"That's good, because I'm here to stay." He kissed her temple, savoring the satiny texture of her skin. She smelled like a garden in full bloom.
"How's the stomach?"
"The tea did the trick." She turned in his arms. "We should be going."
"Soon." Tipping her chin up, he brushed his lips against hers.
"Vincent, we can't-"
"Just a little bit more," he interrupted before closing his lips over hers.
Chapter 15
She hadn't been to his home before but had seen photos of it in several home and country magazines. She knew he had bought it years ago to accommodate his son and did not want to think about the fact that he had also bought it with Lizzie in mind.
She had no reason whatsoever to begrudge the woman. She was dead, Althea was alive, and Vincent was in love with her. And she was here to officially meet his son, a child she wanted to claim as her own.
"I'm sorry," she whispered in her heart to the dead woman. "It might seem I'm taking over your life, but I had him first and let him go. I've been given a second chance and won't apologize for it."
"The housekeeper is leaving for the holiday?"
They were just driving into the mile-long driveway with its sweeping palm trees waving in the stiff breeze and huge oak and redwood trees in the background. She caught a glimpse of a large treehouse tucked into the massive groove of an old oak tree.
"Yes, she's on a flight to Florida and will be there until the first week of January." He glanced at her as he brought the vehicle to a stop in front of the wraparound porch. "There's no need to be nervous."
"Who's nervous?"
Prying her hands loose, he brought one of them to his lips. "He already loves you."
"As the woman who baked him cookies and taught him to make the dough. Not as a potential mother and a wife to his dad. Besides, I'm pregnant. He might think he's going to be replaced."
He sent her an amused glance. "He's six," he reminded her. "He's not into that kind of deep thinking. I've invited mother and Jacklyn over as well."
"What?" She started to tug her hand away, but he held on. "You cannot-"
"They're coming over after lunch to give us time to be alone with David. Relax."
"You cannot just spring that on me and tell me to relax. It doesn't work that way. Vincent-"
"Too late," he said with a grin as the door burst open and David, bundled up in warm clothing, came hurtling out, followed behind by a resigned Mrs. Paddy.
"He refused to wait inside," she called out as soon as Vincent pushed the driver's door open and bent to catch his son in his arms.
"Daddy!" He was talking a mile a minute, not giving Vincent a chance to intervene.
"It's okay, Mrs. Paddy." Vincent kissed the boy's forehead and walked around to open the passenger door for Althea. "I would like you to meet my fiancée, Althea Drummond. Thea, this is our housekeeper, Mrs. Paddy."
"And we should come in out of the cold." The woman beamed at her. "I made a pot of tea and some sandwiches. I'm afraid I'm going to be leaving soon to catch my flight."
David was staring at her silently as they made their way inside.
"Daddy, what's a fia-finance-cee?"
"Fiancée," Vincent corrected him gently as they stepped into the lofty foyer and the housekeeper took their coats. "It means that Thea and I are getting married. Mrs. Paddy, we'll take the refreshment in the silver sitting room. And afterwards you can be on your way."
The woman nodded. "I already have a fire going. Very nice to meet you, Ms. Thea."
"Nice to meet you, too."
