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“Join me as in naked?” she wiggles her brows.
“Maybe,” I answer and glance at the door when there’s a knock. “Let me see who that is.”
Tonight is the opening of my new hotel, Nirvana, and at Sirena’s suggestion we are staying in one of the suites. It’s the only way to make it possible for Sirena to join me when I official declare the hotel open for business. She won’t be joining me for the beginning of the evening, but after a conversation with her brother, Joshua, she will be there for the most important part. It’s when I plan to announce our engagement, which I think I’m looking forward to the most.
Opening the door to our suite, I’m surprised, but glad to see Michael and Lily McKenzie. I’d invited them to the event this evening, which they’d gladly accepted. However, this unexpected visit, I hope, will be stress free for Sirena.
“Please come in,” I invite, stepping away from the door.
“Thank you,” Michael says.
“Mom?” Sirena questions from her idle position on the couch.
Lily quickly moves and embraces her daughter while Michael stays unmoving at the door. His focus of love shifts from his wife and daughter to me with an unreadable expression. “We need to talk.”
“We do,” I agree. “Your daughter needs to see you first, then we’ll go to my office.”
Michael nods and without further hesitation, he moves to wrap Sirena up in his arms. He kisses her on the forehead and wipes at her tears with his thumbs. “We haven’t let anything or anyone come between us before and we’re not going to do that now, okay, honey?” He cups her head between his large hands while he awaits her answer.
“Okay, but you need to accept that I’m in love with Garrett. He’s the one that I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
Michael glances at me with a frown before returning his gaze to Sirena. He holds her stare before he leans forward and kisses her forehead. “I’m going to talk to him first before I make up my mind.”
Sirena groans in frustration and struggles to sit up so I slip in and assist her while her father moves out of the way. She grabs my hand, tugging me down beside her. I smile and wrap an arm around her shoulders while her parents sit on the couch opposite.
“Sirena’s blood pressure is slightly high,” I inform them, “which I know Charlotte has told you, so you need to know that I’m not going to allow her to be upset by anyone, including family.”
“We’re not here to upset her,” Lily says and looks at her husband.
He wraps her hands up with his and says, “We . . . or rather I, didn’t react well before, and I’m sorry for that. We were taken by surprise.” Michael says to me, “Alexander speaks highly of you, and so does Charlotte . . . I can’t complain with how you’ve been taking care of our daughter, so thank you.”
I shake his offered hand. “She’s given me a reason to finally slow down from the workaholic that I’ve been. No more long trips overseas unless Sirena and baby are with me.” I kiss Sirena on the side of her head, and whisper, “I’m going to talk to your father.” I kiss her again and smile when I meet her frown. “Catch up with your mom.”
Unable to resist, I lean close and place a quick kiss to her lips. “Stay out of trouble.” I turn to Lily. “She isn’t supposed to be on her feet until later.”
Lily chuckles. “Don’t worry. I’ve had years of making sure she does what she’s told.”
Walking out of the suite with Michael, I hear Sirena groaning and her mom trying to placate her.
Michael hesitates. “Perhaps we should go back.”
I laugh. “Not yet. She’s fine and probably complaining about how obsessed I am with making sure that she follows the doctors orders.”
“Glad someone is making her see reason. Out of the four of them, Sirena is the most stubborn.” Michael shakes his head. “You really do love my daughter, huh?” he observes more than questions as I usher him into my office.
My assistant is behind him trying to wave me over so I tell her, “I’ll be available soon, but no calls.”
Closing the door, I momentarily lean against it. I feel like my head is about to explode with everything left to do for this evening, and even though I’ve delegated—for once in my life—I’m finding it hard to let go completely.
Pushing away from the door, I say, “I wanted to talk to you about your daughter.” I move to sit behind my large desk with more confidence than I actually feel. “I know it’s selfish of me to want to tie her to me for the rest of my life when she’s so much younger than me, but,” I hold his gaze, “I love her. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to make her happy.”
Michael searches my gaze and asks, “Her child?”
“There is only our child.” I smile. “She’s going to become my wife as soon as it can be ar
ranged. I want her to have my name when our baby is born. He or she will have my name too and I’ll always be the father.” I rest my hands on the desk and focus on Michael. “If she wants more children then that’s what she’ll have. I want to give her everything.”
All my cards are on the table now as I wait for him to say something. I’m well aware of the reputation that Michael McKenzie had many years before and it was something that I’d always respected, which was why for the last two hotels, I’ve used McKenzie Holdings to design and build them. Michael’s nephew, Alexander, is the mastermind behind Nirvana, and I’m hoping he’ll be there once I’m ready to start the project in Banff, Canada—the last project. Michael, however, is one of the founders of the company, but more importantly he’s the father of the woman I love.
