His Last Chance at Redemption

by Michelle Conder

  ‘Which room is his?’ she muttered.

  ‘This way.’ Leo hadn’t thought about which of his spare rooms to give Ty, but they were both the same so he chose the first one he came to.

  He opened the door and inhaled vanilla as Lexi moved past him and looked around the room, a frown marring her smooth forehead.

  King-sized bed, bedside tables, French windows leading to an outside balcony, private bathroom. What was there to frown about? Except maybe the absence of a cot. Chort vozmi. He hadn’t thought of that.

  ‘Are they locked?’ She nodded towards the French windows and spoke softly as the toddler was almost asleep in her arms, something Leo was glad about because he couldn’t look at Ty without remembering his brother, Sasha.

  ‘Of course,’ he said, but he walked over and rattled the handles anyway.

  ‘He really has never been here before has he?’ she said, almost to herself.

  ‘I told you that.’

  ‘Yes, but I don’t think I wanted to believe you.’ ‘I don’t lie.’

  She cast him a fathomless look. ‘Can I have some more pillows?’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because he’ll feel more secure if he’s surrounded by pillows. This bed is too big for him.’

  Leo opened the inbuilt wardrobe and pulled out three spare pillows and placed them on the end of the bed. ‘Anything else?’

  ‘Pyjamas.’

  He glanced at Ty’s jeans and T-shirt. ‘Can’t he sleep in what he’s got on?’

  ‘Do you sleep in jeans?’

  Her sharp rebuke both surprised and irritated him.

  ‘Are you trying to find out what I sleep in, Miss Somers?’ he asked, wondering if her eyes flashed golden when she was aroused as they did when she was angered.

  He expected her to snap at him but instead she smiled sweetly. ‘I already know. It’s called a coffin.’

  Leo blinked, astounded at her unexpected sassiness and then she surprised him again by shushing him. ‘Just go.’ She waved him away with her free hand as if he were an annoying insect. ‘I’ll take care of this.’

  Leo left, not sure whether to be bemused or outraged at her temerity.

  Lexi fixed the bed so that Ty wouldn’t fall out of it and then sat beside him while he fell into a deep sleep.

  Then she picked up her phone and called Aimee in case she hadn’t left for her boyfriend’s house and was worried as to why she hadn’t returned to their shared apartment. When Lexi told her who Ty’s father was she could almost see Aimee slap her forehead.

  ‘I knew I recognised him. Oh, my God. I didn’t know he had a son.’

  ‘What do you know about him?’ Lexi found herself asking without actually meaning to. Because really she already knew any information Aimee could impart would just be more nails in the coffin she had accused him of sleeping in. Her lips twitched now at the remembered surprise on his face when she’d said that. Clearly people didn’t tell him when he was being overbearing and arrogant often enough.

  ‘He’s mega wealthy. And I mean mega.’ Aimee added with emphasis. ‘Russian. Has been in the papers all week because he helped rescue two of his workers from a massive construction accident in Dubai. Remember, I told you about it.’

  ‘Mmm,’ Lexi said noncommittally. She had a vague recollection but the problems with their second centre had been taking up a lot of her head space lately.

  ‘He also changes his girlfriends as often as he changes his underwear and is supposed to be fantastic in bed. Hubba hubba.’

  ‘And which magazine did that little titbit come out of?’ Lexi asked, thinking that it was most likely true.

  ‘I can’t remember. Anyway, what’s he like?’

  ‘Arrogant, rude, obnoxious.’ Chiselled, gorgeous and utterly male, a little voice taunted.

  Which she promptly ignored. She’d met Leo Aleksandrov’s type before. Oh, not with the mega-wealthy tag, but arrogant men who viewed permanent relationships the way they viewed dental hygiene—sometimes required, but not necessarily so.

  Her father had been one of those: a professional golfer who had never married her mother despite having two children with her, and who had then left them all to take up with his mistress. And Brandon had been no better. At the time they’d met he’d been a charismatic, well-connected university jock who had pursued her and convinced her he was falling for her, all in the name of sport.

  Finding out that she had been played like so many other girls he had gone after had made her feel ill, as had his complaint that she had not only been too serious, but that she had been below average in bed. Of course she hadn’t believed him, but it hadn’t stopped her confidence from taking a heavy knock. So heavy, in fact, she hadn’t dated seriously since.

  Suddenly an image of Simon popped into her mind and she groaned. She couldn’t do it. She wasn’t ready to get serious with anyone yet. Maybe she never would be and that might not be a bad thing. She had good friends, a growing business …

  Lexi realised Aimee was still talking about Leo and felt rude for being so caught up in her own thoughts she hadn’t been paying attention. ‘I’m sorry, Aim, I haven’t been listening but I don’t want to talk about this man any more. He’s too irritating for words.’

  ‘Irritating or irresistible?’ her friend joked.

  ‘I’m not going to dignify that with an answer,’ she said, ignoring her brain’s contradictory messages about him. ‘But don’t tell anyone about Ty being his son. I’m not sure what’s going on yet, but I would hate Ty to get hurt in any way.’

  She rang off and let herself out of the room, leaving the bedroom door slightly ajar in order to listen out for Ty.

  She walked down the wide carpeted hallway, taking in the astounding dimensions of the sleekly designed penthouse apartment she was in. So this was how the other half lived!

  It was like being in another world. The whole apartment looked as if it had come straight out of some modern architecture magazine, with not a rumpled doily in sight. She smirked as she thought about what Leo Aleksandrov would make of her and Aimee’s shabby little two-room apartment, with throw rugs and papers and half completed sewing projects hanging around on the dining room table. If she were to put down anything half completed here it would likely get up and run away. And while the place was undoubtedly beautiful, it lacked soul. It lacked that special quality that made a house a home.

  Not that it mattered, she thought, as she stopped in the doorway of the main sitting room, when the exterior walls were made up almost entirely of glass and showcased a view of London Lexi would normally have to buy a ticket to see.

  And in front of that impressive wall of glass was the impressive sight of a brooding Leo Aleksandrov, pacing up and down like a tiger trapped in a too small cage.

  As if sensing her presence, he stopped, and Lexi felt every one of her senses go on high alert as his eyes swept over her.

  She normally had to buy a ticket to see a man like him as well. Usually on a movie screen. His virility was not at all adversely affected by the slightly crumpled shirt that clung to his wide shoulders. He’d rolled his shirtsleeves to reveal powerful, hair-roughened forearms; Lexi already knew the leashed power behind those arms and she shivered.

  He broke her train of thought by shoving his hands into his pockets and she felt a flood of colour swamp her face as she realised that she’d been caught staring.

  Pretending she wasn’t at all flustered by his presence—and wishing it was the truth—she smiled briefly and then turned away to search the room for her bag. ‘Ty is asleep and I’m leaving.’

  ‘You can’t.’

  She stopped in the middle of the room and looked at him. ‘Excuse me?’

  ‘I’ve dismissed Mrs Parsons.’

  ‘Why would you do that? She was perfect.’

  He regarded her levelly. ‘She doesn’t have a passport.’

  Lexi didn’t hide her shock. ‘You dismissed a woman on the grounds that she’s not well traveled? That’s a b
it narrow-minded isn’t it?’

  ‘I didn’t dismiss her because of that,’ he flashed at her, rubbing the back of his neck as if this whole conversation was terribly unnecessary. ‘Look, perhaps you should sit down.’

  ‘I don’t want to sit down,’ she flashed right back.

  ‘I’m just as unhappy about this turn of events as you are but, realistically, it would have taken Ty too long to get used to her anyway.’

  Lexi raised an eyebrow. He’d become an expert on his son now had he? ‘So who are you going to get to help you out?’ she asked, knowing before she’d even finished her question what his answer would be. ‘No.’ She shook her head and spoke before he’d even opened his mouth. ‘That’s not possible.’

  ‘I will, of course, pay you for your time.’

  ‘No!’

  His lack of any response to her vehemence made her nervous. ‘Anyway, I’m busy this weekend,’ she said, hating that she felt as if she had to explain herself to this man. She moistened her lips and watched his eyes follow the movement. His gaze lingered and once again she wondered how his lips would feel against her own. Aimee’s words about his sexual prowess popped into her head and her lips were once again bone-dry.

  Oh, Lord, she had to get out of here.

  His eyes returned to hers and she expelled a breath in a rush.

  ‘Doing?’

  ‘I’m going to Paris,’ she declared. Deciding there and then that she’d give Simon a chance. It was time. Past time. And Simon was a saint compared to this man.

  ‘Your friend seemed to think you hadn’t yet made up your mind.’

  Lexi frowned, wondering how he knew that. ‘Aimee doesn’t know everything,’ she said, slightly flustered.

  ‘And whom are you going to the city of light with, hmmm?’

  Lexi felt her jaw clench at his supercilious tone. Simon would never have asked that question! He was well-mannered, polite, civilised, boring …

  No. He was perfect.

  Frustrated with her erratic thoughts, Lexi glanced towards the entrance foyer and wondered if she shouldn’t just head for the door and be done with Leo Aleksandrov.

  As if sensing her intention, his body tensed, his eyes fixed on her as if he would spring if she made the slightest movement to flee.

  ‘You haven’t answered my question.’

  ‘Because it’s none of your business!’ she exclaimed hotly.

  His penetrating gaze held hers but his body relaxed as if her answer had been predictable. Then he made her teeth clench even harder when he smiled knowingly. ‘I’ll send you and your lover first class next weekend.’

  Lexi’s eyebrows hit her hairline. ‘You’ll send?’ she repeated indignantly. Just who did this man think he was?

  ‘Pay. Organise.’ He blew out a frustrated breath. ‘Stop getting caught up on semantics.’

  ‘Mr Aleksandrov, I—’

  ‘I have to go to Greece for the weekend. I need somebody I can trust to take care of Ty.’

  ‘You want me to go to Greece with you? For the long weekend?’

  Lexi wasn’t even prepared to go into the next room with him, let alone another country!

  ‘No. I was taking Mrs Parsons to Greece because she is an unknown entity for both myself and Ty, and I felt it was better to have her close by. You, on the other hand, are not an unknown entity. You have looked after my son for two years and you will be perfectly fine to take care of him here, in London. And, as I said—’ he paused, regarding her calmly ‘—I’ll pay you. Well.’

  ‘Is money your answer to everything?’ Lexi snapped.

  ‘Not everything, no.’

  Her lips compressed at his sensually mocking smile.

  ‘How much?’ he asked with quiet confidence.

  Lexi tried not to be intimidated by his size and understated force of will. Hadn’t he realised that she wasn’t the type of person who could be bought? Or was he the type of person who paid off everyone in order to get his own way? She wouldn’t be at all surprised to find out that he was. ‘You mean I can name my price?’ she asked sweetly, as if she might actually be considering his offer.

  ‘What’s the number?’ he demanded curtly, his smile flattening as if her answer had displeased him, though why that should be the case she hadn’t a clue.

  Lexi paused. Would he pay any figure? For a minute she was tempted to find out but she didn’t play these types of games and it would give her more satisfaction to put him—and his open bank account—in their rightful place.

  ‘The number is that there is no number. You don’t deserve my help. Goodbye.’

  Lexi didn’t look at him as she picked up her bag and dropped her mobile phone inside. She was about to stride out of the door with her head held high when Leo’s quiet voice stopped her.

  ‘I might not. But Ty does.’

  Lexi turned and stared at him incredulously. ‘Are you trying to emotionally blackmail me now?’

  ‘If it means you’ll stay, yes.’

  Lexi couldn’t believe the gall of the man. Had he no shame?

  ‘You get a girl pregnant and then don’t even have the decency to get to know your own flesh and blood and now you’ll do whatever it takes to have someone you don’t even know take care of him. What kind of a man are you?’

  He jammed his hands onto his hips and glared at her. ‘Don’t pass judgement on things you don’t understand.’

  ‘Oh, I understand all right,’ Lexi fumed. ‘I understand that your lifestyle is so precious you rejected an innocent child. Well, that’s something you should have thought about before you got Amanda Weston pregnant, not after.’

  ‘This has nothing to do with my lifestyle and everything to do with Ty’s well-being.’

  ‘And just how do you figure that?’

  A muscle ticked in his jaw. ‘I don’t have to explain myself to you but I did not reject my son.’

  ‘Oh? What would you call it?’

  ‘Since he was born I have paid for every single thing he needs and I have six monthly reports carried out to ensure that he is safe and well cared for.’

  ‘Reports that failed to inform you that his mother travels so often that his grandmother was his main carer until her death a fortnight ago.’

  He had the grace to look uncomfortable, pulling at the collar on his shirt in a telling movement.

  ‘And,’ he continued, as if she hadn’t spoken, ‘I fully intend to have a relationship with him when he’s older.’

  Of all the …

  ‘Older and less work?’ she scoffed. ‘He needs you now. A boy looks to his father as he grows up to figure out what it means to be a man. What kind of a man will he grow up to be with an absent father who never cared enough to spend time with him?’ Lexi stopped, aware that her impassioned speech was about to get out of hand. But damn it, that was exactly what had happened to her brother, Joe, who had become lost and angry in his teenage years, even though Lexi and her mother had done their best to shield him from feeling rejected by his father.

  ‘By all means say what you think, Miss Somers.’

  Lexi shook her head. ‘I don’t believe in wasting time on empty words.’

  ‘Rare for your sex, I have to say.’

  ‘Oh—’ Lexi shook her head ‘—I’ll add chauvinist to your list of personal attributes, shall I?’

  ‘I meant it as a compliment.’

  ‘That’s even worse!’

  He leaned his hip against the edge of the sofa and cocked his head. ‘Will I like any of the other things on your list?’

  Lexi shot him a fulminating glare, feeling a little spent after her tirade. ‘What do you think?’

  He laughed and Lexi felt a tug of awareness low in her pelvis as he studied her, his casual stance and insolent regard making her aware of her femininity—her womanliness—in a way she hated. Making her think of sex—of all things!

  She swallowed heavily and his eyes dropped to her throat and Lexi nearly raised her hand to cover it. What was he thinking abo
ut? Heat crept up her neck and she was afraid she might know.

  ‘I think you’re a woman with exacting standards that not many men manage to live up to.’

  Lexi blinked. ‘I think you’d fail to live up to most people’s standards,’ she retorted, stung a little by his assessment of her.

  ‘You’d be surprised.’

  ‘I’m not talking about the hundreds of women you go through like disposable razors.’

  He smiled at that. ‘Neither was I. And for your information, I use an electric.’

  ‘Well, you didn’t use it today,’ she said hotly and then wished she hadn’t when a sexy smile crossed his face. Damn. Now he probably thought she liked his stubble. Wanted to touch it, even. Huh! As if.

  She tightened her hold on her bag, aware that the conversation was taking a dangerous turn. ‘This is irrelevant.’

  ‘I agree.’ He pushed off from the sofa and sat down on it, his arms spread wide along the back like a sultan surveying his kingdom. ‘So tell me, what is it going to take to get you to agree to take care of Ty this weekend?’

  ‘Surely you have someone else who can help you out. A girlfriend, perhaps?’

  ‘Is that your way of asking if I’m available, Miss Somers?’

  Lexi glared at him. ‘That’s my way of asking if you have someone else to help you out. I would ask if you had a mother but I’m not sure you weren’t hatched from an egg.’

  Leo laughed, a deep, husky sound that sent tingles tracking down her spine. ‘I’m single. But, even if I wasn’t, bringing a girlfriend in at this late stage isn’t really the answer, is it?’

  It wasn’t really a question and, worst of all, she knew he was right. Lexi glanced outside at the endless view of the night sky and felt oddly cornered. ‘I can’t just drop everything in my life to help you.’

  ‘Think of it as helping Ty. You might find that more palatable,’ he drawled.

  Lexi made a derisive sound in the back of her throat and thought that if she wasn’t such a nice person—and the thought of touching him didn’t scare her so much—she’d smack him. ‘Oh, you’re good.’