Irresistible Forces (14 page)

“Madam Steele, thank you for seeing me,” he said with a deep French accent as he crossed the room to her. He leaned over and placed a kiss on the back of her hand.

“You’re welcome,” she said, thinking whoever he was, he was a true Frenchman.

When he straightened, a smile touched the corners of his lips. “You seem in a quandary as to who I am.”

“Yes,” Taylor said, studying the man’s features. She would put his age in his early seventies. “It’s obvious you’re related to Dominic.”

She saw a sudden shadow that crossed the man’s green eyes, eyes that were so much like Dominic’s it was uncanny. “Yes, I am related to Dominic,” he said in a somewhat soft voice that dampened the smile he wore. “I am Franco Marcello Saxon, the grandfather Dominic refuses to acknowledge that he has.”

Chapter 12

A
t first Taylor could have sworn she had heard the older man wrong, but a part of her knew deep down she’d heard him right. There was no doubt in her mind that the man standing before her was Dominic’s grandfather, and since Dominic had denied having any living grandparents, she could only wonder why he refused to acknowledge the man’s very existence.

“B-but why would Dominic do such a thing?” she asked, knowing the man would be able to provide her with an answer.

“It’s a long story, one you have a right to know.”

She wondered how he figured that. He evidently saw the question in her eyes and said, “Because you are the woman who will give birth to my great-grandchild and more than anything, I want to be a part of its life.”

Taylor wondered how he knew about the baby. Again, as if he’d known what she was thinking, he said, “My son and daughter-in-law were excited about the news and were happy to share it with me.”

Taylor nodded. If that was the case, that meant he and Dominic’s parents were on speaking terms. If they were then why not Dominic?

“I know you have a lot of questions, Madam Steele, and I would be honored if you joined me for dinner so I can explain things to you.”

“Dinner?”

“Yes.”

Taylor thought about the invitation. Regardless of whether or not he was on good terms with his grandfather, Dominic should have mentioned the man’s existence to her. No matter what degree of discord subsisted between the two men, the one standing before was her baby’s great-grandfather. So, she made a decision. “Yes, I would love to join you for dinner.”

As soon as they entered the Marcinelli Restaurant, Taylor could tell the man by her side was used to dining in elegance. She glanced up at the vaulted ceilings with intricate carvings and bordered by richlooking marble that seemed to blend into the stone walls. The spacious interior provided an air of sophistication and style, and the floor-to-ceiling windows and handmade pottery that sat on each table promised ambience as classy as the food the restaurant served.

They were led to a private room in the back of the restaurant and she was just as impressed with the furnishings and decor. The window looked out into a massive garden. Taylor was never one to appreciate a lot of greenery but she did so now.

Once they had been seated and their choice of wine ordered, Franco Saxon glanced over at her and smiled. “I’m glad you are joining me, Taylor. It means a lot.”

She believed him, just as she believed him earlier, during the drive over, when he’d said that no matter how Dominic felt about him, he loved his grandson.

“And I appreciate the invitation to join you.”

They began talking about everything but Dominic for the first half hour while waiting for their food to arrive. He told her that his health hadn’t been the best lately, but he was getting better and that his travels to the United States were infrequent. She discovered his love of classical music as well as his opposition to anything that restricted world trade. That was understandable considering he had made his millions in the import and export business.

“I can see why my grandson has fallen in love with you, Taylor.”

Taylor froze with the glass of apple juice halfway to her lips. She wasn’t sure what to say, since she didn’t have a clue just what Dominic had told his parents about her. So to play it safe, she said something she knew wasn’t a lie. “And I love Dominic just as deeply.”

She leaned back in her chair. “So, please, share with me why there is animosity between you and Dominic.”

Over dinner she listened while he told her with deep regret and sorrow in his voice how he tried to control his son’s life by choosing the woman for him to marry—a woman who would increase the Saxons’ wealth when the two families joined. Instead, while attending school here in the States, Marcello met and fell in love with Megan. Franco had opposed the marriage, threatened to disown his son if he didn’t do what he wanted. In the end, Marcello chose love.

For the next twenty years Marcello and his father had very little contact. Franco explained that they were both stubborn men, but that within the last three years he and Marcello had put the past behind them. However, Dominic refused to do so. He just couldn’t get over the fact that Franco had turned his back on Marcello for marrying his mother.

Franco admitted he had been wrong and that he had made a grave mistake, especially upon seeing how happy Marcello was. And he totally liked Megan and couldn’t imagine any woman more right for his son. If he had it to do all over again, he would give his blessings to the couple in a heartbeat. But he hadn’t and not doing so had eventually lost him his grandson’s love.

“Have you tried talking to Dominic?” Taylor couldn’t help but ask.

“Yes, but he refuses to discuss anything with me. Dominic refuses to acknowledge my very existence. And that’s why I wanted to talk to you. I hope that you will find it in your heart to allow me to be a part of my great-grandchild’s life. I hope you won’t deny me that.”

Taylor shook her head. “Of course I won’t, and I can’t see Dominic denying it, either.”

“Forgive me for saying so, but I can see him denying it. Like I said, I am not one of my grandson’s favorite people, but I love him and will do anything I can for him.”

“And now that Dominic sees how his parents have forgiven you, that doesn’t change his feelings about you?”

“No. It seems he has more stubbornness than me and his father put together. And he is fiercely loyal to those he loves and he loves his parents deeply. He knows how much I’ve hurt them and won’t forgive me for doing so.”

The older man paused for a second and then he said, “Dominic refuses to acknowledge his place as my rightful heir, but I’m naming him in my business papers anyway. However, I want to meet with my attorney and make provisions for my great-grandchild to be included, as well, but wanted to meet with you to make sure you are fine with that.”

Taylor stared at him. Being a wealth and asset manager, she had a pretty good idea just how wealthy Franco Saxon was, and he was sitting there letting her know that he was thinking of her child and his place in its life. “Yes, I’m fine with it. In fact, your generosity overwhelms me and I don’t know what to say.”

“Say that as long as I have breath in my body that I will be a part of my great-grandchild’s life. I messed up with my grandson but I don’t want to mess up with my great-grandchild.”

Taylor heard the trembling in the man’s voice. He truly did love Dominic and was sorry for what he’d done all those years ago. Why couldn’t Dominic see that? She reached across the table and took the man’s hand into hers. “I make you that promise. You are the only great-grandparent my child will have and I am honored that you will be—want to be—a part of his or her life.”

She could tell her words had touched Franco, and he quickly glanced away so she wouldn’t see the tears in his eyes. Moments later, he looked back at her and said in a soft, appreciative voice, “Thank you, Taylor. You have brought joy to an old man’s heart.”

Later that night as Taylor slid under her bedcovers she couldn’t help but recall her dinner conversations with Franco. He was a proud man, yet he had humbled himself and admitted to the mistakes he’d made years ago by alienating his son and grandson. She had made Franco a promise tonight, one she intended to keep. Besides, she liked him. He indicated he would be leaving D.C. in the morning but had given her his business card and had invited her to come visit him in France. Before they had parted ways she had made another promise to him that she would.

She almost jumped when her phone rang. She hadn’t been sure Dominic would call and hoped it was him. She wouldn’t mention anything about her dinner meeting with his grandfather until she saw him. She wanted to be face-to-face with him when she did so. For now, she just wanted to hear his voice.

She leaned up and reached over and picked up her cell phone off the nightstand. “Hello.”

“Did I wake you?”

She smiled. “No, I’m in bed but I hadn’t gone to sleep yet. Are you still in London?”

“No, I’m on a plane returning to the States.”

She felt a gentle tug of joy in her stomach. He was on his way home. “You’re going to Los Angeles?”

“No, I’m headed straight for where you are,” he said softly. “By the time you awake in the morning I should have landed. I miss you.”

She felt another pull in her stomach. “And I miss you, too.”

“Will it be okay for me to come straight there from the airport?” he asked.

A grin touched her lips. “Yes, most certainly.”

She heard his soft chuckle. “In that case, I’m going to let you go so you can get your rest. Trust me when I say that you’re going to need it.”

She clearly understood his underlying hint and countered, “I encourage you to take a few catnaps on the plane as you’re going to need your rest, as well.”

After Dominic ended his conversation with Taylor he leaned back in the leather seat and closed his eyes. God, he missed her. For the past week he could barely concentrate on business without thinking about her. The meetings with his business associates had been intense, and with a heaping amount of sexual frustration thrown into the mix, negotiations at times had gotten downright heated. In the end, he had closed the deal he had wanted and his mission had been accomplished. Now he could set his mind and sights to other things.

Like finally acknowledging he had fallen in love with Taylor.

It had been bound to happen at some point, he thought. The week on that island had been no joke. Since then he had been trying to convince himself his attraction to her was only sexual, and that since Camry he had enjoyed a number of women’s company. But he’d known this thing with Taylor went deeper.

He would never forget the exact moment he’d realized just how he felt. It was the last time they had made love. After experiencing what he considered as the best orgasm of his life, he had lain beside her, held her in his arms when suddenly, his mind and body had begun reeling before experiencing a feeling of having been punched in the gut by one of those wrestlers Ryder liked watching on television.

Dominic had been tempted to tell her then, but had decided to wait, to think more about his feelings and to give himself time to contemplate hers, as well as to set up a plan of action if he discovered she wasn’t feeling the same way he was. He knew one of the things that made his parents’ marriage special was their love for each other. Theirs was not a one-sided love match.

And he wanted the same thing for him and Taylor. If she didn’t love him now, by the time he was through with her, she would. He loved her and she was going to have his baby. He was a very lucky man, a man very much in love with the mother of his child. Now his goal was to do whatever it took to make sure Taylor loved him, as well. His mission was to win her heart.

Taylor had gotten a good night’s rest, grateful it was Saturday and that she wouldn’t have to go into the office. She glanced at the clock. It wasn’t quite seven but she’d hoped Dominic would have arrived by now.

She had gotten up at the crack of dawn and although she hadn’t bothered changing out of her nightclothes, she had washed her face, brushed her teeth and tried making her hair look decent.

If it wasn’t so early in the morning she would call Cheyenne to check on her. They had talked a few nights ago and her sister was doing better with her pregnancy. The morning sickness was easing up somewhat with Cheyenne whereas so far Taylor hadn’t experienced one day of her stomach feeling queasy.

Taylor’s heart leaped in her chest when she heard the sound of the doorbell. She inhaled deeply as she crossed the room to answer it. The moment she opened the door to find Dominic standing there, immaculate as ever, simply breathtaking, whatever emotions she had been feeling before were nothing compared to what she was feeling now. Whether he loved her or not didn’t matter. She truly loved him.

“Taylor…”

And then she realized that he had taken a step into the room, closed and locked the door behind him and had whispered her name just seconds before pulling her into his arms. The moment their mouths touched she felt it all the way to the bone, and she put her heart, body and soul into their kiss.

And when she felt herself being swept up into his arms, her body began aching with need, as he headed for the bedroom. She was so consumed with wanting and desire she barely realized the moment he had placed her on the bed, joined her there and began removing their clothes.

But she was fully aware of when he moved his body over hers and began kissing her again with a hunger that sent blood gushing through her veins. And when she felt the thickness of his erection, poised against her feminine core, she wanted him with a degree that she never wanted him before. And knowing that he wanted her, as well, that he was barely holding back and that possibly the moment he entered her he would explode, had her tense on the verge of reaching an orgasm just that quick. They would savor the next one. Now what the two of them needed, what they wanted was immediate satisfaction.

He glanced down at her, opened his mouth to say something, but whatever he was about to say was lost when she lifted her hips and forced him to enter her. He threw his head back and growled out her name the exact moment he thrust forward, going deep, spilling inside her with an orgasm of gigantic magnitude. She came the moment she felt his hot release and wrapped her legs around him, locking him to her.

Bringing his head down, she pressed her mouth to his as all the passion and love she felt flowed through her, began overtaking her. Her moans of pleasure mingled with his and their bodies began shuddering and this was one magical moment that she didn’t ever want to end.

“Who gave you this, Taylor?”

Upon hearing Dominic’s voice it took her a moment to muster up enough strength to open her eyes. Their lovemaking sessions always left her weak as water from nearly drowning in passion.

She brought him into focus. He was sitting on the edge of the bed holding something in his hand. She blinked to bring him into focus again and saw it was the business card his grandfather had given her. She inhaled sharply, much preferring to have waited before having this conversation with him, but it seemed that that wouldn’t be the case.