A knock on the door interrupted her ruminating. Another freaking delivery so soon? Muttering beneath her breath, Lily stomped out to answer it. ‘Yes?’
His eyebrows arched.
Her jaw dropped.
In the resulting stillness she absorbed his drawn features, the tired-but-wired intensity in his tall stance, the perfectly cut navy shirt that fitted his lean frame and deepened his blue eyes.Thiswas the reason she’d needed a complete break from him. Because it only tookonelook and she was utterly weak already. She would resist. She folded her arms across her chest.
‘I—’ He broke off and cleared his throat as the unmistakable soundtrack of the P1 opening credits blared from behind her. ‘You’re watching the race?’
She hesitated. Nodded. ‘Did you want to—’
‘Yes.’ He moved forward.
She pressed back against the wall so he wouldn’t brush against her, then closed the door. She wasn’t going to remember what happened the last time they’d watched a race together. She was going to bestrong. But her delightful cottage suddenly felt far too small.
‘I’ve been getting a lot of deliveries,’ she muttered as she followed him into the lounge. ‘Most of them aren’t necessary, Massimo.’
His lips twisted into the smallest strained smile. ‘I brought you this.’
He set an envelope on the little table near her.
Paperwork? She definitely didn’t want paperwork—not a cheque or some contract that would put her further in his debt. ‘What is it?’
‘The results of the paternity test, I think.’
‘Is that why you’re here?’ Lily pressed her hands together, trying to shrink into herself.
‘No.’ He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her. ‘I’ve been an idiot. I screwed up, Lily. I’m so sorry.’
Lily didn’t want to ask what he was sorry for. Honestly, she was afraid to breathe in case he flitted away and she’d be left alone again. That this visit was actually just a figment of her wishful imagination.
‘I should have told you why I was on the cargo plane,’ he said. ‘I should have talked to you about your parents before doing anything for them. There are so many things I should have done differently. I moved too fast and I’m sorry for rushing you. But I can slow down. I can explain.’ He didn’t slow, though, he paced, unintentionally emphasising the snug dimensions of the space. ‘A lot of people are drawn to Hearnshawe. There’s history, past success. People want a piece of it. Several targeted Emiliano. They’re more wary of me.’
‘Maybe it’s that cold reputation you’ve cultivated,’ she muttered. ‘I get it, you’re wary about new people in his life.’
He stopped in the middle of the room, his blue gaze fixed on her. ‘I watched those four seconds of him talking to you and all I saw was a pretty neck and delicate jaw and a hint of honey-coloured hair. I wanted to see the rest of you. I got the barest glimpse on the plane before it went dark. Then we talked and then I just wanted you all to myself.Notbeing Massimo Hearnshawe for a few moments, flirting with a fascinating woman who was funny and bright—I was spellbound. That impulse overrode everything rational in me.’
Lily stiffened. She’d been animpulse.
‘When we landed you recognised me on the tarmac and you were furious. You didn’t want anything to do withme. It was humbling. And yeah, it was bad enough that I was effectively your boss and if I’d said anything more then you’d have quit and I didn’t want that. I tried to step back. Tried to respect your wishes. I kept my distance. But I watched you and the more I watched, the more I learned and the more I liked. Then I thought we could have a party in Singapore, that I could see you outside of work. Which I know is stupid because it was a work party, but I was desperate and I thought I might get to see you in a dress. But then you were late. And then…’ His shoulders lifted. ‘I was so rude to you when we first found out, but it wasn’t long before I realised I wasn’t angry. I was scared. But I wanted it, because I wanted you.’
Lily was having a hard time processing everything. She stepped back, sinking her weak body onto the sofa. ‘Are you saying you came to the Singapore race just to see me?’
‘Everything I’ve done in the last two months has been withyouas the primary object in my mind.’
The whole two months? ‘You came to more races.’
‘Yes.’
‘You arranged a party just to see me in a dress.’
‘Yes.’
‘You were ridiculously nice to my parents.’
‘I wasn’t that nice to them.’ He looked rueful. ‘I own their garage. I own their home. I told them any contact was up to you, and only if they apologised. I also told them if they upset you in any way, if they harassed you, then I’d change the locks and throw them out on the street like they’d once done to you.’
‘Oh.’ A wave of emotion buffeted her. ‘You’re right. That wasn’t that nice,’ she whispered.
