Harlequin Romance September 2013 Bundle: Bound by a BabyIn the Line of DutyPatchwork Family in the OutbackStranded with the Tycoon

by Kate Hardy

  ‘And it tastes vile.’ She grimaced. ‘I’m so sorry.’

  ‘Don’t worry. Tell you what—get rid of this, and I’ll order us pizza.’ He took his mobile phone out of his pocket and tapped in a number.

  She took their plates to the kitchen and scraped the food into the bin. Right then, she wanted to burst into tears. She’d ruined dinner. How could she ask him a favour now?

  ‘Hey, it could easily have happened when I was cooking. Don’t worry about it,’ he said, coming into the kitchen to join her.

  She wasn’t worried about the food.

  When she didn’t reply, he rested a hand on her shoulder. ‘Emmy, what’s wrong?’

  She took a deep breath. ‘I was going to ask you a favour. I can’t now.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Because, instead of giving you a decent dinner, I served you something disgusting.’

  He waved a dismissive hand. ‘It’s not a problem, Emmy—though maybe in future it might be an idea to stick to stuff you actually know how to cook?’

  ‘I guess so,’ she said ruefully.

  ‘So what did you want to ask me?’

  She squirmed. ‘There isn’t an easy way to ask.’

  ‘Straight out will do.’

  ‘I got a call from one of the big glossy magazines. They want to do a feature on up-and-coming British jewellery designers and they want to interview me.’

  ‘That’s good, isn’t it?’ he asked.

  ‘Ye-es.’

  ‘But?’

  She sighed. ‘But they want me to make some jewellery and their deadline’s massively tight. My guess is that someone dropped out at the last minute and I was a second choice, and I think there are another two designers they’ve asked as well, so there’s no guarantee I’ll be included anyway.’

  ‘But they still asked you, and that’s the main thing. How tight is the deadline?’

  This was the deal-breaker, she knew. ‘They’ve asked me to create something totally new for them. So I need to spend the next four days working solidly to get the pieces made on time for their shoot.’

  ‘So you need me to take over Tyler’s care for the next four days?’

  She nodded. ‘But you had an emergency project meeting tonight, so you’re clearly up to your eyes and it’s not doable.’

  ‘I can delegate.’

  ‘I’ll just have to pass and ask if they’d consider me in the future. If I tell them about Ty, maybe then they’ll be understanding and won’t think I’m too lazy and just making up feeble excuses.’

  He placed a finger over her mouth, making her skin tingle. ‘Emmy, were you listening? I said I’d do it. I’ll delegate.’

  * * *

  Her eyes went huge. ‘Really?’

  ‘Really,’ he said softly.

  Then he dropped his hand, before he did anything stupid—like moving it to cup her cheek and dip his head to kiss her. That kiss was still causing him to wake up at stupid o’clock in the morning and wonder what would happen if he did it again. He needed to keep a lid on his attraction towards Emmy. Now.

  ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘I—well, I feel bad about asking. Four days is a lot.’

  ‘This is your big break, Emmy. And we’re a team. Of course I’ll do it.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  He couldn’t resist teasing her. ‘I will be exacting repayment, of course.’

  Then he wished he hadn’t said it when she blushed. Because now all sorts of things were running through his head, and none of them were sensible. All of them involved Emmy naked in his bed. Which would be a very, very bad idea for both of them. Hadn’t he spent the last week or so trying to get his feelings under control and forcing himself to think of her as just his co-guardian?

  ‘I mean, I want four days off in lieu,’ he said.

  She dragged in a shaky breath, and he had the feeling that her thoughts had been travelling along very similar lines to his own. ‘That’s a deal,’ she said.

  The doorbell rang, and the pizza delivery boy saved him from saying anything else stupid—such as suggesting they sealed the deal with a kiss. He made sure they had the full width of the kitchen table between them when they sat down to eat. Maybe, just maybe, his common sense would come back and do its usual job once he’d eaten. He needed carbs.

  Sharing a house with a woman he knew he shouldn’t be attracted to was turning out to be much harder than he’d expected. Though he knew that at least work was a safe topic. ‘Tell me about the magazine,’ he invited.

  ‘It’s one of the biggest women’s monthly magazines, glossy and aspirational stuff.’ She smiled. ‘It’s not exactly the kind of thing you’d be likely to read.’

  No, but he knew the kind of thing that Nadine had flicked through and he had a pretty good idea of what they required.

  ‘And they’re featuring your work?’

  ‘If they like it. There aren’t any guarantees,’ she warned. ‘As I said, there are a couple of other designers in the running.’

  ‘They’ll like your work,’ he said. ‘What do they want you to make?’

  ‘A pendant, rings, earrings, and a bangle—they want an ultra-modern set and an ultra-girly, almost old-fashioned set.’

  ‘Like that filigree stuff you do.’

  She nodded. ‘Exactly that.’

  A pendant, rings, earrings and a bangle. And his imagination would have to supply a vision of Emmy wearing said jewellery, and nothing but said jewellery.

  ‘Are you going to show them your jet animals as well?’ he asked, pushing the recalcitrant thoughts away.

  She wrinkled her nose. ‘No, they’re just a bit of fun.’

  ‘But they’re different, Emmy. People might forget your name if they want to buy your jewellery, but they’ll definitely remember your jet animals, so they’ll look them up on the Internet and find you.’

  She thought about it. ‘Fair point.’

  ‘Go for it,’ he said. ‘Maybe that little turtle you made for Ty last week. And the dolphin.’

  ‘I could do a seahorse,’ she said, seeming to warm to the idea.

  ‘That would definitely do it,’ he said. ‘A jet seahorse.’

  ‘I owe you,’ she said, finishing her pizza. ‘Would you mind...?’

  ‘Go. You’re off housework, childcare and everything else,’ he said. ‘Go beat that deadline.’

  She went off to work, and he made a phone call to delegate his work for the next four days so he could take over from her. It was a lot to ask, but he also knew that if he’d been the one to ask the favour her reaction would’ve been the same: total support. And he could give her some help to chase her dream.

  * * *

  Over the next four days, Emmy worked crazy hours to get the pieces done—a solid jet heart with silver filigree radiating out into a larger heart-shaped pendant, matching earrings, and delicate filigree cuffs containing the shape of a heart in solid jet. The other set included a modern pendant of a jet cone with a slice of amber running through it, matching earrings, a jet ring that entwined with an amber one, and a bangle that replicated the same effect, a thin band of amber entwined with a thin band of jet. And to finish the collection she carved the jet seahorse she’d discussed with Dylan.

  Outside her work, she didn’t have time to do anything other than have a quick shower in the morning, then fall into bed exhausted at night. Dylan brought her coffee and fruit and sandwiches to keep her going during the day, but didn’t stay long enough to disturb her. He did insist on her taking a short break in the evening, though, to eat a proper dinner. She gave him a grateful smile. ‘Thank you, Dylan. You’ve been a real star.’

  ‘You’d do the same for me. How’s it going?’

  ‘I’m getting there.’

  When she’d f
inished, she showed him the two collections.

  ‘This is beautiful. I know a lot of women who’d love something like this.’ He smiled at her. ‘You’re definitely going to get this.’

  ‘There are no guarantees,’ she reminded him.

  Emmy delivered the jewellery to the magazine offices by hand, including the jet seahorse. She knew she was being paranoid, but she couldn’t trust them to anyone else. She’d put too much of her heart and soul into the project now for things to go wrong.

  Then it was a matter of waiting.

  Were they going to choose her?

  And how long would they keep her waiting before they delivered the verdict?

  Every second seemed to drag—even though she knew she was being ridiculous and she probably wouldn’t hear for at least a week. But by the time she got back to the house in Islington, she felt flat.

  Dylan took one look at her. ‘Right. We’re going out.’

  ‘Where?’ she asked.

  ‘You need some fresh air, and Ty and I are going with you to keep you company—isn’t that right, sweetheart?’ he added to the baby. ‘I’ve got his bag organised. All I need to do is get a couple of bottles from the fridge, and we’re good to go.’

  She gave in. ‘Thank you, Dylan.’

  ‘I know you like the sea,’ he said as he finished packing the baby’s bag. ‘And I think it’s what you need to blow the cobwebs out.’

  ‘But it’s nearly five hours from here to Whitby,’ she blurted out.

  He laughed. ‘I know. I’m not taking you there. I thought we could go to Sussex.’

  In the end he drove them to Brighton, where they crunched over the pebbles next to the sea. Part of Emmy was wistful for the fine, soft sand of the east coast she was used to, but she was seriously grateful that Dylan had thought of it. ‘You’re right. The sea’s just what I need. Thank you so much.’

  ‘My pleasure.’ He smiled at her, and her heart did a flip. Which was totally ridiculous.

  They ate fish and chips on the pier. He fed little bits of fish to Tyler, who absolutely loved it and opened his mouth for more.

  ‘I think we’ve just found the next food for his list,’ Dylan said with a grin.

  The woman sitting on the bench next to them looked over. ‘Oh, your baby’s just adorable.’

  Emmy froze.

  But Dylan simply smiled. ‘Thank you. We think so, too.’

  For a moment Emmy wondered what it would be like if this were real—if Dylan were her partner and Tyler were their baby. Then she reminded herself that they were co-guardians. They’d agreed that kiss was a mistake. She’d be stupid to want more than she could have.

  ‘You’re quiet,’ Dylan remarked when they were wandering through the narrow streets of boutique shops, with Tyler fast asleep in his pushchair.

  ‘I’m just a bit tired,’ she prevaricated.

  ‘And worrying about whether they’re going to like your designs?’

  She frowned. ‘How did you know?’

  ‘I’m the same whenever I bid for a project. I always know I’ve done my best, but I always worry whether the client will like what I’ve suggested.’

  ‘And I guess you have the added pressure, because you have people relying on you for work.’

  He shrugged. ‘There is that.’

  She grimaced. ‘Sorry, that was patronising and a stupid thing to say.’

  ‘It’s OK. You’ve done the equivalent of a week and a half’s normal office hours over four days. I’m not surprised your brain is a bit fried. Come on. Let’s get an ice cream.’

  ‘Good idea. And it’s my shout.’

  * * *

  Emmy fell asleep in the car on the way back. Dylan glanced at her.

  Now he understood exactly what Nadine had meant. The idea of having a partner and a child to complete his life. He hadn’t understood it at the time. After his own experiences of growing up, he’d sworn never to have a child of his own. Even to the point where he’d split up from the woman he’d loved rather than have a child with her.

  And yet here he was in exactly that position: a stand-in father to Tyler. Something he hadn’t wanted to do, but guilt and duty had pushed him into it. He wasn’t sure what surprised him more, the fact that he was actually capable of looking after the baby and giving him the love he needed, or the fact that he was actually enjoying it. Part of him felt guilty about that, too. He hadn’t given Nadine that chance. Maybe if she’d forced his hand, stopped taking the Pill without telling him and just confronted him with the news that he was going to be a dad, he would’ve got used to the idea. She’d played fair with him by giving him the chance to say no; and he’d been stubborn enough and selfish enough to say exactly that.

  On paper, Nadine had been the perfect choice: focused, career-orientated, organised. Just as he was. Except it hadn’t worked, because she’d changed. She’d wanted something he’d always believed he hadn’t wanted.

  On paper, Emmy was just about the worst choice he could make. OK, she was more organised and together than he’d thought she was, but they were still so different. How could it possibly work between them?

  Besides, this was meant to be a three-month trial in co-guardianship. Any relationship between them could potentially wreak huge havoc on Tyler’s life. She’d said herself that her relationships always failed, and he’d made a mess of his marriage. He just couldn’t let himself think of Emmy in any other role than that of co-guardian. No matter how attractive he found her. No matter how much he wanted to kiss those soft, sweet lips until her eyes went all wide and dark with passion.

  Not happening, he told himself. Stick to the limits you agreed.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  THE FOLLOWING WEEK, Emmy had a phone call that left her shrieking and dancing round the house. She called her mother, and then Dylan.

  ‘Sorry to ring you at work,’ she said, ‘but I couldn’t wait to tell you—the magazine just rang. They loved my designs and they’re going to run the feature with me in it. Apparently what swayed them was the seahorse—which was your suggestion, so it’s all thanks to you.’

  ‘No worries,’ he said, sounding pleased for her. ‘But it was just a suggestion. You’re the one who did all the hard work.’

  ‘I’m going to stand you a decent meal to say thank you.’ She laughed. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not cooking it myself, so you’re in no danger of getting rubbery monkfish again. Mum says she can babysit Ty on Friday or Saturday, whichever suits you best.’

  ‘Emmy, you don’t need to take me out.’

  ‘Yes, I do. You more than earned it, taking over all my duties and giving me the time to work, so don’t argue. We’ll sort out the time when you get home tonight, and I’ll book somewhere.’ She paused. ‘One last thing. They want to take a few shots of me here, at my workbench. Um, this afternoon. Do you have a problem with that?’

  ‘No, it’s fine. Do you need me back early to look after Tyler?’

  ‘Hopefully the photographer will be here while Tyler’s taking a nap. Or, if he wakes, it won’t matter if he’s in the shots. If that’s OK with you, that is.’

  ‘It’s fine,’ he said again. ‘I’ll see you later.’

  * * *

  The journalist arrived while Tyler was still awake, so Emmy made her a coffee and played with the baby while she answered questions, hoping that she didn’t come across as too flaky or too distracted. And Tyler decided to forego his nap, so when the photographer arrived—two hours later than they’d arranged—he ended up being in the shots.

  They were halfway through the photo shoot when Dylan arrived.

  ‘Sorry—am I in the way?’ he asked, coming in to Emmy’s workroom.

  ‘No—we’re running late,’ Emmy said.

  Tyler held out his hands to Dylan, who smiled
and scooped him into his arms, then kissed him roundly. ‘Hello, trouble. Aren’t you supposed to be having a nap right now?’ he asked.

  The baby gurgled and clapped his hands.

  ‘Come on. Let’s give Emmy some peace and quiet.’ He glanced over at Emmy, the journalist and the photographer. ‘I’m about to put the kettle on. Coffee?’

  ‘Thanks, that’d be great,’ Emmy said gratefully. ‘Oh, sorry, I haven’t introduced you. Dylan, this is Mike and Flo from the magazine. Flo, Mike, this is Dylan Harper.’

  ‘Nice to meet you,’ Dylan said. ‘Milk or sugar?’

  ‘Just milk for me,’ Flo said.

  ‘Black, two sugars,’ Mike said.

  ‘Back in a tick,’ Dylan said, winked at Emmy, and whisked Tyler out of the workroom.

  ‘Wow, he’s gorgeous and domesticated. The perfect man,’ Flo said wistfully.

  Just what Emmy was starting to think, though wild horses wouldn’t make her admit it, especially if there was a danger of Dylan overhearing her. ‘He has his moments,’ she said gruffly.

  ‘You’re just so lucky. This house, that cute baby, and that gorgeous man. And you’re talented as well. If you weren’t so nice, I’d have to hate you,’ Flo said.

  ‘Hang on—you’ve got the wrong end of the stick. Ty’s not ours. Well, he is ours,’ Emmy said, ‘but we’re not his parents.’

  ‘Adopted? That’s lovely.’

  ‘We’re his guardians. We were his parents’ best friends.’ Emmy explained the situation with Ally and Pete as succinctly as she could. ‘Dylan and I just share a house and Ty’s care.’

  Flo raised an eyebrow. ‘Just housemates—with the way you two look at each other? Methinks the lady doth protest too much.’

  Oh, help. Emmy didn’t dare ask Flo to expand on that. Obviously she thought Dylan looked at her as if he were in love with her—which Emmy knew wasn’t the case. But she really hoped that she didn’t look at him as if she were mooning over him. Because she wasn’t. Was she? ‘We’re just...’ Her voice faded.

  ‘Good friends?’ Flo asked.

  No. They weren’t. Though they were on the way to becoming friends. There was a real easiness between them nowadays. ‘Something like that,’ Emmy said carefully.