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“Marc, the car is here. There is no more time for games.” She experienced an uncharacteristic longing to bury her face in her hands and cry. “Mama, can you get him upstairs to change?”
Still in his pajamas, Marc was running the circle from the kitchen, through the dining room, into the living room and back to the kitchen, arms held out, pretending he was an airplane. Noelle glanced at the clock. She wore no makeup, had thrown her hair into a damp updo because tussling with Marc had robbed her of the time to dry it, and her blouse was stained with syrup.
Noelle went to answer the door and discovered not a driver, but Christian standing on her steps. His eyes narrowed when he caught sight of her, and she realized he’d never seen her in such disarray.
She gestured him in. “Good morning, Christian. Please come in. There’s coffee in the kitchen.” Behind her came Marc’s protesting wail and her mother’s warning tone. “As you can tell, my household is in chaos and I’m running late. I thought you were the driver I hired to take us to the airport. He was supposed to be here twenty minutes ago.”
Rather than walk past her, Christian backed her against the entry wall and cupped her face in gentle hands. Her muscles went limp as his lips covered hers. The kiss was tender and full of longing. She opened to him, sliding her hands into his hair to keep their mouths fused together.
A low groan built in her chest. It was the first time he’d touched her like this since she’d broken off their engagement, and she felt like a spring flower coming to life after a long, harsh winter.
“Prince Papa.” Marc’s slippered feet thudded down the hall toward them.
Christian broke off the kiss and surveyed Noelle with enigmatic eyes before turning to scoop his son off the floor and lift him high above his head.
While her son shrieked in delight, Noelle put a hand to her chest and snatched several seconds to recover. In the long years apart from him, she’d forgotten that being kissed by Christian was an excellent way to begin her day.
As Christian set Marc back on his feet, Noelle nudged her son toward Mara. “Marc, please go upstairs with Nana and get dressed so we can be ready to leave if the car ever gets here.”
“Noooo.” And before Noelle could stop him, he’d bolted out the still-open front door, his howl fading as he raced away.
She started for the door, but Christian caught her arm. “I’ll get him. Why don’t you take a couple minutes and have some of that coffee you mentioned earlier.”
“We’re already running late. If we don’t get going now, we’ll miss the plane.” She thought of the appointments set up for later that day and bit her lower lip in frustration.
“I’ll get you there.”
She shook her head. “I have a car coming.”
“I mean to New York.”
Behind him, Marc flashed by on the front lawn. Noelle was so focused on her annoyance with Marc that it took a moment for Christian’s words to penetrate.
“How are you going to do that?”
His slow smile sent goose bumps racing over Noelle’s skin. “I have a very luxurious private plane gassed up and waiting for us at the airport.”
“Us?” What was he saying?
“I’ve cleared my schedule for the next few days so I could accompany you and Marc to New York. I thought that while you worked, Marc and I could play.”
Instantly Noelle knew her son would love that. Spending time with his father had become something he now looked forward to, and it would ease Noelle’s mind knowing Marc wouldn’t be cooped up in a hotel room with a stranger their entire stay.
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t. I volunteered.”
Her mind flashed to the kiss a moment earlier. “I hope you understand I’m going on business. What just happened...” She made a vague gesture toward the spot where he’d pinned her to the wall and kissed her senseless. “I hope you don’t think...”
The glow in his eyes told her that’s exactly what he was thinking, but he shook his head. “I’m going to spend time with Marc. You don’t need to worry that I’ll distract you from any of your plans.”
Oh, he’d distract her, all right. The craving to make love with him purred in her body like a contented cat. It would only be a matter of time before it woke and dug in its sharp claws.
“I guess then I can send the driver on his way.”
“Already done.”
Before she could protest his high-handedness, Christian was out the door.
