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For long minutes, she sought calm by staring down at her beautiful boy; reminding herself why any relationship with Leo would be foolhardy, no matter what her body craved.

Benny’s face was flushed but he wasn’t feverish she noted as she gently pushed back his feather-soft hair.

Soon it would grow coarser like his father’s; hair that would hold any style with ease.

Emile’s private stylist had called him a gift to work on, and Emile had lapped up all the praise, as always, confident of the looks that spoke more to his Italian mother than his French father.

She’d tolerated Emile’s conceit and vanity, laughed it off, but after they’d married it had become wearying. Benny would never be that way; hopefully he’d never need to seek the envy and admiration of others.

Feeling more centered, she straightened, breathing a sigh of relief that she’d banished the restlessness Leo had aroused in her.

Or so she thought but a mere minute later, stripped of her jeans and sweater, she was standing only in tiny silk panties and a thin T-shirt when the tapping on her door brought it all back in a rush, completely dousing any flicker of hope that she could control her reactions to Leo Halligan.

She considered ignoring Leo’s knock, but then her mind conjured a dozen scenario, and she padded toward the door, She hoped Mia wasn’t unwell and he needed her help?

It was the likely scenario.

But seeing he’d shucked his shirt and was standing in the hall bare-chested, clad only in unclasped, low-slung jeans didn’t help her wild imaginings fade away.

She was careful to only reveal her head, keeping her barely clad body out of sight.

“Hey, I hope you weren’t asleep yet? I just wanted to give you this.” This was one of the baby monitors. “We left them downstairs. I’ve got Mia’s, but I didn’t know if you needed Benny’s.”

Her eyes narrowed. Was he joking? Why would she need a monitor during the night for Benny when he was sleeping right beside her? She noted the weary lines fanning out from eyes that were shadowed and glassy. Sleepy eyes. Her heart kicked up into a samba. Sexy sleepy eyes.

Closing her own to hide the rampant thoughts flooding through her, she reminded herself he was exhausted.

He’d been correct about her waiting up for him.

Certainly, she’d needed to update him on a potential health issue for Mia, but she’d worried about him.

He’d left before dawn, told her of the back-to-back meetings with his bankers, along with various property inspections, about the trip a hundred miles further south to meet with someone about his planned breeding program—and even she could tell it was going to be a lot, not even withstanding the almost three-hundred-mile round trip to get back home.

He should have stayed over as he’d originally planned. He must be dead on his feet.

She opened the door wider to accept the monitor. “Thank you. I hope you get some rest as well.” Her eyes had been on the device, only flicking back to him as she finished speaking.

And caught her breath.

The way he was looking at her…

Swallowing the rush of saliva that threatened to choke her, she immediately pushed the door partially closed, her heart racing, trying to ignore the evil voice in her head that crooned, Really?

Would it really be such a bad thing if you opened the door?

Accepted the invitation in his eyes? Follow him back to his room?

Benny stirred, moaned in his sleep. So softly but she heard it; a splash of cold water.

Yes, it would. Very bad…

“Goodnight, Leo.”

*

By the time Leo got to his room the exhaustion had kicked in hard and fast. Realizing he had both monitors in his pocket had been a surprise, and before he’d considered his actions he’d made his way to Ella’s room intent on returning Benny’s monitor.

He was more than willing to grab another opportunity to gaze at her gorgeous face, an image to stay with him as he slid into dream time?

His head said foolhardy . His body said bonus . Sweet dreams.

Back in his room, the crazy daze that had robbed him of rational thought receded and he slumped onto the side of his bed.

He’d all but convinced himself that this situation with Ella could work. Basically, had told her so just minutes earlier! Other than a few intense moments, he’d been holding it together, controlling the feelings he had for her—or so he’d thought.

But he’d been wrong.

Now he had to admit the very thing he’d been trying so hard to ignore. That those feelings had been growing each day; and she occupied way too much of his head space. Of his sleep time.

He wasn’t a fool. He recognized his reaction for what it was—a primal response to a beautiful, desirable woman from a man who’d cut himself off from all female encounters since the day he’d met Hope, close on two years earlier.

That was all it was.

Tonight however? He’d like to blame his exhausted state, but seeing her standing there, took in her bare shapely legs, those tiny panties, the T-shirt of such fine cotton that it was almost sheer…

He’d almost lost it. Had certainly lost himself in the whole package that was Ella.

The temptation to drag her to him and taste those delectable lips, to inhale the essence of her, hold her soft body against his own, to crush their beating hearts together…

He tried to think back to what had really happened.

Had she said something before she closed the door?

He couldn’t remember, and embarrassed heat scorched a trail through him.

He was reasonably sure he hadn’t said anything too stupid, but only because he figured he’d been incapable.

But he’d gaped, and that had been enough.

Way more than enough… Too much, in fact.

It was the clarity he’d needed, he hadn’t really known he’d needed it. But now he did.

Decision made, he’d apologize. Again. Do it while he was telling her this employment situation wasn’t going to work out, after all.

He’d try to get her other work, hell, he’d pay for childcare for Benny if that’s what she needed.

Pay whatever she needed to keep them both.

He knew Ella would think he was crazy after what he’d just said.

She’d be right. He was crazy. But for his own sanity and if he was going to keep the promise he’d made to himself and Mia, when he’d failed Hope, Ella would have to go.

He hadn’t fought for either woman, but he would fight for Mia. Even if it was himself he had to fight.

He knew his family would protest, but he’d come up with something.

He brushed aside the argument that they didn’t really know much about her.

That was unfair and it cast a shadow over Ella she didn’t deserve, even if there was an element of fact that statement.

The time to raise that concern had been at the point of securing her services, not weeks later after she’d proved day after day that she was perfect for Mia.

Still, they would all side with Ella. And why not? She was doing everything and more than he could have asked for regarding his daughter; she’d become a part of the family; a friend to them all…

But he’d failed two women already; he wasn’t going to fail his daughter. Could not allow himself to get distracted by another woman. Mia was his everything. His only everything.

With so many mixed emotions his whole being was buzzing he went back downstairs to grab a quick bourbon, before a cold shower. He wasn’t expecting much sleep despite his exhaustion. And he was kidding himself if he thought there’d be much in the nights to come either.

His gut soured at the thought of telling Ella her services were no longer required.

Images of a future that suddenly loomed bleak and empty ahead of him.

He swallowed back the rising bile. Mia would be heartbroken.

But it was for the best… Better sooner rather than later, and he could hope that one day she would understand he’d made the decision for her.

He reached for a glass. Glanced at the sectional sofa, the place he’d sat and chatted with Ella. On second thoughts he’d better snag the whole bottle. His next thought was for his daughter.

And put the bottle back.

*

In spite of everything, he must have dozed off, he frowned, trying to identify the sound that had woken him.

Running water? Somebody was showering. He glanced at the clock. Why was Ella showering at three in the morning? Was she unwell? His gut twisted at the thought, and rubbing a hand across his face, he threw back the covers and strode to the door. He should check on Ella, and then he’d look in on Mia.

The door to Ella’s room remained closed, and after pausing briefly to see if he could pick up any other sounds, he continued on past it, to Mia’s low-lit room.

He frowned when he realized that not only was Mia not in her crib, but the adjoining bathroom door was open, and from there came not only the sound of running water, but Ella’s soft sweet voice. Ella was singing? Where was his daughter?

“Ella?” His whisper elicited no response, and with his heart beating too fast, he stepped quietly into the bathroom, his eyes sweeping the space, fears and questions building—only to come to a sudden grinding, painful halt.

What the —

He tried to form a sentence, spit out words, but nothing was happening. It was a moment before his head comprehended what it was seeing, and when it did, his heart was suddenly too big for his chest, and a lump the size of Montana lodged itself tight in his throat.

Ella was in the shower, mindless of the fact the drenched tiny panties and strappy camisole she wore clung to her like a second skin, that her hair was plastered to her head, glued to her back.

Mia was clutched to her chest.

His daughter’s little head lay in the crook of her neck, and Ella rocked and crooned as the water gently trickled over them both.