After that talk with herself things got a whole lot better. She began to laugh again and Kylie, who’d had to put up with her distraction, looked relieved that her old Celine was back. As for her interactions with Pierce, she kept them light and amicable. She did not seek out his company but she no longer avoided being in the same room with him as long as Kylie was there, too.
Being alone with him was another matter altogether. Her body seemed intent on betraying her, her breath growing shallow and her ni**les puckering anytime he came near. But she did her best to hide her response to him. She only hoped he could not sense the depth of her inner turmoil.
Then one morning something happened that made Celine realize that she wasn’t the only one who was suffering. She woke up to the sound of soft sobbing and sat up to find Kylie curled up in the bed beside her.
“What’s wrong, cherie?” Celine’s heart lurched. Had Kylie been hurt? She threw back the covers so she could see the child’s body. No, she looked fine. She pulled away the hands that covered the little face. “Are you hurt?”
Kylie shook her head and began to sob louder.
Celine gathered her in her arms and hugged her close. The child’s tears soaked through the top of her nightgown. “Hush, hush,” she soothed as she rocked her in her arms.
“I miss my mommy,” Kylie wailed then began to cry anew, the force of her sobs making her whole body shake.
Celine felt like a knife pierced her heart. Poor Kylie. She’d been so absorbed in her own problems that she hadn’t been there for the child as she should have, keeping her so busy she would have less time to dwell on her loss. She cursed herself for being so thoughtless. “Oh, Kylie, I know you do,” she said softly, tears filling her eyes. “Just cry, cherie, let it out. I’ll take it all. Just cry.”
It was like Celine’s words burst a dam of sorrow inside the little girl in her arms. She clung to Celine and bawled. For several minutes they stayed like that, woman and child, hugging each other like they’d never let go.
When Kylie’s shaking finally stilled and her sobs died away Celine gently stroked her hair and hummed a lullaby, one she’d loved as a child. She hoped the soft sounds would provide some soothing comfort.
It took a long time for them to get out of bed that morning. For a while they lay there, quiet and thoughtful, not needing any words at that moment, just resting after an emotional cleansing.
The release of that flood was an obvious source of relief for Kylie. Celine could see it in the way she relaxed against her and began playing with her fingers.
For Celine, though, it had the opposite effect. It reminded her how much Kylie would still need a shoulder to cry on. There would be more emotional outbursts and who would she turn to? She wanted to be there to comfort her but how could she?
Celine’s heart lay in a painful place right then. She’d resolved to live the rest of her life without Pierce but how could she stifle her love for Kylie?
***
Pierce watched from his bedroom window as Celine and Kylie sat on the bench in the shade of the old oak tree in the backyard. Both heads were bent, one sleek and raven black, the other curly and golden. They were busy with Kylie’s morning lesson, going through the story of the day. Celine had told him they’d be reviewing simple two and three letter words. Now Kylie was deep in concentration as Celine guided her through her world list for the day.
Every time he saw them together he thanked his lucky stars for the day she walked into his hotel room. While he’d been in the hotel shower that day Kylie had been on his mind and he’d been up to his ears in frustration, tired of the long list of candidates the agency had sent him, none of whom could connect with Kylie. He’d walked out of that bathroom praying for a miracle. The thought hadn’t even had time to lodge in his mind when there she stood in front of him, an angel in maid’s uniform.
He chuckled as he thought back to that day. His first memory of Celine was of her screaming and backing away from him, her eyes wide with fright. And yet he’d known the moment his eyes landed on her that she was the answer to his prayers. Strange as it now seemed, at the moment he’d had absolutely no doubt in his mind. And that was why he’d made sure she didn’t escape before he made her an offer she would find hard to refuse.
Now as he watched his ‘girls’ together he had absolutely no regret at his spur-of-the-moment decision. Celine had been a Godsend in more ways than one.
And that was why he’d decided to take it slow with her. She’d told him she didn’t take sex lightly so when she’d come to him he knew it had been in a moment of weakness. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he’d taken advantage of that moment. Even though it had taken a hell of a lot of willpower he’d saved her from herself that night and he did not regret it. She probably hated him for it but it was the right thing to do.
And although she was annoyed with him right now he would make it all worth the wait. He smiled as he thought about it. That day would be soon.
Next day Pierce left for the office early as usual to avoid peak hour traffic. He had a full day ahead of him as he was expecting a cadre of programmers from Japan who would be consulting with him on a special project. It was a big deal for his firm, one that could lead to an explosion of growth in the international marketplace.
He was in the middle of his meeting when his administrative assistant knocked on the door of the conference room. He frowned. Lynette had been with him for years and she knew better than to interrupt such an important session.
She hurried over and leaned down to whisper in his ear. At her words his blood ran cold. Kylie. Pool. Hospital. Ambulance.
At that instant all thought fled his mind except for one. Kylie. He had to get to Kylie.
He shoved the chair back and with the briefest of apologies he was up and out the door. Lynette would have to do the explanation. He had no time to spare.
He jumped into his car and tore out of the parking lot, tires screeching as he went. Within fifteen minutes he was pulling up in front of St. Mary’s Hospital. He’d parked the car in the tow zone but he didn’t give a damn. They could have it. All he wanted was to see his little girl.