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There was a creak of floorboards above them.
“That’s the women coming down. If things on your end change within the next few months, you and I will have a lot to talk about. After that, I’ll be looking in other directions.” Rafael moved to the door. “You have my number.”
Atlas had come so far on his quest to claim his birthright. It was infuriating to have it set out of his reachagain.
His frustration was blistering his insides as they walked out to the living room where Stella cradled a blanket-wrapped infant.
Atlas hadn’t consciously recognized the itch of absence that had invaded his chest until it dissipated when he saw her. She was fine. Glowing even.
“Where’s Sasha?” Rafael frowned with concern toward the stairs.
“Changing. He spit up on her.” Stella’s voice lilted with humor. “I offered to bring him down to you, but honestly, I want to keep him.” Her arms firmed in a gentle hug around the baby before she gave him up to his father. “He’s absolutely precious.”
Her expression of longing caused a near-audible click in Atlas’s head, one that was like the wheels of a combination lock aligning to open a vault. Inside, the solution sat as though it had been there all along, waiting for discovery.
The seeds of this idea had actually been sown when she had said she was raised to believe she should wait for marriage, then told him she would only give him the rest of the week. He’d balked, instinctually knowing that wasn’t enough time, but what would be? A month? A year?
And while he was indulging himself with her, he would only put off his search for the wife he was being pressured to take, to earn the board’s support of his leadership at DVE.
What ifshewas his wife, though?
His mind began to race so quickly, he barely heard them continue speaking.
“He’s on his best behavior now,” Rafael scoffed good-naturedly. He protectively cupped his son’s head as he dropped a kiss on his cheek, then tucked him against his shoulder. “You should have heard the names he was calling me last night.”
“Slander. He’s been a perfect gentleman as long as I’ve known him. But I gave Alexandra the name of a teething gel I always recommend to guests. If you have trouble finding it here, let me know. I know where to get it in Zermatt and can have it sent over.”
“We’d appreciate that.”
Alexandra returned and offered coffee.
“It sounds like you have busy days ahead, once your family arrives,” Atlas said. “We won’t take up any more of your time.” Besides, he had his own plans to leap on. “We’ll see you again soon, though. Athens, likely.” He usedwedeliberately. Andsoon.
Rafael’s eyes narrowed shrewdly as they shook hands and departed.
* * *
“How did your meeting with Rafael go?” Stella asked as she set her helmet on the shelf in the ski room back at their own chalet.
“Good.” Atlas set aside his boots and gave her a look she couldn’t interpret.
“I thought it must have gone very well.” He’d had a gleam of purpose in his eye when he and Rafael had joined her in the living room. A determined sort of energy had been coming off him as he’d sped them back here to the chalet. It was still there, practically shooting out in rays that wrapped around her to draw her in. “When you told Rafael thatwewould see them in Athens, I wondered if that meant you were getting lawyers or some other team together. It sounded promising.”
“I was referring to you.”
“Me?” She hung her jacket and slipped her suspenders off her shoulders, stripping down to the light jacket and yoga pants she wore beneath. “I can’t go to Athens. When? For how long? I only have a few days off and I may have to visit my family.”
“We’re going to deal with your family together, Stella, because I have a new proposal for you. A real one.Marriage.”
CHAPTER FIVE
STELLA GAVE HERhead a shake. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear you properly.”
“Yes, you did.”
“No. That’s not…possible.” Her heart was beating really fast, filling her ears with a drumming sound. She wanted to run.
Run.