Forty and Free: A Sweet Romance Series Bundle - Books 5 - 8

by Blake, Lillianna

  “No, don’t say that.” She closed her eyes tight. “Why did you come here just to leave again?”

  He drew back. She felt the weight of his gaze on her but didn’t dare to open her eyes.

  “Don’t run from me, Natasha.”

  She opened her eyes and stared at him. “I’m not the one that’s running.”

  “I’m not either.” He shook his head. “Not any more. If you’ll still have me, I want to see what our future holds.” He lowered his eyes but still gripped her hand tight in his own. “I can’t make you any promises, not just yet. But if you’re willing, I want to try.”

  Chapter 34

  “I’m more than willing.” Natasha laughed as she embraced him. “There’s nothing that would make me happier than to be with you, Thomas.”

  “Honestly, I’m surprised that you’re not upset with me.”

  “I knew you loved me. That was all I needed to know. We all need time to heal from our past hurts sometimes. There will still be moments when we face difficulties in our relationship. I know that and I’m okay with that. But I want to go through those difficulties with you. We can work through it together.”

  “You had more faith in me than I even had in myself.” He stared at her with amazement. “I don’t know how, but you did.”

  “It wasn’t hard, Thomas. I see you for who you really are, not who other people have tried to define you as. You’re well worth the wait, the risk, anything. As long as you want to be with me, I’m happy to see where this leads.”

  “Wonderful. Then let’s start tonight. A date?”

  “Who is going to pay? I want to make sure it’s official.” She grinned at him.

  He laughed in return and kissed her again.

  Over the next few weeks Thomas spent every moment he could with Natasha. More often than not, it was while Emma was staying with her father, because Natasha wanted to take things slow when it came to her daughter and Thomas getting to know one another. Each time he started to draw back, Natasha found a way to soothe him and change his perspective.

  Late one evening as they stretched out on the balcony of her penthouse he gazed into her eyes. “Remember when I said I couldn’t make any promises?”

  “Yes. That’s okay, Thomas. I’m not asking for any.”

  “I’m ready to make some.” He shifted her closer to him.

  “You don’t have to.”

  “Yes, I do. Natasha, I want to be with you for the rest of my life. I want to marry you—when we’re both ready, I mean. I want to have a child with you, if that’s what you would like.”

  “A child?” Her eyes widened. “Are you sure? You shouldn’t become a father just to please me.”

  “It wouldn’t be to please you, although I would be happy if it did. You’ve shown me that I can have that family I’ve always hoped for.”

  “I’m not sure if it’s even possible now at my age.” Natasha frowned. “Although I can’t say I don’t think about it.”

  “We can discuss it. I don’t need a child to have my DNA to be my child.”

  “Neither do I.” She smiled and nestled closer to him. “Oh, Thomas, you’ve made me so happy. It’s like you’ve give me everything back that I thought I’d never have. I love you so much.”

  “I love you too, Natasha. Don’t you think it’s time I get to know Emma?” He met her eyes. “I don’t want to be this ghost that drifts in and out of her life. I know that she has a father, but I’d be more than happy to be part of her life, if you both want that.”

  “Yes, that’s what I want.” She smiled at him. “You have no idea how much I want that. But Lucas and I have an agreement that if someone is going to be around Emma we both have to approve.”

  “Approve?”

  “Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like a test or anything. It’s just that he needs to spend some time with you, get an idea of who you are. I asked for the same thing from him. He loves Emma very much and just wants to be sure that she is safe.”

  “You know that she is, don’t you?” He frowned.

  “I do. Lucas will too once he has a chance to spend some time with you. I’ve already told him about all your charity work and—”

  “You talk to him about me?” Thomas raised an eyebrow.

  “He’s my best friend, Thomas. You’re going to have to accept that.”

  “You can understand how awkward that is for me though, right?”

  “Why does it have to be?” She took his hands in hers. “If you give him a chance, I think you’ll like him.”

  “He’s your ex-husband. The father of your child. He could give you anything you could ever want in the blink of an eye. How can I compete with that?”

  “Thomas.” She gazed into his eyes and tightened her grasp on his hands. “There is no competition. It’s you that I want to spend the rest of my life with. Trust me, I don’t need anyone to give me anything. But the one thing I can’t get for myself is what you can offer me—a future with an amazing man.”

  A sigh drifted past his lips. “You’re right. I’m being ridiculous.”

  “Not really. Remember when we were on the beach together?”

  “Mm-hm.”

  “There were all these women ogling you.”

  “Ogling?” He laughed.

  “I’m serious. I was quite jealous. I don’t expect you and Lucas to be best friends. But you’re going to have to respect the fact that he’s Emma’s father and will always be part of our lives. Do you think you can?”

  “Yes.” He nodded as he slid his hands from hers and wrapped his arms around her. “I can.”

  “Good. Then you two can go out for drinks and have a fantastic time.”

  “That’s not what’s really going to happen, is it?” He frowned.

  “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. Lucas is harmless.”

  “Hm.”

  “Well, most of the time.”

  “Great.”

  She kissed him, then looked into his eyes. “I love you, you know.”

  “I love you too.”

  Chapter 35

  Natasha glanced nervously at her watch. She knew that Thomas and Lucas would be meeting at any moment. She wondered whether she should have stood her ground and denied Lucas the right to have his conversation with Thomas. As much as she understood his position as Emma’s father, she worried that he would scare Thomas off. Then again, if Thomas would be scared off so easily, he might not be the man for her.

  As she paced back and forth through the living room, Emma walked in with a bundle of stuffed animals.

  “Mommy, want to have a tea party?”

  “Absolutely. That sounds like a great idea.” She sat down at the small table in the corner of the living room and watched as Emma arranged each of her stuffed animals.

  “Emma, remember the man that came to visit some time ago?”

  “Thomas?”

  “You remember his name?”

  “Yes. You talk to him on the phone a lot.”

  “I do?” Natasha grinned.

  “Yes, like this.” Emma fluttered her lashes. “Oh, Thomas, you’re so funny. Thomas, you always know what to say. Thomas, I can’t wait to see you.”

  Natasha cringed. “I guess you’re more of a spy than I realized.”

  “Yes, I am.” Emma offered a devilish grin.

  “So, how do you feel about Mommy talking to him so much?”

  “You’re always happy when you talk to him. So that’s good.”

  “What if Thomas wanted to spend some time with the both of us?”

  She looked across the table at her mother. “Like Daddy and Cassie?”

  “A little, yes.” Natasha braced herself. Emma was accepting of Cassie, but that didn’t mean she’d be accepting of Thomas.

  “I guess. If he’s as nice to me as he is to you.”

  “He will be, I promise.”

  “But Mommy?”

  “Yes.”

  “Will he want to drink tea with us?”

&n
bsp; Natasha laughed. “I don’t know. I guess we’ll have to ask him.”

  “He should drink tea. It’s good for you.” Emma sipped her pretend tea.

  “I’ll be sure to tell him. Or better yet, you can—when he comes to visit.”

  “Okay.” Emma grinned.

  As they finished their tea party Natasha’s nerves settled some. It was hard for her to believe that out of the blue she’d met the man she’d waited for all her life, but there was no doubt in her mind that Thomas was it for her. The thought of him completing the family she longed for filled her with excitement.

  When her phone rang she answered it with the expectation that it would be Thomas.

  “How did it go?”

  “How did what go?” A woman’s voice replied.

  “I’m sorry, who is this?”

  “It’s Michelle—from the cruise. You gave me your number? I’m sorry if I’m bothering you.”

  “Not at all, Michelle. I’m sorry, I just expected to hear a different voice.”

  “Thomas?”

  “How did you know?”

  “Just a guess.” She laughed. “I wanted to let you know that I think I’m ready to start exploring the Forty and Free site recommendation that you gave me. I wanted to thank you for showing me that there’s still life left to live.”

  “I’m glad that I could help. I’m not sure how I showed you that, though.”

  “Well, it wasn’t just you. Watching the way you and Thomas were together reminded me how much love I’d once had in my life. If my husband were the one who was still here, I’d want him to find that kind of happiness again, and I think he’d want me to also.”

  “I’m so happy you feel that way, Michelle. The truth is, I might have advised you differently before I met Thomas, but he’s turned my entire life around. I’m happier than I ever thought I could be.”

  “Then hold tight to him, Natasha. I’ll let you know if I stumble across a great love of my own.”

  Natasha smiled as she hung up the phone. But her smile faded somewhat when she wondered what Lucas and Thomas might be discussing. She hoped that Thomas still felt as overjoyed with her when Lucas was finished with him.

  “Mommy? Are you scared?” Emma looked into her eyes.

  “A little.”

  “Don’t worry.” Emma held out a teacup. “This will make you feel better.”

  She smiled and accepted the cup. “Yes it does, Emma, it really does.”

  Chapter 36

  When Thomas parked in front of the sprawling mansion, he couldn’t quite believe his eyes. It was much larger than he’d even imagined; it was difficult to comprehend that only a few people lived there. This was the wealth that Natasha was used to.

  When he stepped inside he realized that he could fit his entire home within the first few rooms.

  A butler led Thomas to the study and left him outside a closed door.

  He stood outside the door and wondered if he’d lost his mind. Never had he been so intimidated by anyone before. Lucas was everything Thomas wasn’t—wealthy, refined, and able to crush a person with one hard stare. Not to mention the fact that Lucas was Natasha’s first love. How could Thomas compete with that?

  His eyes narrowed as he considered what might happen if he refused. Natasha would accept it most likely but it might create resentment between them. That was not something he wanted to risk.

  He raised a hand and knocked on the door to the study.

  “Come in.”

  Lucas’s voice was gruff.

  Thomas took a deep breath. He reminded himself that he’d been through some pretty dangerous times in his life, much more frightening than anything that Lucas could throw at him. He pushed the door open and stepped inside.

  “Cigar?” Lucas offered him one along with a glass of something that smelled like vodka.

  “No thanks. I don’t smoke.” He accepted the glass but didn’t take a sip. He wasn’t much for drinking, especially in unpredictable situations.

  “I don’t either, really.” Lucas shrugged and put the cigar down. “So Natasha tells me that you two are becoming pretty serious and you’d like to get to know Emma.”

  “I have no intention of interfering with your role in Emma’s life. I hope that you know that.”

  “Oh, I do. You couldn’t do anything to change it anyway. Emma and I are solid.”

  “I know that.” He nodded. “I just hope that you don’t mind if I’m a small part of her life, as much as you and Natasha will allow.”

  “The problem I have with that is that you don’t seem like you’re ready for the kind of commitment that Natasha needs.”

  “No offense, but that’s between Natasha and me.”

  “None taken, but my little girl could get hurt in the middle of all this. I just hope you know what you’re doing. I wasn’t the right person for Natasha, we both know that now, but that doesn’t change the fact that I adore her. She’s a wonderful mother to our little girl, and I don’t want you doing anything to hurt either of them.”

  “I wouldn’t.”

  “You will if you decide it’s all too much for you.” He folded his arms across his chest. “How do I know that you’re not just after her for the money?”

  “I didn’t come here to seek your approval. I came because Natasha asked me to. I will respect her wishes, but if you infer that my intentions are anything but genuine again, I will find a way to make my intentions clear to you.”

  “Is that a threat?” Lucas laughed. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes, I am.” He locked eyes with Lucas. “Natasha respects you and your opinion. If you want to try to interfere with our relationship, I’m going to have a big problem with that. Yes, I took my time to make a commitment to her. That was only because I wanted to be sure I didn’t do anything to hurt or take advantage of her. I don’t have to explain myself to you.”

  “No, you don’t.” Lucas nodded. “I do have a problem with you being a small part of my daughter’s life, however.”

  “I see. Can you tell me why?” Thomas struggled not to lose his temper. Lucas appeared to want to stop him from being with Natasha.

  “I’d like you to be more than that. It’s not often that I get to be with my daughter, not the way I want to be. Your values, what you do as a teacher and as a man, these are things I think she can learn from. My job is not exactly noble. It would be good for Emma to have a balanced view of a male figure in her life.”

  “You really feel that way?”

  “Yes, I do. I’ve done my research on you, Thomas. I know what you bring to the table. A man’s worth is not defined by his monetary value. I had to be sure, so I tried to rile you. I don’t want a man around Natasha or Emma who can’t maintain his temperament. You do a good job of it. If I were in your shoes, I probably would have knocked me out. If you can handle yourself this well, then I’m sure you can handle yourself well in other situations too. I appreciate you humoring me and having this meeting with me. It makes everything more cordial between all of us.”

  “Then you’re fine with Natasha and me?”

  “More than fine. I’d encourage you to propose as quickly as possible. Or she might just beat you to it.” Lucas winked.

  Thomas laughed and nodded. “Soon. Sometime soon. I want to get to know Emma first. I don’t want to enter her life without being invited.”

  “Then you will be a great influence on her.” He held out his hand to Thomas. “Welcome to our strange little family.”

  “I’m honored to be part of it.” Thomas shook his hand in return.

  As he left the study, relief flooded him. Maybe Lucas was a bit eccentric but his heart was in the right place.

  Now the question was, would Emma feel the same way? How would the little girl respond to another man in her life—in her mother’s life?

  Chapter 37

  Natasha glanced down at her phone as the call from Thomas came in and smiled. She walked over to the window.

  “So you survived
?”

  “Barely.” He chuckled. “You’re right though. Lucas is a good man. I’m glad I had the chance to get to know him a little better. So, can we schedule a trip to the park this weekend? Do you think Emma is ready for it? I don’t want to rush her.”

  “I think she’s more than ready. She did seem to have a very important question for you though.”

  “Oh yeah? What’s that?”

  “She wanted to know your opinion of tea parties.” Natasha laughed.

  “Uh. I attend every one that I’m invited to. How’s that?”

  “Good answer.” She laughed. “Let’s spend the day at the park this Saturday. I have some kites we can take and I’ll pack us a picnic lunch.”

  “Sounds great. Is there anything I can bring?”

  “Patience, endurance, and your handsome self.”

  “I can arrange at least two out of three.”

  She smiled to herself as she hung up the phone.

  By the time the weekend came around, she’d had a few small conversations with Emma about their meeting with Thomas. She wanted to be sure that Emma wasn’t blindsided by another adult coming into her life.

  Emma seemed to be remarkably accepting of the thought—until Saturday morning arrived.

  “Are we going to the park now, Mommy?” Emma bounced up and down by the door.

  “Yes, when Thomas gets here.”

  “Why do we have to wait for him? We can just call for Tony to drive us.”

  “I think Thomas would like to take us, honey.”

  “Does he have a good radio? Does he have a sunroof? Will he beep the horn for me?”

  “I don’t know. But remember Emma, different people drive different kinds of cars and live different kinds of lives. Not everyone has the fanciest cars or the best radios or sunroofs.”

  “I know.” Emma pouted. “But Tony’s car does, so can’t we just call him?” She started to whine.

  Natasha’s heartbeat quickened. It was a bad sign that Emma was already starting to act up. Maybe she hadn’t gotten enough sleep the night before. How would Thomas react if she was grumpy all day?

  “Emma, this is our special day with Thomas and I want it to go very well. Can you try to have a good attitude?”