She still remembered his kiss that day by the stream in Thomery-By. She’d relived it so many times in her mind. She hadn’t wanted that moment to end.
But it did. And it was a good thing, too, because she was losing her heart and soul to Pierce D’Amato.
What was she going to do? She’d just overcome one hurdle by expunging Giles from her heart and now she’d gone and created another problem? The man was her employer which was bad enough but on top of that he was involved.
Or was he? Sophia had been over several times since their return but most times it was when Pierce wasn’t around. Each time she’d come she’d made it clear that she was dying for both her and Kylie to disappear. She continued to hint at a long-standing relationship with Pierce but then Celine hardly saw them together. Was their relationship a secret? Was Pierce engaging in love trysts at her house rather than his, seeing that she and Kylie were there? It made her heart ache just thinking about it.
There was something Celine had to do, something that was against her nature but totally necessary under the circumstances. She was going to have to meddle in somebody else’s business.
That night after she’d put Kylie to bed she went downstairs to find Pierce. He was lounging in the comfy couch in that room he called his ‘man cave’. Fitted out with a huge television that covered half of one wall it had surround sound that made the room sound like a movie theatre when the TV was on.
Tonight he didn’t have it on. Instead he lay in the semi-dark room, seeming to be lost in thought.
“Pierce,” she said as she stood in the doorway, “can we talk?”
He jumped, clearly startled at the sound of her voice. Then he propped himself on one elbow and looked over at her. “Sure, come on in,” he said.
She stepped into the room but she didn’t go near the couch where he lay. It would not do to get so close to a man who looked so sexy in an A-shirt and faded jeans that hung low on his hips.
She went to perch on the edge of an easy chair and folded her hands in her lap. She was deliberately trying to look subdued. What she was about to say was something that might rile Pierce up so she didn’t want to come across as aggressive in any way.
“I want to talk to you about Kylie,” she said quietly.
Pierce frowned and sat up. He planted his bare feet on the floor and rested his elbows on his knees. He trained his green-eyed gaze on her. “What is it?”
Celine took a breath. How to begin? She decided to plunge right in. “I’m concerned about Kylie. What’s going to happen to her when I leave in the fall?”
Pierce expelled his breath and a look of relief passed over his face. “I thought you were going to tell me something was wrong with her.”
“No, not at all,” she replied quickly. “I’m sorry I scared you and I really don’t mean to pry but…I just need to know what plans you have for Kylie after I’m gone.”
His eyebrows lifted. He seemed taken aback by her question and for a moment there was silence.
Had she upset him with her question? She held her breath. She knew she’d taken a risk in digging into his personal business but she had a very good reason for asking.
“I’ve been giving it some thought,” he said finally then he shook his head, “but to tell the truth, I haven’t made a final decision.”
“Do you have any ideas, any plans?” Her voice came out breathless with relief. He was actually having a conversation with her about the matter. Thank goodness he hadn’t slammed her for being nosy.
“I’ve had a few suggestions thrown my way,” he said with a thoughtful look. “A distant relative to come in, a matronly lady who can be like a mother to her, boarding school-.”
“What did you say?” Celine’s words shot out in a vehement whisper. “ How could you even consider it?”
“What? The caretaker or the-”
“The boarding school.” She cut him off before he could even finish the sentence. “Pierce, you are not sending that little girl to a boarding school.”
“I never said-”
Celine hopped to her feet, unable to sit still a moment longer. “Yes, you did. You said you were considering it.”
“Will you calm down?” Pierce straightened his back and glared up at her. “Sit down so we can have a sensible discussion.”
Celine sucked in her breath. Was he ordering her around?
“Please,” he said, his tone softer, almost apologetic. But not quite. “Have a seat so we can talk.”
She sat back down on the chair and waited for him to speak. She’d better get control of her emotions or else she’d be out of Kylie’s life even earlier than scheduled. She couldn’t afford for that to happen. She would cling to her little charge as long as she could.
“Now,” Pierce began, his tone firm, “I said I got suggestions but that doesn’t mean I was planning to implement any of them. I need to evaluate all the options and then I’ll decide what’s best for Kylie.”
“And when are you going to decide?” Celine shot back.
“Soon,” he said, frowning again.
Celine didn’t know if it was out of annoyance at her questions or simply because he was thinking. She decided to assume he was thinking. Now would be the best time to air her major concern. “I know who made those suggestions. It was Sophia, wasn’t it?”
He nodded.
“And did you ever stop to think that she might have an ulterior motive?”
Pierce cocked an eyebrow and stared back at her. He said nothing. He was obviously waiting on her to explain herself.
“Sophia has made it very clear that she doesn’t want Kylie…or me…around.” She shook her head as the anger rose in her. “I don’t care what she thinks about me but how could she dislike Kylie?”
Pierce frowned. “What makes you think that?”
Men were so dense. How could he not know what the woman was really like? “Pierce, haven’t you noticed how cool her interaction is with Kylie? It was only after the death of Kylie’s mother that she acted with any kind of warmth… if you can call giving a few stuffed toys being warm.”