Son of Scandal

by Dani Wade

  “Have you heard anything from Paxton?”

  Ah, the one question Ivy did not want to face. But there wasn’t any point hiding her humiliation from her sisters.

  “No,” she sighed, stepping back to survey her handiwork. “I would have thought I would at least hear from the lawyer by now. You know, some attempt at future custody arrangements, but...nothing.”

  The silence was driving her crazy.

  “You feeling okay?” she asked as Willow pressed a hand against the base of her spine. “How’s your back holding up?”

  Ivy was under strict orders to not let Willow lift anything, though bending over the displays couldn’t feel great, either. Her tummy was worthy of her maternity clothes, whereas Ivy was at the barely-bump stage. Her regular clothes were too tight, but maternity clothes hung like a sack.

  Then again she wasn’t carrying twins like her sister was.

  “Doing good,” Willow said. “Can’t say I’m looking forward to more restrictions coming my way.” She turned to Ivy and grinned. “Aren’t you glad you didn’t get the double blessing?”

  Most definitely. But she was finally starting to connect with her pregnancy now that she felt better. Despite the struggles over Paxton, her energy was returning and she felt more physically capable each day. Rubbing lotion on the small mound of her belly, wondering when the child’s first movement would happen, took her mind off her aching wish for Paxton.

  Suddenly Willow gave a strange squeak that drew Ivy’s attention. She glanced up to see Willow’s gaze glued on the distance beyond Ivy’s shoulder.

  “What? Did the doors open early?” Ivy should’ve had another twenty minutes or so for a quick walk-through with Jasmine.

  But when Willow didn’t respond, Ivy turned to look for herself. Standing ten feet away was Paxton. Tuxedoed, freshly shaven, way-too-sexy Paxton.

  Definitely squeak-worthy.

  Willow mumbled, “I’ll go let Jasmine know,” and turned to leave, but Ivy stopped her.

  “No, she’s got enough to deal with. I’ll handle this.”

  It was obvious he planned to speak with her by the way he patiently waited, gaze never leaving her. But why would he choose this public venue to confront her again?

  Every step of his approach had her breathing harder and faster. Boy, had she missed him, even with all the uncertainty. Her heart wanted him just as much as it had that one magical night so long ago.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, unable to look away from his amber eyes.

  He paused a few feet from her, but the way he shifted on his feet told her he wasn’t as confident as he looked.

  “I wanted to see you. And I thought this might be a good, neutral space.” He used that charming grin to full effect. “Besides, I already had a ticket.”

  “You only now wanted to see me?”

  “I had a few things to work out before I could.”

  She wasn’t sure whether to push or ask or wait. It seemed like her every move through all of this had been the wrong one.

  So she let him make the next move.

  He did. One step closer, then another.

  People started to mill about. The doors must have opened finally. “I’m sorry. I have a job today,” she said. She needed to focus, not be distracted by Paxton’s good looks and the mix of emotions clouding her judgment.

  “Wait. Just a few minutes, okay?”

  Ivy crossed her arms over her chest, wrinkling her gown, but didn’t leave.

  “You haven’t come to get your stuff,” he said. “At least not all of it.”

  “I’ve been a little busy.” She waved a hand about the room. “Besides, you could always have it packed up and sent to me.”

  “What if I don’t want to?”

  His tone wasn’t aggravated or even disdainful, but she didn’t understand where he was going with this.

  In her frustration she threw out, “Donate it.”

  The last thing she could imagine doing right now was going over there to pack. She simply couldn’t.

  The past few months had taken too much from her.

  Again he moved closer, this time crowding into her personal space. She held her breath, not wanting to smell the unique spicy sent of him, but her lungs overrode her resolve.

  So good. So warm.

  She glanced up to see his gaze turned on her, as if he could see through her disdainful facade to the aching need underneath. “What if I’d rather you come home?” he murmured. “Where you belong.”

  “I don’t belong there.” Not without his love.

  “I believe you do.” He ran a finger over her cheek. A touch she desperately wished she could have every day for the next fifty years. “You must. Nothing is the same. The bed feels empty. The kitchen is too quiet. The—”

  He swallowed hard, his gaze darkening. “I need you. I didn’t realize just how much.”

  “What about your family?” She wanted this so badly, but... “I can’t live like that, Paxton, under constant attack, and I won’t allow my child to be exposed to that, either.”

  “I was wrong, Ivy.”

  Her eyes widened. That was definitely not what she’d expected to hear. “What?”

  “I let my loyalty to my family color everything between us. And the truth is, they don’t deserve the consideration.”

  At the risk of sounding like a broken record... “What?” This was so unexpected, she was having trouble taking it in.

  “I knew it. But I didn’t want to admit it. I had to work through that—you know.”

  “I understand.” She’d spent too much time trying to work through her issues with Paxton before fate took a hand.

  “I promise I will never let them hurt you again.” He tilted his chin up. “I haven’t gotten it all figured out, but I promise to protect you.”

  “But I know you love them, Paxton. I can’t tear you away from that.”

  “You don’t have to. I resigned my position the day you left.”

  “What? Why haven’t I heard about this?”

  “They’re too busy trying to get me to return to make an announcement. I guess Grandmother didn’t think of the things she would put into action with her little ultimatum.”

  Ivy found herself clutching the lapels of his tuxedo, her attention caught. “How will you live?”

  Then realizing what she’d said, she covered her face. “I’m sorry. That’s just what your grandmother would expect me to ask.”

  He gently uncovered her face. “And just what I do expect, not because you’re mercenary, but because you’re worried about me.”

  “You love your work.”

  “And I can do it somewhere else. Between my savings and investments, I’ll be fine. If not, I’ll sell my stock in the company. But I’ll be fine until I figure out where I’m going. Maybe even start my own company—who knows?”

  Ivy marveled at the excitement on his face before he sobered.

  “It’s for the best, Ivy. It really is. Regardless of whether you come back to me, I think this separation is important. Grandmother needs to understand that I won’t be controlled.”

  He brushed Ivy’s lips with his. “And I don’t want the world’s best assistant afraid to work for me.”

  She had so many questions, but as the crowd thickened around them, she knew this was not the time. Instead she let herself be swept away by his kiss until she heard her sister Jasmine close by. “Does this mean what I think it means?”

  Ivy pulled back with an embarrassed giggle, but Paxton would not let her go far. He kept an arm fully around her.

  “I certainly hope so,” he said with a satisfied smile.

  “I’m so sorry, Jasmine,” Ivy said. “I got distracted—”

  “I noticed.” But Jasmine and Willow were both smiling.

  She s
aw Tate and Royce talking, over near the display table. “We did finish—”

  “And it looks gorgeous,” Jasmine said as they all moved closer to the display. “Tate is very pleased with what you’ve done with his donations.”

  Paxton halted abruptly, jerking Ivy to a stop. “This is from Tate?” he asked, the odd note in his voice causing Ivy to look up to him.

  His startled expression quickly morphed into one of intense focus. He leaned forward.

  “Yes, some memorabilia we found in the attic,” Tate said. “I figured the local history buffs might bid on some of it.”

  Paxton seemed to study a watch in the middle of the table. He blinked, stepping closer. His face paled. “Tate—”

  Then Paxton’s grandmother’s voice cut through the crowd. “Paxton, I figured I would find you here.”

  * * *

  Paxton couldn’t have been more shocked than when he surveyed the group that had approached. His entire family was here. That was a pretty important feat, even for his grandmother. He knew for a fact Sierra would have warned him if she’d had advanced notice, but then again he hadn’t told any of them he would be attending.

  He hadn’t spoken to his family since breaking the news of his resignation during a brief appearance at Sunday dinner. He’d crashed it since he hadn’t gotten an invitation. Not that he’d have been able to bring himself to eat. The memories had been too bitter.

  Grandmother eyed his arm as he automatically pulled Ivy close. “Consorting with the enemy again, I see.”

  Tate and Royce also stepped close to their women, but it was Royce who spoke. “I’m going to have to ask you to remain civil, Mrs. McLemore, or you’ll be asked to leave.”

  She drew herself even taller than her normally impressive height. “I’ll have you know we bought tickets.”

  “Keller House is mine,” Royce said. “This is my event. What I say goes.”

  Karen McLemore looked back at Ivy. “You have managed to gain some powerful friends.”

  “No, ma’am,” Ivy said, her voice tight but respectful. “This is my family. Family sticks together.”

  Paxton felt a glow of pride engulf him. A slightly taken-aback look flashed on his grandmother’s face before she recovered. “Only if that family survives. It’s my job to see that we do.”

  “But for you it’s only survival if you beat out everyone else on the block. When all is said and done, you end up alone.”

  The rest of Ivy’s family murmured their agreement.

  “Nevertheless—”

  “Grandmother,” Paxton interrupted, the truth of what he needed to do finally hitting him square in the chest. “There’s something I think you should see...”

  “Not now, Paxton.”

  “Yes now, Grandmother.”

  The Harden women parted as he led his grandmother to the display Ivy had been finishing when he arrived. He waited silently while she inspected the items on the table donated by Tate Kingston. Anticipation caused his heart to speed up.

  He knew the minute she spotted it.

  Her breath grew shaky. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her hand reach out and grasp the man’s pocket watch.

  The watch with part of his family’s insignia engraved on it.

  That’s when things started to fall apart. With a moan, his grandmother clutched the piece to her heart, and stumbled forward against the display, shaking the table and its contents. Paxton grabbed her, his heartbeat increasing to triple time. He hoped to steady her, but her weakness as she leaned into him alarmed him even more. The swarm of his family around them and the cacophony of voices added to the confusion.

  “Grandmother,” he said sharply, “can you breathe?”

  He heard her draw in a shaky breath, then mutter, “Yes.”

  He glanced over to see his father on the other side, supporting her. He shot a quick, panicked look at Royce, only to find him already taking control.

  “This way, Paxton,” he said.

  As one large group, they made their way through the staring crowd to a side room.

  “I’ll be right back. I saw Dr. Michaels in the crowd earlier,” Royce said before retreating out the door.

  Between them, Paxton and his father settled his grandmother into a chair. She looked awfully pale, with a high flush along her cheekbones. Deep inside Paxton panicked until he felt a hand on his shoulder. Then he saw Ivy reach out another hand to lay it over his grandmother’s.

  “It will be okay,” Ivy said in a soft but firm tone. “The doctor will be here soon. Just breathe, Mrs. McLemore. Slowly in. Slowly out.”

  His grandmother seemed to lose all care for who Ivy was in that moment and simply held on to her like a lifeline, following her instructions to steady her breath and calm her instinctive panic.

  No more than two minutes later, Royce returned with the doctor. Only then did Karen let go of Ivy’s hand. They all retreated to give the doctor some space, crowding around the outer edges of the small room with quiet whispers.

  Ivy stepped back next to Paxton, laying her hands softly on his arm. He turned and pulled her hard into his embrace, steadying himself with her heat and soft curves.

  “I never wanted this,” he murmured against her hair.

  She lay her hand on his chest, directly over his fast-beating heart. “I know. What happened? Has she had this happen before?”

  Paxton shook his head. “I’m not entirely sure.”

  Dr. Michaels thoroughly checked his grandmother over, conversing quietly with her and Paxton’s father. Slowly her color became less stark, though she was still pale.

  Paxton’s father caught his eye and motioned him over. Paxton knelt beside the chair, but could sense Ivy standing at his back. Her presence steadied him.

  “I think she’s okay,” Dr. Michael said, “just a bit of a shock to her system, but I would feel better if we ran a few tests at the hospital. Just to make sure there’s nothing going on with her heart.”

  “Yes. Let’s go,” Paxton said.

  “Not yet.”

  For a woman who was recently so weak, his grandmother’s voice was surprisingly stern.

  “Mother,” his father protested.

  “No, son. This must be done first.” She patted his hand. “Then we will go.”

  Paxton braced himself, utterly sure his grandmother was about to go on the attack once more. Those in the room edged closer. Karen pinned Ivy with her gaze, causing Paxton to tense up. She lifted the watch fob. “Where did you find this?”

  Confusion clouded Ivy’s expression. “It was Tate’s.”

  He stepped forward. “We found it in the attic of Sabatini House. It didn’t have any significance to me, so I donated it to the auction.”

  “It may not be significant to you, young man, but it certainly is to me.”

  “I’m sorry, Mrs. McLemore,” he said. “Does it belong to your family?”

  Karen opened the fob, then glanced at Paxton. “You recognized it?”

  Paxton nodded. “It’s an emblem from the family crest.”

  “This belonged to my uncle. It disappeared the night he drowned on that ship.”

  A collective gasp echoed in Paxton’s ears. “How?”

  “We assumed it was lost with him. The divers never found it or any trace of the body.”

  Leaving behind a devastated family, including a grieving little girl. “I’m sorry, Grandmother.”

  “I was his favorite.” She glanced up at him, tears watering down her normally strong amber gaze. “He would bring me candy. I would sit on his lap and he would let me play with his pocket watch—this pocket watch—while he talked with the grown-ups.” Tears spilled over her well-preserved cheeks. “Then he was gone.”

  Which explained why she told the story so often.

  Tate spoke into the heavy silence. “Ma’a
m, on behalf of my family, let me extend my sincere apologies. They were the type of people who got what they wanted and didn’t care who was hurt in the process.”

  “So were we...” Karen murmured.

  This time she looked at Jasmine, then Willow and finally Ivy. “And you were caught in the cross fire.”

  Suddenly Karen struggled with her breath, shuddering as she drew it in with visible strain.

  “Grandmother, let’s get you to the hospital,” Paxton insisted.

  She nodded, then held the pocket watch out to Tate.

  “No, ma’am,” he said with the shake of his head. “That doesn’t belong to me.”

  The room quietly cleared as Dr. Michaels called for an ambulance. “They’ll meet us at the east entrance,” he said when he ended the call. “Easier and more discrete.”

  As she stood Karen grasped Paxton’s arm. “Paxton, darling, please forgive me.”

  He could, but he wasn’t sure he could ever forget.

  Then she looked at Ivy, who was standing close behind him. “Young lady, I want you to know, I will welcome you into our family.” Suddenly she looked shaken, broken. “I was wrong. I don’t know what more to say.”

  “Nothing,” Ivy graciously offered. “Just take care of yourself.”

  As the group moved to meet the ambulance, Paxton felt an almost painful pull to stay behind with Ivy despite wanting to be with his family. He turned to her, opening his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

  She hugged him close and repeated the same words he’d given to her in comfort. “It’s going to be okay, Paxton.”

  Somehow he knew it would be. Even though he hadn’t accomplished all he’d meant to tonight, his purpose was clear.

  “I’ll be back for you,” he said, and he meant it.

  Seventeen

  “Go ahead home, Ivy,” Jasmine said. “It’s been a long night. Or would you rather sleep in one of the guest bedrooms upstairs? I don’t want you too tired on the road.”

  “I’ll be fine,” Ivy mumbled, “but thanks.” Then she turned to go. Anything more and the waterworks would start.

  She was just tired enough not to be sure she could stop them. Her body hurt more than it usually did after a long night working these events, probably because of her pregnancy. Her legs and feet ached, and she wanted nothing more than to sleep for twelve hours straight.