Third Time's a Charm (Holland Springs #3)(89)

“What exactly is going on with Sasha?” She buckled Ivy in and adjusted the straps, then passed the baby her stuffed rabbit.

Christian gave her an enigmatic look. “You’ll be able to see for yourself.”

“Are you taking me to him, or are we meeting him somewhere?”

“I’m certainly not taking you home with me.” He pulled out his cell, ran his forefinger over the keypad and put it back in his coat pocket. “Won’t be long now.” Then he promptly fell back asleep.

Rose hid a smile behind the mug of hot chocolate.

The car wove in and out of traffic, sights flying by faster than she could catch a decent glimpse. She wanted to wake Christian up to ask him what part of London were they in, but he obviously needed his beauty sleep.

She sipped at the warm drink, the rich chocolate warming her insides, but it did nothing to bolster her nerves. Maybe he wouldn’t be happy to see her, or even want her help. Her love. Maybe he’d settled into his new life and didn’t need anyone, least of all the woman who’d rejected him. The cup trembled in her hands and she had to set it down before it slipped out of her damp palms.

Glancing at Ivy, she found the rabbit in the baby’s mouth, her eyes slowly opening and closing. “Sleepy girl,” Rose whispered.

Another left turn and the limo stopped in front of a light-colored wall made from ancient-looking stones. The gates opened and the limo drove down a pebbly path, halting beside an elaborately carved water fountain. The driver opened the door, a gust of icy air gnawing at the warmth and waking Christian.

Before she knew it, he’d helped her out of the car, handed off Ivy and deposited four suitcases and a trunk with the initials LV at the bottom of a huge set of doors. Her head swam at the sight of luggage that cost more than what she made in a month.

“Good luck.” He rapped on the door.

Her eyes rounded. “He doesn’t know I’m here, does he?”

“Intelligent women—how would we get on without them?” He winked and slid back inside the car.

“Ma’am.” The driver tipped his hat to her and shut the door.

All she could do was stare as he drove away.

“Can I help you?”

Rose jumped and whirled around, finding a man in a starched gray suit who looked to be at least a hundred years old—if that young. “Uh, I…I’m Rose Holland and this is Ivy.”

“Pemberly, ma’am. Right this way.” He motioned for her to follow him inside.

Two men rushed outside to grab her suitcases, trunk and Ivy’s car seat.

“Take those to the Yellow Room,” Pemberly ordered as they walked inside with her things.

The doors closed behind her, sealing her fate.

Taking a deep breath, she said, “Where’s Sasha, I mean, Mr. Romanov?”

“He’ll be along shortly.”

The doors banged open and Rose backed up, hiding in the shadows.

“Balmy weather, my arse,” Sasha grumbled as he unbuttoned his jacket.

Her heart jumped so high into her throat that she almost choked on it. If he were in such a bad way, then why did he look so good? Had Christian lied to her?

“You have visitors,” Pemberly intoned.

Sasha glanced around the impressive foyer. “Attention to detail is why I keep you around, Pemberly.” He hadn’t seen her.

But she saw him. His golden hair and bronze skin. Sexy eyes and broad shoulders. The way he wore a button-down shirt and slacks. The way he grinned when the butler managed to look even haughtier than she thought possible.

Switching the baby to her other hip, Rose wished for a hole to open up in the floor and swallow her. Of course he wasn’t in a bad way. Not that she expected him to be walking around, wringing his hands and looking like hell. But she wasn’t prepared for the bone-deep pain it caused her to view him like this. And she couldn’t hide out in the corner until he left. Heck, she was surprised Ivy hadn’t given them away by now.

Before Rose’s courage could fail, she took a deep breath and stepped into the light. “He means us.”

Ivy babbled and extended her arms, reaching for the man Rose knew without a doubt the baby loved.





The coat fell from Sasha’s hand, missing Pemberly’s outstretched fingers and hit the floor. Along with his heart, his stomach and every other internal organ as pure astonishment replaced them.

He turned to face her and swallowed. “Rosebud…and Ivy? But I thought Summer had her.” She had to be a mirage. There was no way in hell Rose would be standing in the middle of his foyer, looking achingly beautiful and holding his sweet Ivy.

He’d honestly thought the baby had been lost to Rose. There had been a time, after his mother died, that he considered going to Summer and persuading her to give Ivy back. But Rose wouldn’t have appreciated his interference.

“Summer signed adoption papers.” Blue eyes regarded him warily. “Ivy’s my daughter now.”

“I’m happy for you,” he said simply. However, the aching spot she occupied in his heart reminded him of just how unhappy he’d been. Until now. Joy threatened to consume him, but the woman he loved didn’t look quite so smitten with him. “When…how…why are you here?”

She glanced away. “Christian flew us here.”