Three Hearts Page 10

  "That shouldn't be too much of a problem. We should get him to agree in writing so I'll draw up a draft and have it sent round to Mr. Case's office this afternoon. I'll see you tomorrow in his offices. Oh, another thing..." Darcy hesitated, her hand on the door. "Don't discuss any of this with Travis. If he asks, tell him that you feel it's best if you both wait until tomorrow morning so feelings don't get carried away."

  "Fine. I'll see you tomorrow."

  Darcy headed home, unhappiness making the sunny world around her seem grey. Within a few weeks, six at most, she would be on her own. No Brooke! No Travis! Just an empty house and her own company. She knew her friends would rally round, but nothing could replace the happy laughter, the tears and the companionship of her niece. There would also be no substitute for the man who had stormed into her life and stolen her heart.

  WHAT DID I DO WRONG? Travis was unable to understand Darcy's antagonism. He thought he had come up with a solution to suit both of them, but Darcy obviously didn't agree. He'd lost several weeks business for Brooke's sake, and although he didn't begrudge the time, he found it difficult to see why Darcy wasn’t able to do the same.

  He wasn't looking forward to the meeting tomorrow. Darcy seemed unwilling to compromise and he had to return to America. There were projects which needed his personal attention or he would lose some contracts. Why can't Darcy understand this will be for Brooke's benefit as well as mine? If he kept his clients happy, then more work would come in and Brooke would have a secure home.

  How could they work out a compromise so they could both enjoy Brooke's company? An idea began to form, but he would need to return to the U.S. to see if it was feasible. This meant he couldn't share his thoughts with Darcy until he knew one way or the other if it was possible.

  He reluctantly admitted another reason he wanted Darcy to come to San Diego was for her to see where he lived. Somehow the woman had got into his every waking moment and he realized life without her would be very lonely. For the first time, he understood how she would feel when Brooke had come to live with him.

  NEXT MORNING, DARCY met Laura at Mr. Case's office and they were quickly shown to the inner sanctum. Travis stood in his usual position, leaning against the filing cabinets.

  "Have you had any further thoughts regarding Mr. Denton's proposal?" Herbert Case asked.

  "My client has considered the suggestion in great depth, however we feel Mr. Denton is being unfair to Miss Farrell. After all, he is the one suing for custody and it is up to him to make concessions. However," Laura glared at Travis as he straightened up. "We have a compromise to offer."

  While Laura outlined their suggestion in a concise manner, Darcy watched for Travis' reaction. At first he shook his head silently, as if in disagreement, but then his expression changed to one of thoughtfulness.

  "Let me get this straight." Travis looked at Laura when she'd finished speaking. "You want me to go back to the States and sort out my business problems taking no more than two weeks, during which time you'll allow custody proceedings to begin. When I return, we tell Brooke the truth and see what her reaction is. Is that correct?"

  "Yes, Mr. Denton."

  "Then if all goes well, Darcy and Brooke will accompany me to my home in San Diego and Darcy will stay for six weeks to help my daughter get used to me and her new environment."

  "Correct."

  "Why can't Darcy come now? Why must we go through this ridiculous charade?" Travis looked impatiently at Darcy.

  "Travis, what would happen if you left your business without anybody to run it?" Darcy asked.

  "I have left my business like that, although I admit I keep in contact by phone and Internet."

  "Well my business is very hands on, with a turnaround of about twenty-four hours. If I upped and left without getting somebody to run it for any length of time, I wouldn't have a business to come back to. I need the time to sort out my affairs. I can't take off to America without warning."

  "And you won't put Brooke's needs before your own?" Travis shook his head. "Now you're the one who's being selfish."

  "I don't call losing custody of a child I have always considered my own, and having my business crash around me at the same time being selfish!" Darcy's voice rose as her anger increased. "You storm into our lives, totally disrupt everything, then want to spirit Brooke away to America leaving me with nothing. No niece, no business. All I'm asking you for is time to adjust and make arrangements for my clients and you don't seem willing to allow me that small request."

  "Let's calm down, please," Laura interrupted. "Mr. Denton, are you willing to proceed in this manner, or do you have an alternative suggestion?"

  "I agree on two conditions. One, the custody proceedings start immediately without any countersuit from Darcy. Two, I tell Brooke I'm her father as soon as I return from the States." He looked at Darcy, obviously expecting her to object. "Mr. Case showed me the agreement you sent round regarding me not telling Brooke earlier. I will sign this if you agree to my conditions."

  "I agree as long as I'm present when you tell Brooke." Darcy's anger had disappeared as quickly as it had arisen, and she smiled sweetly at him, intending to take the sting out of her words. Too late, she realized the smile would only irritate Travis.

  "Why?"

  "I think I need to be there for her sake. I know how Brooke reacts to surprises. The first thing she'll do is turn to me and ask if it's true."

  "You mean she'll think I'm lying?" Travis looked at her in astonishment.

  "No, of course not. It will be a natural reaction to turn to the person she's always believed to be her only relative, and ask for confirmation. I know Brooke better than you and believe me, that's exactly what she'll do. After that — who knows what will happen?"

  "Very well, I agree to you being present when I tell her. Mr. Case, I depend on you to ensure custody proceedings start immediately. I'll see how soon I can get a flight to San Diego, and I'll contact you as soon as I get back." He looked at Darcy as if he expected her to object, but she merely looked stunned at the speed things were moving.

  Chapter Seven

  "Darcy." Even his voice on the phone sent shivers through her, whether through fright or anticipation, she found it difficult to tell. "I've managed to book a flight for tomorrow. Is it okay if I come round this evening and say goodbye to Brooke?"

  "Of course. Why not come for dinner and make an evening of it?"

  "Fine, I'll see you about seven if that's okay?"

  "Better come a bit earlier, we usually eat at seven." Darcy frowned. Travis had been in their home often enough to know mealtimes during the week. Surely he wasn't still trying to let her know he was boss, or maybe he felt he had to be careful after today's heated discussion.

  "See you just before seven then."

  After Travis rang off, Darcy searched frantically through her cookbooks. She enjoyed cooking but didn't get much opportunity to do any fancy meals. Tonight she would show Travis she wasn't just a substitute mother, but a person in her own right.

  "What are you doing?" Brooke sat at the kitchen table, frowning as she saw Darcy take more trouble than usual with their evening meal.

  "Making dinner."

  "You're making an awful lot. What are we having?"

  "Chicken Kiev with new potatoes and salad, followed by a pavlova with kiwifruit and cream." Darcy's tongue peeped out from the top corner of her mouth as she concentrated on filling the chicken breasts.

  "Wow! It's not your birthday. What's the occasion?"

  "Travis is coming to dinner."

  "He comes to dinner a lot. Why is tonight different?" Brooke reached across to take a piece of kiwifruit, only to have her knuckles rapped lightly by a large wooden spoon.

  "He's going away for a few weeks." Darcy carefully separated the eggs. "He'll tell you all about it when he gets here. Now go and do your homework or you won't be able to join us for the feast."

  By the time Travis arrived, dinner was almost ready to serve and Darcy
had showered and changed into a new blue dress. When she put the sleeveless garment on, she realized she would not be able to wear a bra with it, but she daringly decided to wear the dress anyway. Brooke made the supreme effort of putting on a clean tee-shirt, but she flatly refused to wear anything fancier.

  "I'll get it!" She heard Brooke yell when the doorbell rang.

  "Hi, Brooke." Travis deep voice reverberated in the hallway. "This is for you."

  "Gee, thanks! Hey, Darcy, look what Travis brought me." She charged into the kitchen waving a computer software package. "It's the puzzler game I wanted for my birthday."

  "Did you say thank you?" Darcy queried, nervousness muddling her mind.

  "Of course I did." Brooke pouted indignantly. "Didn't you hear me?"

  "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."

  Darcy fought to keep herself calm, but found it difficult with Travis standing across the room looking at her.

  "Thank you for inviting me." He held out a bottle of wine, beaded with moisture. "This is my contribution to the meal."

  Darcy took it from him and placed it in the fridge, then risked a quick look at him. She sighed with relief. His gaze had turned to Brooke who sat at the table unwrapping the game. Within a few moments the child had the user's book out, frowning as she poured over it. Oblivious of Darcy, Travis moved towards his daughter, and she took the opportunity to take a good look at him.

  Tonight he'd also made an effort with his appearance. His tan glowed against a white polo shirt tucked into dark blue moleskins, and his feet were clad in bright white trainers. With his dark golden hair and grey eyes, he looked like a movie star, a make-believe person without any real feelings.

  The image shattered as his head bent over the book while he helped Brooke with some of the bigger words, pointing out several things of interest at the same time he read. One thing Darcy was sure of, he wasn't the type of man to play with a child's heart, even if he made her own throb at a much higher rate.

  "Time for dinner."

  She hated to interrupt them, but after taking the time to prepare this meal, she wasn't going to let it be spoiled by leaving it too long in the oven.

  "We're having Chicken Kiev tonight, and for dessert there's pavlova, kiwifruit and cream." Brooke led Travis the way into the dining room. "So why are you going away? Don't you like New Zealand?"

  "I love it here, but I have business to attend to in San Diego." Travis held out Brooke's chair for her. "When I've got it sorted out, I'll come back and whisk you both off your feet."

  "Silly." Brooke giggled, being treated as a young lady amused her. "They only do that in the movies."

  "Would you open the wine for me, please?" Darcy offered him the bottle and corkscrew, but a shiver passed through her as he took them from her gazing intently at her as he did so.

  "I hope you're not driving." Brooke sounded more like a middle-aged mother than an eight-year-old.

  "Luckily I'm not." Travis's lips twitched. "I've got an early start in the morning, so I took my rental car back this afternoon and came by taxi tonight."

  "Good!" Brooke nodded sagely, and Darcy found it hard to suppress her laughter as she caught a corresponding glint in Travis' eyes.

  After placing the dishes on the table, Darcy moved to sit down, but Travis got there before her, and held out her chair.

  "Thank you." She tried to hide her discomfort by fiddling with her napkin. Quickly she helped Brooke with the salad, then silence hung over the table for a few moments as everyone began to eat.

  "This is delicious."

  Darcy blushed at the compliment and bent her head to her plate when she saw the intensely suggestive gleam in Travis' eyes.

  "Thank you."

  "Darcy only makes things like this when it's a special occasion." Brooke seemed at ease talking to Travis.

  "I'm flattered you went to all this trouble for me." Travis frowned as he looked across the table at Darcy.

  "It's no trouble. I felt like cooking something unusual." Darcy tried to hide how flustered she felt.

  "Your health, ladies." Travis held up his glass in a toast to them, and Brooke solemnly followed her aunt's lead and raised her glass of lemonade.

  Brooke kept them amused with her constant chatter throughout the meal, and they reached dessert before the child returned to the topic of Travis going to America.

  "When are you coming back?"

  "IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS. It depends how quickly I can get things done. Why? Will you miss me?" Travis grinned at Brooke, but his body tensed like a coiled spring as he waited for her answer.

  "I suppose so." Brooke replied after a few moments. "Are you coming back to see Darcy, or do you have business in New Zealand, too?"

  "Both actually. Having business over here means I can come back and see you both again. Is that okay with you, Brooke?" Again the tenseness as he waited for her reply.

  "Fine." Brooke seemed unconcerned by his questioning.

  The rest of the meal passed quickly and as they cleared the table, Brooke began to yawn.

  "OFF TO BED WITH YOU, young lady." Darcy gave Brooke a small push. "If you're quick, I'll let Travis come and read you a few pages of your book while I tidy up."

  Brooke scooted off down the hallway and Travis turned to Darcy. "Does she always have a story at bedtime?"

  "She has a few pages read to her every night. I thought you should get used to her routine and the type of books she reads. It's going to be your job before too long." He saw the tears glint in Darcy's eyes even though she turned to the sink to hide them. Travis moved towards her, but Brooke called and he turned and left the room.

  Brooke was snuggled down in bed and Travis took the chair beside her.

  "Is this your book for tonight?" He picked up the thin volume from her bed. "Do I start from the beginning?"

  "Please." Brooke delved even deeper under the covers and looked expectantly at Travis.

  "Kit the Kiwi was lonely..." Travis began. As the story unfolded he became engrossed in the different characters and used a different voice for each one. Brooke giggled at first, but after about ten minutes Travis was aware she'd been silent for some time. He glanced at the bed and saw her eyelashes were fanning her cheeks as she breathed gently in and out in her sleep. Quietly he left the room and returned to the kitchen.

  "She fell asleep." He smiled at Darcy. "Poor kid was worn out."

  "She's always been one of those children who go to sleep immediately when they're tired." Travis moved forward to help Darcy pack the plates into the dishwasher. "I've never had any trouble getting her to bed. When she's ready, she goes without any arguments."

  "Darcy, we have to talk about when I come back."

  SHE WAITED FOR HIM to continue and only when he spoke again did she realize she'd been holding her breath, and she let it go in a whoosh. This was the moment she'd been dreading all evening.

  "How are we going to tell her? You said you want to be there when she's told, so have you any ideas about the best way to approach the subject?" He looked at her with an appeal in his eyes and her resistance faded away.

  "The best way would be to catch her at the weekend when she's just started the day. I'd hate for her to be told immediately before bedtime in case she worries about it all night. If you tell her at the beginning of the day, and let her know you'll answer her questions as honestly as you can, I think you'll be okay. Does that help?"

  While Darcy spoke, her mind kept asking her why she was helping this man. Fancy telling him how to take my beloved niece from my side! Sadly, she knew the announcement to be inevitable and she had to help him for Brooke's sake.

  "It does help a bit." Travis looked thoughtful. "But how do I actually say the words? What exactly do I say?"

  "Travis, I can't tell you what to say. I'm sorry, but this is going to be an extremely traumatic moment for me. You'll have to come up with your own way of breaking the news. If it's any comfort, I know you'll find the right words when the time comes."

&
nbsp; Darcy turned away to hide the tears the thought of parting brought, but Travis caught her shoulders and stopped her. His finger lifted her chin until he looked straight into her tear-filled eyes. His arms tightened round her, pulling her body close to his in a comforting embrace.

  She relaxed against him and the tears flowed unchecked as all the tension and worries of the past weeks surged up within her. She cried for the loss of her beloved Brooke, the complete change of direction her life would take, and the empty space Travis would leave behind him. How did the man manage to invade my heart so totally in such a short space of time?

  Gradually the tears ceased, but Travis continued to hold her close and Darcy felt warm and secure in his arms. She need not worry about Brooke with this man as her father. He would defend his child with all of his being and give her the love and security she would need in a strange country, with a new family growing around her.

  "Darcy."

  Travis' voice was almost a whisper and she looked up at his face. He stared at her for a moment, and then his lips descended on hers, softly at first, but then crushing them under his. His arms moved from a comforting to a possessive hold as he tangled his fingers in her short hair, his other hand gently rubbing her back.

  Darcy settled into his embrace, and her arms encircled his body, holding him close. Feelings she had only dreamed of rippled through her as one of his hands stroked her bare arms, while the other slowly slipped the thin straps from her shoulders.

  She knew she should stop him, but she felt so weak, unable to make even a verbal protest as he slid her dress down over her naked breasts. His palm brushed across her nipple and she jumped as the shock ran right through her body, igniting feelings deep within her that she'd never felt before.

  His touch roused her emotions, but it also jogged her mind into reality. Frantically she pushed at Travis, shoving him away from her and dragging her dress up to cover herself.