The Billionaire's Beloved (Key to My Heart Book 4) (3 page)

The next few weeks were thankfully uneventful and calm. The situation with Lewis faded in my memory, though I never had worked up the nerve to admit to my husband the mistakes that I’d made. When he looked at me with tender eyes, touched me with warm fingers, I couldn’t bear the thought of hurting him.

Or perhaps I was just being even more selfish.

Lydia, now just over two months, still had her curious blue eyes only on Sebastian. Unfortunately for her, however, he was once again wrapped up in work, and she was left with just me.

True to the handsome billionaire’s word, though, he was always home for dinner and always gave our daughter her first bottle feeding of the morning to spend a bit of time with her. Sebastian was also firmly staunch that this sudden influx of time spent at the office was only temporary.

After all the effort and time he invested into Lydia and myself for the past few months, I was just fine with him taking as much time to sort things out as he needed. As much as he was there for me, I needed to support him as well.

I did my best to keep Lewis out of my mind. I found myself obliged to go the bakery less and less, though I thought about it often. I just didn't have the strength to look at the blond manager anymore. He was a weakness and detrimental to my marriage.

I had to focus on my husband and my child right now. We were a family, a unit, and Lewis was just not part of that picture anymore. I couldn't even believe I'd let it get as far as it had. I hated the weak part of myself that had allowed him to get so close.

My fingers danced along the spot of my neck that the blond man had nipped, eyes fluttering closed as a shiver trailed up my spine. It wasn't Lewis that I missed. It was his affection. Sebastian was such a perfect gentleman, he never pushed for intimacy. He was never too forward.

Just once, I wished he would show me a true sign that he was interested in me, truly. The only moment of real passion we'd truly shared was the night Lydia was conceived. Was that destined to be the only spark in our union?

Sure, our marriage was one of convenience, but was it meant to be emotionless forever?

"Macy." Karina's boisterous, high pitched tone of boredom broke through my solitude, "Your face will get stuck like that forever if you let it."

I sighed, lowering my book to stare at her from over the edge of curled pages.

She swirled her cup of wine, smirking at me. I was pretty sure that her favorite thing in the world was finding endless ways to poke fun at me.

The woman was downright crazy sometimes, way too high maintenance, more posh than a queen...and possibly my best friend.

We spent more time together than I spent with anyone else. She was always there when I needed help with Lydia. She was always there when the loneliness struck. She was just plain always there, boundless snark was just part of her 'charm.'

"You're going to scare Harry away if you keep speaking in that tone, you know." I offered with a smug leer of my own.

The blue eyed woman pursed her lips at me, glare forming on her brow, "What exactly do you mean by that, young lady?" She asked with a huff.

"Karina, come on. Everyone knows Harry is head over heels for you. Why can't you just admit it?" I sighed with a shake of my head.

I dropped my book in my lap, leaning forward on my knees, refusing to let her edge her way out of the conversation this time.

"You don't understand." Karina murmured numbly, staring down at the wine glass in her hand, "I've already been married. I can't frolic around."

"Then don't frolic." I shrugged, "But do you really want to miss out on something special?"

"He is special, isn't he?" Karina mused, lips still tense, eyes still averted as she floated away into thoughts of her own.

Carefully, I picked my book back up, peering around of the corners to watch her.

Silently, she took another sip of wine, crossing one leg ceremoniously over the other at the knee. If there was one thing I knew, it was when to stop pushing my mother in law. If I'd said much more, she would've gone on a brutal offensive.

Now, she just silently sat and steeped in her own knowledge, like thoughtful tea leaves. Maybe I could read her fortune from the lines in her ponderous forehead.

"Why don't we invite him for dinner?" I offered when the silence dragged on just a bit too long, "Just to see the baby. Sebastian won't be back until late this evening. It'll be nice to have someone around."

"I suppose he could come...just to see Lydia." Karina offered hesitantly, frowning at me.

I nodded cheerfully, watching as she slowly stood and walked towards the phone in the living room.

Her voice drifted over, clear as a bell and just as regal.

"Hello, Harry." She said, any trace of uncertainty vanishing as she spoke, "Yes. Macy had a lovely idea. How would you like to come for supper and to see the baby?"

She tittered a bit at whatever response the old baker gave her, finally replying with a simple, "See you then." And hanging up the phone.

I pretended to be uninterested when my other in law came back over.

"He's on his way." She said cheerily, "Lewis was there too, so of course he'll join us this evening."

"Oh great- what?" I asked, dropping the book on the floor in a clatter.

"Certainly that won't be an issue for you, will it?" Karina asked pointedly, lips in a firm, harsh line. Her eyes narrowed into blue slits.

"Of course not." I sputtered, clumsily picking up the book.

That woman knew exactly what she was doing, but what was her angle? Or perhaps she wanted to observe how I acted with Lewis some more. I was going to have to be on my best behavior. I could only hope the blond, handsome man followed suit.

It wasn't long before the two men showed up at the front door and that was put to the test.

"It's so wonderful to see you." Karina said as she greeted them at the door with a slight bow of her head. Dressed up in a navy blue blazer and skirt, hair piled atop her head, the woman was the image of a perfect hostess with the mostess.

"You look ravishing." Harry murmured, taking her hand in his as he pressed his lips to her palm.

She smiled, faintest hint of pink on her cheeks as the older man wrapped me up in a hug before stealing Lydia from her bassinet to play with her.

"Good evening, Karina." Lewis said as he entered the hall, handing her a bottle of red wine, "...and you as well, Macy."

"It’s a pleasure, Lewis." Karina responded, gesturing us all into the living room where Tina had lain out a cheese spread.

Karina settled into a chair with Harry nearby. Lewis, naturally, had to sit on the same couch as myself, though I tried not to pay him too much mind. It was a relief that my heart didn't leap up into my chest as it so typically did. His behavior previously had done a number on my shallow attraction to him.

"Macy, I believe this little one gets sweeter every time I see her." Harry gushed as made silly faces at Lydia. She jiggled her legs, swatting a hand towards his stuck out tongue.

It was heart melting, really, to see how much affection the old man had to lavish on the girl. It was easy to see how he'd managed to snake his way into Karina's closed off heart. He would be good for my mother in law, perhaps he could even get her to open up a bit. It'd be nice to have a conversation with Karina without all of the walls she'd so carefully crafted.

Then again, perhaps those walls were only the result of her prior disastrous marriage. Arranged under similar circumstances to my own, her wealthy husband had been adulterous and uninterested in loving Karina. It was no doubt that she was so guarded, after the decades she'd spent at his side. Would entering another serious relationship be good for her?

It was only up to Karina to decide, I supposed, though I did hope she would give it a good go. If anyone did, it was she who truly deserved happiness.

Is that how I would turn out eventually as well, if the marriage I had with Sebastian never took off? Would Sebastian turn morose and snide if I cheated on him with Lewis? Would he react that way when I told him I’d kissed Lewis?

Was I no better than George? I'd allowed myself already into too many questionable circumstances with the handsome man now sitting beside me.

It could never happen again. It would never happen again.

"Can I get you some wine?" Lewis asked, leaning towards me. His eyes pierced me easily, watching me carefully.

"I'm fine, thank you." I replied, clearing my throat as I stood up, "I'm going to check on dinner with Tina."

I slipped away, leaning against the wall behind me once I was free. That room felt as though it were shrinking, as though the air was getting tighter and heavier all at once. I needed a deep breath of fresh air.

Footsteps beside me turned my head as Lewis appeared once more.

I almost groaned, wishing that he could, just for once, leave me be.

He stepped forward, frowning at me.

"Why do you act this way?" He asked softly, "Do I make you that uncomfortable?"

His hands reached forward, taking one of my own in his hand, his fingers curling around my own, pressing my hand against his chest.

"Lewis, I can't do this anymore." I said, desperate for him to truly hear me this time as I roughly shook my head.

I wasn't sure how to get through to him. It was as though every time I rejected his advances, it made him try harder.

"I can't let you be married to someone you don't care for." He replied, urgently, struggling to keep his voice down, "I can't let you live your life like that."

"My life isn't your concern." I pressed firmly, "My relationship with my husband isn't your concern."

I managed to extract my hand from his hold as I turned to head into the kitchen, "This is the last time I'm telling you this, Lewis." I said, trying not to sound too harsh, the frown on his pained face almost hurting myself, "I will not be with you. Not now, and not ever."

"Oh, Lewis, you're leaving?" Karina asked, eyebrows knitting in the image of oh so perfect shock. I couldn’t tell whether she was pleased or honestly disdainful. I wasn’t in the mood to decode her this evening.

"I'm afraid so, Mrs. Davis." The blond man responded, teeth gritted so hard I could almost hear the molars grinding as he avoided my gaze.

I stood off to the side, arms crossed, trying to look as though I hadn't had a hand in his sudden departure from dinner. To tell the truth, my appetite had been ruined as well. I didn’t want to eat anything, I wanted to be alone.

I was quickly becoming less and less fond of being around the bakery's manager. He was too resilient in his affection, too pushy, things that I hadn't been careful enough to notice beforehand. Perhaps I was only just coming out from under the spell of his attractive emerald eyes.

Originally, I'd been attracted by his loyal kindness. Little did I know that would also be his greatest flaw. That loyalty was only temporary, however, until he'd felt the sting of rejection it would seem. Then, that kindness was quickly replaced by irritation and anger.

"Good night, everyone." He said, lips pressed thin and distraught, "I'll see you at the bakery tomorrow, Harry."

Waving goodbye to everyone but me, he slid out the door, feet crunching on the gravel walk towards his waiting car.

As Karina shut the door and slowly turned to face me, I walked towards Lydia.

"I'm going to head out for a little while as well." I said firmly, shooting Karina a pointed gaze, "I need a breather."

"Macy, you can't just leave." Harry protested, crossing his arms, "I came to see you and the baby."

"You and Karina have a nice evening." I said, slow smile spreading across my cheeks, "Relax. Lydia and I will be back in no time. I'm just going to take her to the park for a little while. The ducks come up this time of evening."

Harry's argument immediately died as he cast a shy side glance towards my mother in law. He’d do anything for a few minutes alone with that prissy woman.

"Make sure you wrap her in a blanket." Karina replied, puckering her brow at me and too utterly oblivious to the wolfish flash of the old chef's grey eyes, "It's a bit nippy...isn't it too late to bring her outside?"

"She'll be fine." I sighed with a shake of my head, leafing through the baby bag to make sure it was all stocked up, "I'll be home before Sebastian even will."

I lifted Lydia into my arms, stroking my fingers against the soft plushness of her tiny little cheeks. She was like a doll when she slept, except for the slight twitch of her fingers.

The way she relaxed instantly against my chest as though I were her safe harbor made my heart melt into a puddle of sappy goo.

Without another word or a chance at another argument to stay, I scooped up her baby bag and my purse, and bounded out the door, leaving the star struck lovers behind me before either of them could try and talk me out of it.

Carefully, I glanced around, relieved to see that Lewis's car had long left the driveway. That was the last thing I wanted to deal with right now.

After buckling Lydia carefully into her seat, we were off down the road. The park wasn't far, not more than a ten minute drive.

A serene little getaway, the park had a tiny playground that Lydia would love when she got older and a pond that attracted a dozen or so fluffy white ducks. Though there were always children in the afternoon, it was bound to be more or less devoid of people as evening broached the sky.

It would be nice for me to just relax for a few minutes and enjoy the company of my daughter in stillness, wall while doing my best not to think about the cold stare of the man I'd spurned.

I'd never meant to hurt Lewis. I'd never meant to get so wrapped up in him. If I'd been braver, I would have turned him down right away. I was married after all, and whether or not that marriage was happy, it wasn't right to lead on another man with a ring on my finger. Perhaps I deserved Lewis's ire.

I shook my head, biting my lip as I carefully rounded a bend and pulled into a parking spot overlooking the green grassy fields. I stared out at the lake ahead, where just a few sparse people sat alone in their own heavy thoughts.

I didn't deserve to be the spotlight of Lewis's anger. I didn't deserve for him to lash out at me. What had he expected, when he confessed his attraction to a married woman? What had he expected when he pursued me so relentlessly?

This was useless, I realized with a heavy sigh. Having constant conversations with myself over who was to blame was going to go nowhere.

We were both at fault, and with myself going over and over the painful details, it would lead to no other corner. I'd made a mistake, as had Lewis. It would do us both the best to just put it behind us, we both had a stake in the bakery, and it would be better for us to just keep trotting forward. I'd have to do my best to smooth over things with the blond man, without giving him hope of my hand.

Lydia sighed in the backseat, kicking her feet.

"Ready?" I hummed, pushing open the car door as I scooped her free of her car seat.

Cradling the child against my chest, I pressed my lips to the top of her head. She cooed softly, fingers clinging to the cuff of my shirt.

I walked over towards the lake, sliding into an available bench seat and holding the baby in my arms.

"Do you see the water, Lydia?" I asked playfully, though her sleepy eyes were beginning to close.

With a chuckle, I rocked the bundled up baby in my arms, watching as the wind rippled the dark colored water. It was a surprisingly warm dusk tonight. Overhead, as the sun was just beginning to go down, stars softly began to flicker.

Lydia coughed in my arms, shifting as her eyes cracked open. I glanced down at her, watching, one of my fingers tracing the perfect curve of her hand.

Again, she coughed, wheeze rattling through her lungs. I’d never heard such a noise come from a being so small. My brow knitted as I pulled her blanket open wider.

Concerned, I picked her up so that her tiny feet rest against my knees, watching her more closely. I'd never heard her make a sound like that before, and it set my nerves on edge.

She wheezed again, baby blue eyes slowly opening to stare towards me as though she expected me to help her breathe. She struggled to inhale, pathetic whine emerging as her lungs rattled desperately.

I shot to my feet, frantic now, whirling around to race towards the car as Lydia once again broke into a coughing spasm. A cry gurgled into her throat, scratchy and gasping.

As she cried, one of the people sitting by the lake stood up, pulling out her phone as she sprinted towards me.

"...Macy?" A surprised woman called.

I turned, tears in my eyes, "I don't think she can breathe!" I cried as Lydia garbled a wail and a cough.

Alissa stood in front of me, dialing 911 on her phone and spouting the address as I put Lydia against my shoulder, swatting at her tiny back in an attempt to clear her lungs. I'd never realized how frail she seemed in my arms, just how tiny she was.

I squeezed my eyes shut, tears prickling desperately. Was this my fault? Had I done something wrong?

Karina was right. I shouldn't have brought her out.

"An ambulance is just down the road, we’re lucky." Alissa said, interrupting my panicking thoughts, her soothing voice calm as ever.

She grabbed me around the shoulders, pulling me towards the main road.

Even with Lydia in a coughing fit in my arms, I couldn't help but take surprised notice at the casual dress of George Davis's new wife. Normally, the woman was dressed like a succubus vixen, with her cleavage hanging out and red, perfect locks piled on her head.

Today she was dressed in a simple blue sundress, curls loose around her shoulders.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered, immediately forgetting my question as the lights and whir of an ambulance lit up the road. We were lucky they happened to be so close.

One of the men leapt from the back, reaching to take Lydia as I quickly handed her over.

"She can't breathe." I repeated desperately, wringing my hands.

Alissa stayed at my side, holding my shoulders tightly. I leaned against her heavily, grateful that she could keep me standing.

The EMT took her into the back of the ambulance, where they listened to her chest and finally hooked up a tiny oxygen bag to her face.

"Get up there." Alissa said, gesturing me into the ambulance.

I nodded, letting them help me inside.

"You're going to be fine." She said firmly, staring up into my eyes, "I’m going to follow in the car, I'll be right there with you."

"Okay." I whispered back as the ambulance doors swung shut.

She held up her hand, waving slightly, as she vanished from sight.

"What’s wrong with her?" I asked the nearest EMT as the vehicle began to rock, speeding away towards the nearest hospital, “Is she going to be okay?”

"We can't be sure what happened yet." The young man responded, blond hair hanging in his eyes in a way that almost reminded me of Lewis, "It could be an infection or asthma or even allergies."

I felt tears bubbling in my eyes again, staring down at the tiny little helpless figure stretched between us. The other EMT continued listening to her chest as we rushed towards the hospital.

She’d only been here for two months, and spent so much of it in a hospital already.

Why was this happening?

The blond EMT softly took my hand in his, giving it a comforting squeeze, "She’s going to be fine, ma'am." He said assuredly, smiling at me, "she’s already starting to calm down and breathe on her own. You need to remember to breathe too." He added with a wink.

I struggled to inhale deeply, closing my eyes and clinging to the hand of my daughter's savior.

It was going to be fine. It had to be. I had to be strong for Lydia right now.

Everything was going to be okay.