too many different people looking after him.I thought I could do this on my own but it was arrogant and short-sighted.’

Tara shook her head, her heart going out to him.‘Niko is fine.He’s a happy baby and he’s surrounded by people who love him and want the best for him.You can’t ask for much more than that.’

‘Except a mother,’ noted Dion a little bitterly.

‘I’m here now.He has a mother.’

A moment passed between them, something very delicate and shimmering, but then Niko let out a little wail again and it was broken.He settled again but Tara moved fast, going to the bedroom and undressing before stepping into the shower and sloughing away the sand and Dion’s touch.She lamented that.

Towel-drying her hair, she put on a robe and went into the dressing room and realised that the clothes from the boutique had already been sent to the villa and were hanging up or folded neatly into drawers.There was even underwear.

She also spotted the stunning midnight-blue evening gown that had been hanging in the window of the shop.She hadn’t even tried that dress on, but it was in her size.

But she didn’t have time to ruminate on that.She found a pair of super-soft sweatpants and put on a bra and vest top and twisted her damp hair up into a loose knot and went back out to where Niko had started cribbing again.

He saw Tara and leant out of Dion’s arms, reaching for her.She couldn’t help but feel a surge of maternal emotion at his recognition of her.She took him into her arms just as Maria reappeared with a bottle.‘Thanks, Maria.I’ll stick with him in case he wakes during the night.’Tara knew she needed some space to try and gather her wits.

The girl looked a bit panicked.‘But I’m happy to do the night-shift.’

Tara shook her head.‘You’ve been working all afternoon.I don’t mind.He’s obviously teething a lot.’

A little reluctantly the girl said, ‘If you’re sure?’

Tara smiled, ‘Positive.I know the hours are a lot different than before but you shouldn’t have to do double shifts.We’ll work it out as we go along, if that’s ok?’

Maria relaxed and smiled a little, ‘Ok, thanks.’

Maria left and Tara noticed an expression on Dion’s face.‘What?’

He noted dryly, ‘I’m the one who pays Maria’s wages.’

‘And I’m Niko’s mother, I’m entitled to have a say.’