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Seb tilted his head, looking sympathetic. ‘You need some time off?’
Ben shook his head. ‘I need to work.’
‘Why?’ Seb’s brow furrowed. ‘What’s going on, Ben? You’ve been different lately. First your trip away with your “university friend” then a sudden desire to revamp our hotels for the family market. Anything you need to tell me?’
‘She’s pregnant,’ Ben said, his voice flat.
Seb’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Really? Well, that explains a lot. When did you find out?’
‘Last night.’
‘Oh. So the hotel thing was...?’
‘Coincidental. I hadn’t seen her since we came back from the cottage. She stopped by last night and told me. I...reacted badly.’
‘You were exhausted last night, Ben. I’m sure if you call her, talk to her...’
‘No. She’s right. It’s better that I’m not a part of the baby’s life.’
‘She said that?’ Seb shook his head. ‘That can’t possibly be true.’
Ben shrugged. ‘What could I give a child? I have no idea how to be a father, my job means travelling pretty much all of the time, and I won’t force a kid to come along with me like Dad did. This is something I can’t fix. She told me as much.’
‘You mean you won’t try.’ Seb’s tone was flat. Disappointed.
Ben glared up at him. ‘You don’t think I would if I could?’
‘I think you’re scared. I think you’ve got so used to swooping in and solving a crisis before retiring victorious you’ve forgotten that some things take more than that. Some things are worth more than that. More than just throwing money at a problem, or hiring and firing people.’
‘That’s my job,’ Ben snapped.
‘Yeah, and this is your life. Your future. It deserves more than a quick fix. Your child deserves more.’ Seb stared until Ben flinched. ‘You need to decide right now that you’re in this for the long haul.’
The long haul. For ever.
With Luce.
After the last couple of months of being miserable without her, how could he give that up without a fight?
Ben swallowed. ‘Okay. Say I’m in. What the hell do I do? She still thinks I’m the same person I was at university, with no sense of responsibility. She thinks I’ve never grown up.’
‘Then maybe it’s time to prove her wrong,’ Seb suggested.
Ben blinked at his brother. ‘What do you mean?’
Seb got to his feet, coming round to lean against the front of the conference table, next to Ben’s chair. Ben appreciated the gesture. It made it easier to remember that Seb was his brother, not just his boss, and definitely not their father all over again. Brothers. That was good.
‘You’re not that kid any more. I remember you at university. You’re miles away from that now. You work hard, you value your friends, you want to make a home—’
‘Where did you get that one from?’ Ben asked with a laugh. ‘I live in hotel rooms.’
‘Maybe. But I’ve heard you talk about your cottage. About your plans for the château. What are they, if not homes?’
An image of Luce, leaning against the kitchen counter in the cottage while he cooked, flashed into his mind. Then one of her curled up on the sofa with a book and a blanket. Working at the desk. Sprawled across his bed, smiling at him, waiting for him to join her.
The buildings weren’t home. Whatever he did to them, however he filled them, they couldn’t be—not on their own.
They needed Luce there. Luce was home. Luce and their child.
‘Oh, God,’ he said, collapsing back in his chair. ‘I’m in love with her.’
‘Well, I thought that was obvious,’ Seb said. ‘Now, what do you want to do about it?’
‘What can I do? She thinks I’m an idiot, and I still can’t imagine how I could have a family right now.’
Seb picked up the phone. ‘Business Services? Could you get us some more coffee in here, please? And we’re going to need the room a little longer than anticipated. We need to have an important planning meeting. Right now.’
‘Do you want me to send in some pastries, too?’ came the muffled reply.
‘Definitely,’ Seb said, looking at Ben. ‘Now, come on. Let’s find a way to make this work.’
* * *
‘I can help with that, you know,’ Luce called up the stairs, behind the struggling Dolly and her suitcase. ‘I’m pregnant. Not an invalid.’
‘You’re trying to save me again,’ Dolly yelled back.
‘No, I’m not. I’m...’ But Dolly had already reached the top of the stairs and disappeared into her new bedroom. Since she wasn’t allowed to help with any of the fetching and carrying, Luce decided to go and make tea instead. At least that was useful.
