Chapter Thirteen
LILY GRITTED HER teeth as yet another delivery van pulled up in front of the cottage. What on earth could it be now? She couldn’t think of a single thing she needed, but the man thought of every tiny unnecessary detail.
She’d been here almost a week, living in the gorgeous cottage Massimo’s assistant had brought her to when he’d picked her up from the private flight she’d endured all alone from Singapore.
She’d wanted to hate it but she couldn’t.
Tucked behind an enormous brick wall with wrought iron gates, with its two bedrooms and cosy living room, the picturesque country cottage was just a half hour drive from Hearnshawe HQ.
It was no enormous soulless mansion in which she’d feel lost, but annoyingly was the perfect size for her.
Though the grounds were big. The pretty front garden was filled with flowers while at the rear, there was a double garage, plus another large shed.
Apparently, a small resistance swimming pool was being installed in there next week.
Boxes of gym gear and crates of mechanics tools had been arriving all week.
A builder had also appeared to ask endless questions about her setup preferences for both her workout and workshop spaces.
Two days ago a gleaming car had been delivered—the one she’d told Massimo was her favourite in the Hearnshawe range, fresh off the factory floor in cornflower blue.
It had to be a custom paint job. She’d tried not to look at it but lasted less than ten minutes before running her hand over the sleek design, then sitting inside and breathing in the beautiful interior fit.
Massimo Hearnshawe created nothing but the absolute best. That was what he was doing for her now, too—setting her up with everything she could ever possibly need.
She had to let him. This was the agreement she’d insisted upon.
She would stay where he wanted, as long as he stayed away from her.
She took the parcel from the delivery driver with a weary smile and set it on the dining table with the three others that had arrived yesterday. She was too heartsore to open them and too reluctant to dare contact Massimo and tell him to stop it. She couldn’t risk any direct contact.
It was great he would do anything for his cousin.
That he would do everything to protect his unborn child, too—even insist on marrying her.
All his actions were rooted in protectiveness and a deeply held sense of duty.
Obligation and responsibility was all he allowed into his life.
There was no real fun or laughter or love.
He stared at colour on a screen instead of experiencing it.
He guarded his heart with deliberately impenetrable walls because he felt guilty.
His grandfather had hurt him so much he’d literally locked him out of his life.
He’d locked Lily out, too, but that wasn’t because she’d hurt him—he’d never actually cared enough to be hurt.
He’d just been annoyed because she wouldn’t agree.
So he’d worked around her regardless with his high-handed, fix-it-all mentality that devastated her.
In all their time together he’d had an ulterior motive to protect someone else.
She’d never been his first consideration.
She’d not been that for her parents, either.
Their rejection had been bad enough, but Massimo’s actions stabbed even deeper.
He’d slipped beneath her barriers so easily.
He’d made her laugh, he’d made her relax, even made her begin to trust that they were connecting on more than that physical level.
But it hadn’t even been that. She could never get past knowing that he’d only been on that cargo plane to test her.
He’d never actually wanted just her in any of the intimate moments they’d shared.
Then she’d been stupid enough to ask for that most vital part of him anyway—unable to stop herself from hoping that maybe there had been more for him in the way there was so much more to it for her.
He’d frozen. He’d not argued. Not fought for her.
He’d just let her go. Silently. So easily.
Because she was not what he wanted and never really had been.
But being broken-hearted didn’t mean she was incapable. She would study, rebuild her career, eventually repay him for the cost. She’d started over completely before; she could do it again. Better this time—better for her baby.
A knock on the door interrupted her ruminating. Another freaking delivery so soon? Muttering beneath her breath, Lily stomped out to answer it. ‘Yes?’
His eyebrows arched.
Her jaw dropped.
In the resulting stillness she absorbed his drawn features, the tired-but-wired intensity in his tall stance, the perfectly cut navy shirt that fitted his lean frame and deepened his blue eyes.
This was the reason she’d needed a complete break from him.
Because it only took one look and she was utterly weak already.
She would resist. She folded her arms across her chest.
‘I—’ He broke off and cleared his throat as the unmistakable soundtrack of the P1 opening credits blared from behind her. ‘You’re watching the race?’
She hesitated. Nodded. ‘Did you want to—’
‘Yes.’ He moved forward.
She pressed back against the wall so he wouldn’t brush against her, then closed the door. She wasn’t going to remember what happened the last time they’d watched a race together. She was going to be strong. But her delightful cottage suddenly felt far too small.
‘I’ve been getting a lot of deliveries,’ she muttered as she followed him into the lounge. ‘Most of them aren’t necessary, Massimo.’
His lips twisted into the smallest strained smile. ‘I brought you this.’
He set an envelope on the little table near her.
Paperwork? She definitely didn’t want paperwork—not a cheque or some contract that would put her further in his debt. ‘What is it?’
‘The results of the paternity test, I think.’
‘Is that why you’re here?’ Lily pressed her hands together, trying to shrink into herself.
‘No.’ He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her. ‘I’ve been an idiot. I screwed up, Lily. I’m so sorry.’
Lily didn’t want to ask what he was sorry for. Honestly, she was afraid to breathe in case he flitted away and she’d be left alone again. That this visit was actually just a figment of her wishful imagination.
‘I should have told you why I was on the cargo plane,’ he said.
‘I should have talked to you about your parents before doing anything for them. There are so many things I should have done differently. I moved too fast and I’m sorry for rushing you.
But I can slow down. I can explain.’ He didn’t slow, though, he paced, unintentionally emphasising the snug dimensions of the space.
‘A lot of people are drawn to Hearnshawe. There’s history, past success.
People want a piece of it. Several targeted Emiliano. They’re more wary of me.’
‘Maybe it’s that cold reputation you’ve cultivated,’ she muttered. ‘I get it, you’re wary about new people in his life.’
He stopped in the middle of the room, his blue gaze fixed on her.
‘I watched those four seconds of him talking to you and all I saw was a pretty neck and delicate jaw and a hint of honey-coloured hair. I wanted to see the rest of you. I got the barest glimpse on the plane before it went dark. Then we talked and then I just wanted you all to myself. Not being Massimo Hearnshawe for a few moments, flirting with a fascinating woman who was funny and bright—I was spellbound. That impulse overrode everything rational in me.’
Lily stiffened. She’d been an impulse.
‘When we landed you recognised me on the tarmac and you were furious. You didn’t want anything to do with me.
It was humbling. And yeah, it was bad enough that I was effectively your boss and if I’d said anything more then you’d have quit and I didn’t want that.
I tried to step back. Tried to respect your wishes.
I kept my distance. But I watched you and the more I watched, the more I learned and the more I liked.
Then I thought we could have a party in Singapore, that I could see you outside of work.
Which I know is stupid because it was a work party, but I was desperate and I thought I might get to see you in a dress.
But then you were late. And then…’ His shoulders lifted.
‘I was so rude to you when we first found out, but it wasn’t long before I realised I wasn’t angry.
I was scared. But I wanted it, because I wanted you. ’
Lily was having a hard time processing everything. She stepped back, sinking her weak body onto the sofa. ‘Are you saying you came to the Singapore race just to see me?’
‘Everything I’ve done in the last two months has been with you as the primary object in my mind.’
The whole two months? ‘You came to more races.’
‘Yes.’
‘You arranged a party just to see me in a dress.’
‘Yes.’
‘You were ridiculously nice to my parents.’
‘I wasn’t that nice to them.’ He looked rueful.
‘I own their garage. I own their home. I told them any contact was up to you, and only if they apologised. I also told them if they upset you in any way, if they harassed you, then I’d change the locks and throw them out on the street like they’d once done to you. ’
‘Oh.’ A wave of emotion buffeted her. ‘You’re right. That wasn’t that nice,’ she whispered.
‘No.’ He stared at her unwaveringly. ‘I’m sorry. I never should have done any of that without talking to you. It won’t happen again.’
She shook her head slightly and spotted the envelope. ‘Don’t you want to open those results?’
‘The result doesn’t matter to me.’ He thrust his hand through his hair. ‘I want you. You and everything that’s yours. I will love your baby. I will deal with your family however you want me to. Because at the end of the day, it’s you I want.’