Chapter 2

Royce hesitated at the foot of the stairs for a few seconds. He had slept in this morning after a somewhat restless night. But he could hear the muted conversation coming from the open doors of the dining room down the hall, indicating that his mother and daughter had slept late as well and were now having a late breakfast.

Squaring his shoulders, he headed that way and stepped into the informal dining room to see them seated at the table.

"Hi, Daddy." Madison's subdued voice greeted him as soon as he entered the room.

"Good morning." Dismissing the maid hovering at the sideboard, he strode to pour a cup of coffee.

"Grandma and I are going to the pool."

"I see." He had thought about taking the cup to his office to review some contracts, but interpreting his mother"s pleading look, he reluctantly slid out of a chair and sat down.

"Would you like to come?"

"I have work-"

"It will be just a few minutes, and I am sure Madison would like to show you how much she has improved her swimming technique."

Giving her a faintly sardonic look, he turned to look at his daughter. It never ceased to amaze him how much of St. Clair's genes she had inherited.

The blue-black hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and the blue-gray eyes were staring at him with hopefulness, which made him uncomfortable. She was a beautiful child, he thought absently as he continued to sip his coffee.

"I suppose I could spare a few minutes."

She was about to shout when his laser-sharp eyes kept her in her seat. "Thank you, Daddy," she said primly instead.

Rachel beamed at her to take the sting out of her father's lack of enthusiasm. "Why don't you go upstairs and have the nanny pick a bathing suit?"

Madison darted a look at her father as if seeking his permission. When he nodded, she carefully scraped back her chair and rose, walking out of the room with measured steps. It wasn't until she was in the hallway that they heard her footsteps pounding on the hardwood floor.

"You are too hard on her." Rachel buttered her scones with the fresh homemade jelly before looking at her son.

"So you have repeatedly told me." Leaning back in the chair, he stretched his legs out as he stared at her. "And you spoil her rotten."

"She is just a little girl. One whose mother-"

"Don't." His voice was low, but his tone"s menace had her pause. His look was harsh and forbidding, and Rachel felt anger rising inside her.

That despicable woman had done this. She had walked into their lives and wreaked havoc in their household. She did not recognize her son anymore. He was thirty-five years old and did not intend to settle down.

"I am simply saying that Madison is trying so hard to please you."

"She can please me immensely by behaving like a lady."

Rachel opened her mouth to argue that the child was still very young but thought better of it. "Thank you for agreeing to go to the pool with us."

He inclined his head briefly. "I have some work to do, so it will only be for a few minutes." Turning his left wrist, he glanced at his watch. "The blueprint for the Holland building has been approved."

"That's wonderful news!"

Royce nodded. "I will drive to the location and look at the structure."

"Why don't you take Madison with you?" She asked suddenly.

"You want me to take a child to a derelict building that has been abandoned for more than a century? Are you insane?"

Rachel shrugged slightly. "She is curious about her legacy. I have shown her photos of the buildings all over the world that were redesigned by St. Clair's, and she is pretty excited. She has an inquisitive mind and is very smart for her age."

"Even so, I will not be taking her with me." His tone was implacable.

"She wants to spend more time with you." Rachel's voice was rife with frustration. "She barely sees you; whenever she does, you reprimand her for something trivial. Very soon, she will be all grown up and off to college, and you will regret not taking the time to be with her. I don't want you to live in regret, Royce."

"Did father have any such emotion?" The look on his face had her drawing back slightly. "When he left my upbringing to you and the slew of maids, he never once came into my room to say goodnight. Are you implying that I am behaving in a like manner?"

"Darling-"

He shook his head and shoved back his chair. "I am finding this discussion in terrible taste. I will spend a few minutes with you and Madison, and then I have pressing work to attend to."

Rachel watched as he strode from the room, a look of defeat on her lovely face.

*****

Indie rolled over in bed and stared up at the plain ceiling of her bedroom. She was tired but not overly so. Yesterday had been very hectic at the shop, with last-minute tourists rushing in to make purchases.

She smiled slightly as she recalled how they had exclaimed over the various things offered and were not afraid to spend their money.

Their eight p.m. closing time had been extended by well over an hour, and after that, Indie had urged her employees to go home while she stayed back and locked up the store. She had not left the store until almost eleven.

Her mind drifted back to how long she had fallen asleep. The conversation with Miriam had brought back the awful yearnings that had become more pronounced the older she got. She was childless and not in a relationship, and the two relationships she had been in had failed abysmally.

She had always been cautious about her choices in men. The first had been when she turned twenty-five, and Glen had been delighted that she had been a virgin.

They had been together for two years before she discovered that he had been cheating on her with a man. The discovery had left her reeling. He had apologized profusely, telling her he was in love with her and that part of him would not have to be an issue.

She had been sickened by the terrible ordeal, and it had taken her a long time to get back out there. Two years ago, when she turned thirty, she met David- her hands clenched into fists, and she recalled how ‘sweet and loving' he had been.

She had thought she had met the man of her dreams. He had been so attentive. He had told her he was a partner at his law firm when he was just a law clerk. He had been more attracted to her bank account than to her.

The bells had started clanging inside her head when he asked her for money.

"The firm is going through some difficulties, darling, and I need to chip in. This important client is signing with us, which will make a huge difference. I want to marry you and have children, but I want to provide for you as you are accustomed to."

He had fooled her with his sweet words and empty promises. Her brother eventually stepped in and did his investigations, only to discover that David had been married and had two children he was not caring for.

By then, he had wheedled almost ten thousand dollars out of her, money he would not be returning. After that, she stayed away from relationships. And when the doctor told her about her situation, it left her heartbroken.

She wanted to be a mother so much that she would dream about it. Sitting up against her mountain of pillows, she dragged her hands over her face and closed her eyes. The store was doing very well- so much so that she spoke with her brother, her accountant, about opening up another location.

But in his usual cautious manner, he had told her to hold off on that.

"You are doing well, but you don't want to overextend yourself too quickly. Take some time to enjoy the success of this one store for now."

He was looking out for her as usual and doing his best- to be the protective big brother, especially after her latest disastrous relationship. He had firmly assigned himself as her protector and insisted on checking in on her almost daily. It was exasperating, but she loved the fact that he did.

Shoving the covers off, she climbed out of bed and went straight to the list of things she had stuck on the side of her dresser to take care of.

*****

"Daddy, look!" Madison cried enthusiastically as she did a perfect backflip.

"Wonderful, darling," Rachel called out when her son did not respond immediately. Seeing how hard the little girl tried to impress her father was heartbreaking. He had come to the pool dressed in cargo shorts and white tees but had been on his phone almost the entire time.

"Royce?"

With a grunt, he looked up with a hint of impatience.

"Your daughter is showing off for you."

Turning his head, he gazed at the girl floating on her back. "Why don't you join her?"

Without a word, he put down his phone, took off his shirt, went to the lip of the pool, and dove cleanly into the azure blue water. With a grateful smile, Rachel watched as he swam out to meet the little girl who shrieked in delight as he dribbled water on her head.

"Daddy, I love you," Madison told him solemnly as he was about to sink below the surface.

The candid admission had him going still, and the words were strangled in his throat. Her words left him panicked and strange, and he had no idea what to say to her. Lifting a hand, he touched her head briefly. "Go and get something to eat," he told her gruffly.

She did not comment on his lack of response, but with a quick smile, she swam away from him. He watched her for a few seconds before diving below the surface, swimming for a few minutes until he could feel the strain in his arms.

Only then did he break the surface and make his way to the lip of the pool. Easing himself up, he grabbed a towel.

Madison was chatting up a storm with her grandmother, who was listening attentively and smiling in encouragement. He figured he could make himself scarce. He had spent half an hour—more than he had planned to stay—and catch up on some work.

"You are leaving?"

Dragging on his shirt, he turned to look at his mother.

"Yes." He told her briefly, eyes wandering over to where his daughter was looking up at him, the disappointment on her beautiful face.

"Daddy, aren't you going to eat?"

"I had a sandwich, and I have work to do. I will see you both at dinner."

"You will be here?" She asked eagerly.

"Yes.' He clipped. "Excuse me." Before his mother could say anything else, he turned and walked away, his long legs eating up the distance.

Going straight up the staircase, he headed straight for his suite. Dragging off the wet clothing, he put on sweats and a fresh t-shirt before entering the office. Going straight to the cabinet, he poured a finger of bourbon, taking it to his desk.

Sitting on the edge, he took a sip and idly sifted through the files he had placed there last night. His mind kept going back to his daughter and the expression on her face. Not only that, but she had also said she loved him, and he had been unable to say it back.

Was he incapable of love? More to the point, was he incapable of loving his flesh and blood? He had cut himself off from feeling anything more complicated than lust. He was a perfectly normal red-blooded male who, more often than not, felt the need to have sex, and that was what it boiled down to - just sex.

He had nothing more to give, and he made that clear. But his daughter was a different matter. She was his blood, had come from his loins, and he should at least make the effort.

But he couldn't. He felt disabled when he tried, as if he was caught in a time loop that left him frozen. Tossing back the rest of the liquor, he slammed the glass down and determinedly went to work.

*****

He had no idea what woke him in the middle of the night. Dinner had been stilted, with his mother trying to fill the silence at the table and his daughter eagerly trying to draw him into a discussion about some mermaid movie she had watched with her nanny. He had excused himself after the meal and headed straight to his office.

The insistent touch on his shoulder had him turning over and opening his eyes. He had switched off the bedside lamp, but the light from the full moon filtering through the floor-to-ceiling window allowed him to see the little girl sitting on the edge of the bed, her dark hair streaming over her shoulders.

She clutched her panda to her chest as she stared at him, eyes huge. A frown touched his brow, and he was about to sit up when he remembered that he was completely naked. Something had made him pull the sheets over him last night, and he was grateful for that.

"What are you doing here?"

"I am sick." She whispered. "My throat is scratchy, and I feel achy."

"Where is your nanny?"

"She is not back until tomorrow."

Swearing beneath his breath, he stared at her for a few seconds before reaching for the phone.

"Hello?" His mother's sleepy voice answered.

"Mother, I apologize for waking you. Madison is in my room and said she is not feeling well."

"Would you like me to come and get her?"

"I would appreciate that."

"No!" She cried. "I want you, Daddy."

"Calm down," he told her coolly. "Grandma is coming to take you back to your room, and we will find out what's happening."

"But I want to stay in your bed."

"That's not going to happen." Hanging up the phone, he tugged the sheets over him and wondered if he should lock his door in future. Reaching a hand, he touched her forehead and realized she was running a temperature.

Looking up in relief when the doors were opened, he gave his mother a grateful smile as she came forward.

"Take her back to her room. She is running a temperature. Do we have any of that medicine left?"

"I am sure it's just a virus. Hi, darling." Holding her arms, she clasped the little girl to her, lifting her into her arms.

"Daddy, will you come with us?"

"In a minute. Thanks, Mother." He waited until they had left and closed the doors before climbing off the bed to put on some clothes.

*****

"I feel better, Daddy." The little girl gave him a hopeful look as he sat on the edge of the bed. Madison's room was typical of a little girl's room, with pink and white decor and delicate white antique furnishings. The headboard was intricately designed as a mermaid, with wispy pink and white curtains around the strong columns.

A pink and white table with a delicate tea set was tucked beneath the wide window. Next to it was a vast dollhouse, and across the room was a case filled with dolls and stuffed toys.

"Good." He started to rise when she gripped his hand.

"Can you stay until I fall asleep?" She pleaded.

"You need to go to sleep-"

"I will." She promised. "I just need you to stay with me for a bit."

He reluctantly complied. His mother did the necessary things by giving her some medicine and orange juice. Now, it was his time.

"Ten minutes," he told her.

She nodded eagerly, clutching her panda to her pink and white nightgown. "Can you read me a story?" She asked, hoping.

He opened his mouth to refuse, but something on her face made him reach for the book on her nightstand.

"That's my favorite." She told him solemnly. "It's about a princess and a dinosaur."

His thick black brows lifted. "It seems you already know the ending."

"I do." She nodded, her dark hair tumbling around her face. "But I love it so much that I want to hear it again."

Opening the book, he glanced at the illustrations and the large font rising from the thick page and started to read. Madison slid down on her pillows, her adoring eyes gazing at his handsome face. She was hypnotized by his deep baritone, who knew how to keep the story interesting by lifting and lowering his voice for the utmost effect.

He was her Daddy - she thought proudly as the effect of the medication started to take effect. Struggling to keep her eyes open, she wished he could stay with her for the rest of the night and that he could love her. Grandma said he did, but he had no idea how to say the words, which did not make sense to her.

Royce closed the book and watched her for a minute to ensure she was asleep. Then, putting the book on the table, he rose, tucking the sheets around her.

A frown crossed his brow as he stared at her delicate complexion, the long dark lashes making shadows on her smooth cheeks. She was a beautiful child, he thought. Turning away, he left the room, closing the door halfway. He was just turning away when he saw his mother leave her suite.

"She is asleep."

"You read to her." Rachel wrapped the silk robe around her and tied the sash.

"She insisted."

"Her favorite princess and dinosaur book."

"Yes. She is no longer running a temp, but we should call Monica to come and take a look at her," he said, referring to Madison's pediatrician.

"I think it's an excellent idea." She stood there looking at him. "I appreciate that you are trying."

He gave a noncommittal shrug. "She is not allowed to just come into my room without an invitation. I was not wearing a stitch of clothing."

"She would not know that, and perhaps in the future, you will consider that she is a little girl and is vying for your attention."

He glowered at her and did not respond.

"Royce-"

"I have to go back to bed." Turning on his heels, he strode off in the opposite direction.

Sighing softly, Rachel padded over to her granddaughter's door and opened it slowly to look in. Madison was fast asleep, her panda clutched to her chest.

A tender smile touched her lips as she stared at the little girl. At least Royce had been forced to spend some time with her. She prayed that there would be many more of these incidents where he would have no choice but to do so.

She could not resist walking into the room and sitting on the edge of the bed, careful not to disturb her sleep. Lifting a hand, she brushed back the dense dark hair from her forehead, her touch gentle. She was still praying for a miracle—that somehow the right woman would be a mother to this beautiful girl and a wife to her troubled son.