CHAPTER 53
“I’m sorry about that. We all are.” Keira had had three miscarriages in the last two years. It had broken Ares into pieces, especially since he’d been on the road for work each time his wife had miscarried.
“They’ve been trying so hard for a family,” Sally said, “and Keira’s disappointment is coming out
in her testiness.”
Testiness? Darius had a whole other word to describe it. “I know they’ve been through a lot. But
still...Ares a saint.”
“He’s a good man. One who bends over backward to handle Keira’s moods because he appreciates
how badly she feels about not being able to give him a child.”
The Baddricks backed each other up to the ends of the earth, always there when anything bad went
down, but they all turned to Sally when they needed to keep their emotional crap from festering inside. She was their sounding board on matters of the heart.
“Trust me, honey,” she added, “unfulfilled need can change a woman’s entire personality.”
He could see that, but the truth was that Keira had always been more difficult than most. And he
knew without a doubt that Nathalie, in the same situation, wouldn’t bust a guy’s manhood the way
Keira did.
The thought of Nathalie with a child, his child, growing inside her sent a wave of emotion flowing
through him—delight, need, fear, desire. And something that felt giddily like happiness.
“I think that’s also why she doesn’t pay more attention to Zeus,” Susan said thoughtfully, as if she’d
just considered the point. “It breaks her heart. Hopefully when a baby finally comes, she’ll settle
down again. Right now, Ares giving her the supportive environment she needs to try again, and I’ll
be there for your brother. I know you will, too, all of you. But I also want you to realize that while I
understand Keira’s feelings, I’m not making excuses for all her bad behavior. And that incident with
your friend…” She didn’t finish, and he could almost see the shake of her head.
Her words brought back the ache of guilt. “I shouldn’t have let Zion get hurt.”
“I wish he hadn’t been hurt, too. But the truth is that you can’t protect everyone all the time. No
matter how much you wish you could. Trust me, I should know, with the five of you.”
Sally was right. The Baddricks had certainly given Sally and George a crazy ride those first few
years. But Zion was different.
“I wish I could do more than provide a new job for him and work on the car. Nathalie works so hard
to look out for her brother. But every time I offer to help, she insists on doing it all on her own.”
“Maybe that’s because she thinks she still is on her own.”
Frustration rose up in Darius. “How can I get her to understand that I’m not going anywhere? And that I mean it when I say I won’t hurt her or her brother? What else can I do to get through to her?”
“You know how.”
No. The reaction was instinctive. Even before Sally continued with exactly what he knew she was going to say.
“Have you told her about your past yet?”
“I rewrote that story already,” he said in far too sharp a tone, considering that Sally was only trying
to help him. Plus, as soon as the words came out of his mouth, he wasn’t actually sure they were
true. Sure, he’d rewritten the part where he was poor, but what about the rest? Because he sure as
hell had never been able to forget that he came from a worthless thief and bully who hadn’t
deserved to be called a father. Still, he had to ask Sally, “What’s so important about my past that she
needs to know?”
“Darius.” There was a slight note of exasperation in Sally’s voice. “She needs to know because you love her. And love means being completely open, even if you’re scared.”
Darius had given Sally and George a merry ride, pushed their limits, tested their boundaries. After
his dad, he hadn’t trusted anyone without proof that they were worth it. Sally and George had
passed with flying colors in the end, and he’d do anything for them.
But Sally saw right to Darius core—so deep that there was no point in even trying to deny what he
was feeling. Not any of it.
“I think I’ve been in love with her from the first moment I saw her standing outside my hangar with
her brother, so protective, so beautiful, so strong.” And then so free and passionate during their first
fast ride. His heart brimmed over with all that he felt for Nathalie. “I admire everything about her.
But if she knew about me—”
“You were a child, Darius. Your father made you do those things for him.” Sally, God love her,
made excuses for everyone, even him.
“I kept doing them even when I got older. After he went to prison.”
“It was all you knew. All you had to go on. But then you learned what was wrong, you learned what
was right, and you never mixed up the two again.”
“I learned those things from you,” he said softly, remembering her never-ending patience. And
loving her for it.
“Does it matter where or how or from whom you learned it? You made yourself into the man you
are. That’s why I’ve always said you don’t need to wear that tattoo as some sort of reminder about
your father and the life he forced you to be a part of. You’re your own man, not the least bit tainted
by him in any way. And I’m so proud of you, honey.”
He could hear the tears in her voice. Sally rarely cried when she was upset. She cried when she was
happy. “If you reveal who you are, I know she’ll love you as much as I do. How could she not?”
But unlike Sally and George and the rest of the Baddricks, Nathalie hadn’t lived not knowing where
her next meal would come from and had no idea of the depths to which people could sink. She hadn’t known men like Darius father. She’d never stolen or lied simply because someone ordered her to.
What if she didn’t understand that sometimes you became exactly like the very person you hated
because that reflection in the mirror was the only thing you knew how to see?
“I can’t tell her, Sally.”
“Listen to me—I’m proud of you because I know what you went through. Because you rose above
it. I’ve never known better men than any of my boys. And that most definitely includes you.”
Her words humbled him.
“Tell me something, Darius. Do you think Nathalie is worthy of love? And happiness?”
“Of course she is. The biggest love. The most happiness.”
“Is she worthy of your trust?”
“Without a doubt. She’d never lie or cheat or steal.” Not like me.
“Neither would you. Not now. Not ever.”
Again, it was as though Sally was right there inside his head, hearing all the voices that had never
gone away. The ones that said he didn’t deserve any of this. Not the success. Not the money.
Definitely not love. And certainly not Nathalie.
But three days ago he hadn’t told Nathalie the whole story about the day he’d met the Baddricks.
Despite the sun and the pool, he’d kept his T-shirt on to hide the Black Warrior tattoo. And he
hadn’t told her the full truth about those bullies who had gone after Perseus. Nor had he told her
anything about that terrible day when he was sixteen...and he’d made the worst mistake of his life.
“If you truly trust her, then let her decide whether you’re worthy. Don’t choose for her.” Sally
paused. “Trust her to realize that you’re a man of your word, not a product of your father.”
That was the question, the one he couldn’t see a straight answer for, not anymore. Was he his
father’s son?
Or was he a man worthy of Nathalie’s love?
“She needs to know how you feel. Trust her with your secrets, Darius.”
“And if she walks away?”
“Believe me, honey, if you refuse to let her in, she’ll leave anyway.”
“You got tickets to Sinful Night Club?” Nathalie looked up with surprise into the face of the most
beautiful man on the planet. A man who was giving her one of those slow, sexy smiles that always
made her dizzy with desire.
“Friday night. Dinner in San Francisco. Then a private box for the show.”
It was a lovely Wednesday evening, the air cooling down after the heat of the day. Once Memorial
Day was over, summer hit with temperatures that baked concrete. She and Darius were taking a
leisurely stroll through her modest Palo Alto neighborhood while Zion stayed home building a
Lego kit. It wasn’t just putting blocks together anymore. There were complicated instructions, and
Miss Watsons felt the toy would stretch his capabilities.
When Darius had brought Zion home after work that evening, he’d removed his suit jacket and thrown his tie over the back of the sofa, but he was still tempting in a striped dress shirt. His hand over hers felt divine. And yet, even though it felt as though they were a couple—a real one—Nathalie kept reminding herself to stay in the moment. It was enough just to appreciate being here with him now. Which meant she needed to stop thinking about more. Especially since he’d already given her more happiness—and pleasure—than she’d ever thought to have.
He slipped the tickets back into the breast pocket of his shirt. “After the show,” he said, “we’ll
check to make sure that Zion is doing fine staying the night at my house with Mrs. Oswald. And
then I’m going to take you to my flat in the city and have my way with you.” He dragged his gaze
down her body until she was hot all over. “All night long.” He drew out the words.
All night long.
They’d never spent the whole night together. In fact, they’d never even been completely naked together. Everything was always fast and hot, ripping clothes off and devouring each other. Or
getting her naked.
But now he wanted all night.
It suddenly felt hard to breathe, in both a bad and a good way. Because God, yes, she wanted a night
with Darius. In his bed. All night long. But at the same time, she was terrified that it would change
everything for her—that it would make it even harder to stop wishing for more.
She’d vowed that night in his ’57 Chevy that she wouldn’t be scared anymore, that she’d just go
with the flow and keep having fun. But the truth was that even though she was having the time of
her life with Darius, she didn’t know how to shelve her worries. How could she, when she was
falling so hard and so fast for him? Falling deeper and deeper with every kiss, every caress, with
every sweet word he said to her, every smile he gave to her brother. Falling even harder and deeper
after the barbecue. After watching him with Zeus and seeing what a great father he would be.
Someone she would have been proud to introduce to her own parents.
But when, outside of a fairytale, did the gorgeous billionaire actually fall for the normal girl?
“Does that sound good to you?”
She looked into his deep blue eyes, and despite all the worries and questions circling inside of her,
she melted. Just like always. “It sounds amazing. I’ve been dying to see Sinful Night Club.” She
was pleased by how calmly and steadily the words came out, as if she actually had any self-control
at all where he was concerned.
* * *
Oh God, she thought on Friday night, I am so not in control.
How could she be when the evening was this fabulous? Darius was utterly gorgeous in a black tux
and white shirt. Dinner had been at an exclusive private club on Nob Hill that didn’t even have a
menu, where the waiter had recited delectable descriptions that left her mouth watering.
And so did Darius. He was his usual can’t-keep-his-hands-to-himself, first at the restaurant, and
then at the theater in their private box. Almost as if he wanted to keep spinning her out on the
delicious edge of pleasure every moment so that she couldn’t spare one single brain cell to dwell on
worries and questions. He’d made her feel special, desirable, irresistible, beautiful—as though she
was the center of his world.
After she’d visited the ladies’ room during the intermission, she found Darius in the crush of
elegantly dressed theater patrons, amid photographers snapping pictures of the beautiful, rich, and
famous. He was waiting for her just down the hall, a champagne glass in each hand.
“You looked thirsty.” He kissed the tip of her nose.
It was so sweet, something a man did to a woman who belonged to him. As though they were a real
couple rather than just friends with benefits. As though he felt for her exactly what she was feeling
for him. Despite all the reminders she kept giving herself, she couldn’t help but be totally swept up
in the romance of it all.
Until a male voice came between them. “Darius, it’s good to see you outside of the office.”
The man was older, mid-forties maybe, and well-bred handsome. His short dark hair had very little
silver in it, and his eyes were a steel gray that seemed to pierce through everything. Nathalie’s hair
wasn’t exclusive-salon prepped, her nails weren’t manicured, and her dress was off-the-rack among
all the designer gowns floating around the mezzanine. She’d never cared about any of that
before...but compared to the drop-dead-gorgeous woman hanging on the man’s arm, Nathalie felt
horribly out of her depth. Just the way she had several times before, when Darius had swept her into
his amazing world of fast cars and caviar.
“Calyx, great to see you, too.” Darius voice was warm as he held out his hand and the two men
shook. “Mariam.” His voice became slightly less warm. “Please meet Nathalie.” He slid his fingers
around Nathalie’s, then told her, “Calyx is business manager for the Baddrick Group.”
The beautiful Mariam was staring at Nathalie’s hand clasped in Darius. She smiled, but despite her
lush lips, perfect cheekbones, and expert makeup, the smile didn’t move beyond that slight twitch
of her mouth. Her manicured grip tightened on Calyx’s arm.
Darius made polite conversation. “I’m so glad Nathalie agreed to come with me tonight.”
“It’s been such a treat,” she said, hoping her smile looked genuine despite her discomfort beneath
the other woman’s laser-focused gaze.
When Calyx smiled back, it filled his face and deepened the laugh lines at the corners of his eyes.
“A Sinful treat.”
“Oh Calyx, you’re so funny and smart.” Mariam spoke for the first time, her tone sultry, as if she’d
whispered something naughty. Her gold dress sparkled with tiny jewels that Nathalie thought might
actually be real.
She would not feel bad in her classic black cocktail dress, one she’d been so pleased to find on sale
last year.
Darius squeezed Nathalie’s fingers as though he could hear her thoughts. Not wanting him to think
she wasn’t making an effort with his friends, she told them, “I haven’t been to the theater since The
Phantom of the Opera.”
“That show was here ages ago, wasn’t it?” Mariam drawled, as though she’d scored a point in a
game Nathalie hadn’t realized they were playing. “I’m so glad Calyx has been taking me to see
everything lately.” She stroked the arm she held and blinked bedroom eyes at him.
Calyx looked at Mariam, a line between his brows, then at Darius as if a light bulb was going on.
Oh. Well then. The light bulb had just gone on for Nathalie, too. Clearly, Darius had a history with
this woman. A sexy history, if Nathalie had to guess.
