were with her, playing with the leaves on the fledgling tomato plants. There was a corner of the backyard that got quite a bit of sunlight and Michael Larkin had planted a garden there every year. Now that it was spring, Michaela continued the tradition.
She wiped her dirty hands on the seat of her old pants then raced for the back stairs and the kitchen. She'd come home a little early this evening, needing the time digging in the dirt to come to grips with her feelings. Cameron might marry another woman but it would eventually make him happy. As happy as he could be.
She'd needed to come home and garden and feel close to her father. She'd needed to regain her strength.
She picked up her phone and was totally unprepared for the voice on the other end. Or what it told her.
"I've found her."
She closed her eyes, feeling her heart pick up speed. It started to pound, sickeningly fast, as feminine envy shook her to the tips of her toes.
"I'm happy for you, Cameron."
They were some of the hardest words she'd ever had to say.
"About this addendum—"
Quickly she sought refuge in her cool, unemotional, professional demeanor.
"What do you think?"
"It's an excellent suggestion. Could you incorporate it into the contract immediately? Nancy and I can be by your office tomorrow, late afternoon, so the papers can be signed."
Nancy. Somehow the fact that she had a name made things even worse.
"If it would be more convenient for the two of you, I can meet you at your home. It might be...more private that way." She'd been aware of the media circus from the start and also knew Cameron was an intensely private man.
But she also had an ulterior motive. If she didn't have them come to the office to sign the contract, her colleagues wouldn't have a chance to suspect how this was affecting her.
Coleman, Watts and Burrell was a highly competitive law firm and extremely old-fashioned. The competition between the various legal departments was cutthroat and she didn't want anyone there to know more about her private feelings than was absolutely necessary.
"That’s quite thoughtful of you. We'll be staying at the Four Seasons Clift—"
"I know where it is. What time would you like me to be there?"
"Around ten. Is that too late? It's actually more convenient for Nancy this way. She can come to the hotel later because of school and a medical exam, and several other things she has to take care of."
School. She must be young.
"That would be fine," she said, forcing her voice to remain steady.
She hung up the phone and stared at her dirty hands. Then, not caring about the grime, she put her face in her hands and slowly slid down the kitchen wall.
* * *
The Four Seasons Clift was one of the city's landmark hotels with a reputation for incredible personal service. Michaela arrived at around nine-thirty, absolutely exhausted. She hadn't slept at all the night before, tossing and turning and wondering if she should've gone ahead and said yes to Cameron's sexual offer.
She'd barely been able to keep her mind on her work. Visions of Nancy had danced through her head, each more exquisite than the last. She had to be stunning to have caught Cameron's eye. And brilliant. Young.
No cellulite on those thighs.
And a feminine body that functioned with exquisite precision, capable of giving Cameron the child he needed.
Nancy was everything she was not and it hurt on such a primal, deeply emotional level that Michaela had blocked a good deal of the pain out of her mind.
He'd registered under an assumed name to avoid the press but had given it to her over the phone late that afternoon. Once it had been confirmed that she was an expected guest, Michaela was shown to a bank of elevators that would take her to Cameron's suite.
He welcomed her inside, drink in hand. It surprised her that he was slightly nervous. She would've thought, with his sophisticated and sensually adventurous lifestyle, he wouldn't have a worry in the world.
It
She wiped her dirty hands on the seat of her old pants then raced for the back stairs and the kitchen. She'd come home a little early this evening, needing the time digging in the dirt to come to grips with her feelings. Cameron might marry another woman but it would eventually make him happy. As happy as he could be.
She'd needed to come home and garden and feel close to her father. She'd needed to regain her strength.
She picked up her phone and was totally unprepared for the voice on the other end. Or what it told her.
"I've found her."
She closed her eyes, feeling her heart pick up speed. It started to pound, sickeningly fast, as feminine envy shook her to the tips of her toes.
"I'm happy for you, Cameron."
They were some of the hardest words she'd ever had to say.
"About this addendum—"
Quickly she sought refuge in her cool, unemotional, professional demeanor.
"What do you think?"
"It's an excellent suggestion. Could you incorporate it into the contract immediately? Nancy and I can be by your office tomorrow, late afternoon, so the papers can be signed."
Nancy. Somehow the fact that she had a name made things even worse.
"If it would be more convenient for the two of you, I can meet you at your home. It might be...more private that way." She'd been aware of the media circus from the start and also knew Cameron was an intensely private man.
But she also had an ulterior motive. If she didn't have them come to the office to sign the contract, her colleagues wouldn't have a chance to suspect how this was affecting her.
Coleman, Watts and Burrell was a highly competitive law firm and extremely old-fashioned. The competition between the various legal departments was cutthroat and she didn't want anyone there to know more about her private feelings than was absolutely necessary.
"That’s quite thoughtful of you. We'll be staying at the Four Seasons Clift—"
"I know where it is. What time would you like me to be there?"
"Around ten. Is that too late? It's actually more convenient for Nancy this way. She can come to the hotel later because of school and a medical exam, and several other things she has to take care of."
School. She must be young.
"That would be fine," she said, forcing her voice to remain steady.
She hung up the phone and stared at her dirty hands. Then, not caring about the grime, she put her face in her hands and slowly slid down the kitchen wall.
* * *
The Four Seasons Clift was one of the city's landmark hotels with a reputation for incredible personal service. Michaela arrived at around nine-thirty, absolutely exhausted. She hadn't slept at all the night before, tossing and turning and wondering if she should've gone ahead and said yes to Cameron's sexual offer.
She'd barely been able to keep her mind on her work. Visions of Nancy had danced through her head, each more exquisite than the last. She had to be stunning to have caught Cameron's eye. And brilliant. Young.
No cellulite on those thighs.
And a feminine body that functioned with exquisite precision, capable of giving Cameron the child he needed.
Nancy was everything she was not and it hurt on such a primal, deeply emotional level that Michaela had blocked a good deal of the pain out of her mind.
He'd registered under an assumed name to avoid the press but had given it to her over the phone late that afternoon. Once it had been confirmed that she was an expected guest, Michaela was shown to a bank of elevators that would take her to Cameron's suite.
He welcomed her inside, drink in hand. It surprised her that he was slightly nervous. She would've thought, with his sophisticated and sensually adventurous lifestyle, he wouldn't have a worry in the world.
It
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