Chapter Eight
PREDICTABLY, LUCA DID not sleep one wink on the eleven-hour flight.
With only a four-hour time difference between London and Grenada, they touched down in St. George a little past his bedtime, but not too far past the zones within which he might become overly dysregulated and struggle even more to find sleep.
As it happened, Luca’s eyes began to droop just as they got into the sleek chauffeur-driven car and made their way along the coastline of the capital city.
With her own eyes dry and aching with tiredness, Astrid felt as if she were in a dream as the car swept through security at a set of impressive gates, leading to a long tree-lined driveway, and the facade of a grand villa came into view.
The smell of sea salt and the sound of waves crashing surrounded her as her door was opened and the balmy night breeze invaded the car.
Apollo’s gaze drifted to where Luca still slumped fully asleep and she saw his brief moment of hesitation.
‘Will he wake if I carry him?’ he asked.
Astrid shook her head, gently sliding her arm out from under Luca’s little body and angling him to a more easily accessible position.
A lump formed in her throat as she watched the careful, almost reverential way Apollo lifted his son into his arms for the first time.
Their eyes met across the darkness of the car interior and she saw a flash of intense emotion there before he looked away.
Their bags were already being brought inside by a small army of housekeeping staff so there was nothing for Astrid to do other than follow Apollo into the grand hall of the impressive villa.
Despite it most certainly being another very large home for one man, she was surprised at the warmth and personality of the interior.
Wooden beams and green potted plants added to the general feeling of comfort amongst the colourful modern decor.
This home was not like his others; there was no artifice and polish here, no priceless paintings or marble busts of ancient emperors.
Instead, the walls contained large canvases and framed photography of… turtles?
In fact, when she looked closer, there were even tiny turtle motifs in the woodwork of the staircase too.
As they reached a short corridor on the second floor, she watched the lamplight play on the wide expanse of Apollo’s shoulders and noticed that, un-styled, the curls on top of his head were almost identical to Luca’s.
He guided them into a large bedroom near the end of the hall.
They’d barely had a chance to speak throughout most of the flight, with Luca a blur of movement around the cabin.
When he had discovered the pile of toys Apollo had purchased, her son had insisted they all sit together and unbox each item one by one.
Much of his communication came in the form of pointing and lifting his preferred grown-up’s hands in the direction of the item he wished to look at.
It was usually only Astrid or Jem who got his glittering sparkles of sentences.
He used spoken language sparingly, though he had proven time and time again that he had a more than average understanding of vocabulary for a boy his age.
She had already mentioned that Luca was autistic to Apollo, giving him a few tips to help smooth the way, but she had not elaborated further than that.
She wanted Luca to be understood for who he was, rather than being the result of a series of key points from an Internet search.
As far as first meetings went, they’d done brilliantly.
For a man who had worried he’d have no idea how to interact with children, Apollo had been gentle and patient, which was all she could ask for.
He’d taken her tips on board, of course, but more than that he’d asked Luca questions instead of directing his queries to Astrid, as many others sometimes did.
He also hadn’t pushed or reacted with disappointment when he hadn’t received a spoken answer.
She helped him to get the sleeping boy into bed and they both tip-toed from the room.
‘I’ve had your things brought next door to the master bedroom.’
‘Isn’t that…your bedroom?’
‘Usually, yes.’ His eyes met hers, a flicker of that same intensity she’d seen downstairs burning bright for just the barest second before he ran a hand through his hair. ‘No need to look so nervous, Astrid. I have other guest rooms to choose from.’
‘I’m not nervous.’
‘Your constant jumping from my touch and attention tells me otherwise.’ He sighed. ‘But, as I said before, my reasons for bringing you here are mostly practical. And I thought you’d want to sleep near Luca, considering he’s in a new place.’
‘That’s thoughtful, thank you.’ She waited for a breath, feeling awkward in the prolonged silence between them after a day of determinedly disregarding the other tense moments they’d shared during their whirlwind reunion in Italy.
Moments that she had already decided could not be repeated if they hoped to co-parent successfully.
Sure, she’d ached when she’d remembered coming apart in his arms on that sofa in Venice, and she knew it would be all too easy to lose that control again.
But, whilst Apollo was intent upon building a connection with his son, he’d given no indication that he had any other intentions towards her.
He was used to travelling the globe, and was never photographed with the same woman twice.
After ending her first relationship, Astrid had decided never again to let a man change her plans.
Certainly, since Luca had been born, she’d vowed that if she ever risked another relationship it would only be with someone who slotted into the life she’d built with her son.
And, while the idea of casual sex with Apollo Accardi was…
incredibly tempting, it was better this way, keeping their relationship focused solely on Luca.
Apollo led her into the master suite, a grand room that had a wall of windows to the front of the property. Inky-black night was all that greeted her when she threw open one door and stared out, but the sound of waves and the smell of sea salt told her that the morning view would be spectacular.
‘If you’re worried that I’m going to demand you share my bed while we’re here, you can relax,’ he mumbled. ‘Unless, you want me to demand it?’
‘Of course not!’
‘No?’ He stepped closer. ‘Because in Venice you were all for continuing to explore that part of our little reunion.’
‘I wasn’t exactly thinking straight then,’ she said, fighting the urge to add that she never seemed to think straight around him.
Instead, she crossed her arms and straightened her spine in an effort to feel even a modicum of control.
‘Apollo, you know that sex would only complicate things between us.’
‘Don’t you think “complicated” is just another word for exciting?’
‘If we have any hope of being successful co-parents, we need to not have any more conflicts of interest between us than there already are.’
‘Conflict of interest,’ he said darkly. ‘That’s truly how you see this?’
‘I still work for Falco Roux, and you’re still dealing with your situation at Elite One. We have a son together.’
‘You think all of those things change the fact that we can’t go five minutes without wanting to tear one another’s clothing off?’
‘Contrary to my previous behaviour, I do possess some self-control.’ Astrid bit down on her lower lip. ‘Already Luca and I have been swept away from London and we’re staying here in your home. I won’t risk confusing him for the sake of a quick fling.’
‘What makes you think it would be quick?’ He raised a brow.
‘I’m serious; your exciting dating lifestyle isn’t something I expect you to change just because you’ve become a father. Just as I don’t plan to change my own. We should keep things clear between us, no complications.’
‘Seems like you’re well-acquainted with my wild dating history. Care to share yours?’
‘Compared to you, there’s nothing to share.’ She shrugged. ‘Once Luca came along, I decided that I wouldn’t get involved with anyone unless I knew it could be serious. Since you, there hasn’t been anyone.’
‘Good.’ He turned away, pinching the bridge of his nose. ‘I mean, it’s good that you know what your boundaries are.’
‘I have to.’ She shrugged. ‘When breaking them affects more than just me.’
Apollo’s gaze turned serious. ‘I brought you both here to keep you safe and I meant every word—my protection does not come with the condition that you share my bed. In fact, how about this—I give you my solemn word that I will not attempt to seduce you.’
‘Okay…thank you.’ She bit back a smirk, amazed at how he could make such a strange and serious admission playful.
‘I respect your need to lay down some ground rules. I mean it: if that’s what you want, I won’t touch you again.’ He walked as far as the door, turning just before he moved out of sight. ‘Just remember, I never said that you couldn’t break those rules yourself.’
Over the next few days, Apollo appointed himself as their personal tour guide, taking them on day trips to explore the beaches and nature trails that surrounded his property, as well as arranging boat trips to let Luca view the various coastal sights from a comfortable distance as they eased into their new surroundings.
They adapted a new routine, rising early to eat breakfast together on the veranda before packing picnic lunches to bring out on their travels.
If Apollo was dissatisfied with her wish not to include visits to some of Grenada’s fine dining establishments, he didn’t say.
Luca’s diet was limited to some of his preferred familiar brands which she had been sure to pack enough of, as well as specifically prepared fruits, vegetables and pasta shapes.
Astrid, on the other hand, adored food in all its forms but she didn’t need to be wined and dined, not when the main point of this trip was for Apollo to get to know their son.