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And furniture arriving! But then they would talk. And she wouldn’t permit anything to put her off.

*

Alone in his room, Leo was suddenly as far from sleep as he could ever be. He wanted, no needed Ella beside him. Not to make love, but to hold her, to let her know how special she was…

He wanted to inhale the sweet perfume that enveloped her like a cloud, wanted to see her smile, to hear one of her sharp comebacks.

Wanted her with him.

Always.

The word came from nowhere, startling him. But maybe not as much as it should have. Not as much as it would have weeks ago when she’d first arrived. Now it wasn’t nearly as scary, but he still wasn’t sure what it meant, for him, for Mia.

His choice to devote his life to his daughter hadn’t ever been a cavalier decision.

He’d thought about it long and hard; talked it over with his sister, Joey.

Of course, she hadn’t known about Kristina, there hadn’t seemed to be the need to reveal himself quite as pathetic as all that.

He’d come to terms with that incident long ago, but he couldn’t deny he’d allowed it to batter him again when Hope had died.

Joey had been adamant that he wasn’t thinking clearly: that cutting himself off to potential happiness was foolish.

But he’d been so certain it was the only option open to him if he wanted to give Mia the best life; protect her.

To dedicate himself to proving himself a good father for Mia. That and only that had to be his focus.

Was he still so sure?

Last night and again tonight had been mind-blowing. Like nothing he’d ever experienced. But it hadn’t just been that. The sex was a culmination of everything else—like the final cog in a gear designed to make everything run smoothly, the last missing piece.

These past weeks had been without doubt the happiest of his adult life.

He’d imagined himself in love with Hope and beat himself up when he realized he wasn’t.

Not truly in love. Not deeply: they hadn’t had enough time for it to grow.

The feelings he’d had for Hope, were nothing compared to how he felt when he was with Ella.

Hell, when he wasn’t with Ella. She was constantly with him—in his head and in his soul—all the time. Which meant what? That this was love?

True love?

If love was that feeling that you can’t breathe properly, that you can’t settle until you’ve seen that person, that you can’t stop thinking about them, that you overlook their flaws, that you find them endlessly fascinating— that you’d walk away if that was what made them happy?

The questions hovered…

Like a specter they were just there. Insistent and intangible but present in every other way.

He knew the answer… His chest tightened.

Then yes, godammit, he was in love with Ella Staunton Hawes. Lady Gabriella Staunton Hawes. And he wanted forever with her.

He closed his eyes. He should be jumping up and down with joy. How many people find true love? Someone they’re compatible with in so many ways?

He wasn’t jumping for joy. He was confused.

Because it still didn’t solve his problem. He’d made a promise to himself, to Mia.

He shook his head. And he hadn’t even added in the issue of her other life; Benny’s birthright. The money.

Shucking clothes as he went, he headed for the shower. This was why he didn’t do relationships; why he’d sworn off them. But try as he might, he couldn’t ignore the little inner voice, whispering coward .

*

Having lived her life in homes furnished with period or antique pieces handed down through generations, even in her London flat that had once been her mother’s, Ella hadn’t had a whole lot of experience buying furniture.

However, even she knew that choosing, ordering, and delivery rarely occurred this quickly.

Still, she wasn’t going to argue. It would be wonderful to see Leo’s house become a comfortable home, one that he could utilize to the fullest extent—and she was honored that he’d left it to her to do quite a bit of the choosing and then also placement.

Thankfully Melanie and Evie had arrived to take the children so as to make the process simpler. Leo remained in the background, cracking jokes and generally enjoying himself while she pondered the best positioning for almost every item.

The timing was perfect. The day after tomorrow was the birthday party, and they’d actually have places for their guests to sit.

Leo had insisted on an outside caterer, even though she’d tried to assure him how much she’d love to prepare the food herself.

Given that there’d be less than thirty guests, she hadn’t felt it would be a chore.

In her old life, thirty was an intimate gathering, but she held her tongue. Her old life was something she guessed he might still be sensitive about, and until they’d had the opportunity to talk, she didn’t feel the need to wave any red flags.

And as the delivery trucks finally drove away, the opportunity and the time to talk, finally arrived.

“Um, feel like something to eat? We could try out your new dining table. I know it looks big, but you have a huge space to fill, and with the extension leaf it will pull out to fit your entire family and then some.”

He grinned. “I know, I was there when we picked it. Remember?” He bobbed his head to look into her eyes. “Elle? Are you nervous?”

She shrugged. “No. Yes. Maybe…” She grabbed his arm, tugged him along. “Let’s just go eat, sustain ourselves, and then we can maybe—”

“Try out the new furniture in my bedroom?”

“You want to have sex on your new bureau? Easy chairs? Or maybe your coffee table? Because I’m pretty sure we’ve ascertained the bed is quite adequate, and that was already in place.”

“I was so sure you were more adventurous than that… Gotta say, disappointed here.”

She spun to him, placed her hand on his chest, her tone imploring. “Leo…”

His sigh was so deep her hand lifted under the pressure; the teasing in his eyes and tone immediately gone. “You want me to be serious, I get that.” His hand came up to cover hers. “But you know, maybe I don’t want to have that talk… Maybe I know what’s coming. What we’re both going to say.”

He’d had to ask her to repeat her response because it had been pitched so low she wasn’t even sure she’d voiced the thought. “I doubt that…”

*

The interruptions were becoming farcical.

Ella had heated soup while he made sandwiches, all the while guessing little of either would be eaten.

They’d begun easy, slow—chatting about the furniture, imagining what the kid’s reactions would be.

Both nibbling, both knowing one of them had to get the ball rolling and both reluctant.

Leo had thought he’d known what was coming from Ella, but her last comment had thrown him. Surely it hadn’t been his imagination that she’d sounded ominous. But then again, none of their chats had been particularly simple, so what the hell?

One thing was sure, after the other day he doubted anything could shock him. Maybe, then, that was the place to begin.

“You said something about—”

The doorbell rang.

His eyes darted toward the foyer—taking in the colorful artworks propped ready to be hung and flash new hall tables—and wondered who it could be.

No one around here on the Lazy H bothered, usually just banged on the door, and if it was family, he’d give them less than three minutes before they let themselves in.

When no one appeared he sighed, and made his way to the door, surprised to see a well-dressed man standing there, until the man spoke and he heard the same clipped accent he’d been living with for the past several weeks.

“Good afternoon, my name is Nicholas Staunton Hawes, Lord Thorvane. I believe Gabriella is here. I’ve been advised that this is where she currently resides.”

Perhaps Ella had heard the voice, but Leo wasn’t surprised to hear her behind him. However, even in her haughtiest moments, he had never heard that icy tone. “Father? What are you doing here?”

He was surprised, though, to see someone else step into view.

Someone who’d remained hidden, deliberately or not, but who addressed them with that same crystal-cut accent.

A woman, middle aged, and oozing wealth—and his heart sank.

It appeared the life he feared would lure Ella away, had come looking for her instead.

“Gabriella dear, I implore you not to turn your father away. He’s been heartbroken over the rift between you, and while he accepts full responsibility, he would like the opportunity to explain.”

Leo turned, Ella’s expression was set, giving nothing away, yet he wondered if he was the only one who saw the glitter of tears in her eyes? It wasn’t a deluge, but he knew her well enough to see she was rocked by her father’s surprise visit, just like he knew that she’d fight hard not to show it.

“I’m sorry, but you have me at a disadvantage. My father seems to have omitted to introduce you.”

And bingo, there it was. Polite, but leaving no one in doubt that Ella wasn’t about to pushed around—and it was difficult to try and hide his grin.

The woman’s mouth twitched. “You sound exactly like your mother,” she said softly.

Pulling her fur coat, real if he was guessing correctly , a bit tighter, she turned her attention to Leo.

“It’s quite cold out here. I’d forgotten just how chilly these mountains can get.

Do you think it would be possible to continue this conversation somewhere warmer? ”

He cocked an eyebrow toward Ella. It was her call, and her business not his. He opened the doors wide when she responded with a shrug and a nod.

Ella led the way, not to the new formal living area as he’d half expected but out to the informal family room with its scattered children’s paraphernalia—but also with a blazing fire and brand-new sofa seating.

Ridiculously, he momentarily mourned that two-seat sofa now off to the side, the one that had allowed them to sit close together.