Resisting Mr. Kane (London Mister #2)(83)

“Not since Gemina? Really? You’re going there?” I glare at him and down the last of my Scotch. He’ll understand when he has children what it’s like to have a child in danger. The dull chest pain that has been plaguing me all week returns. My doctor tells me I’m stressed.

“I gotta go. I have to fix this. Whatever the hell Gemina wants from me, it’s a yes.”

***

Half an hour later, George pulls up outside Gemina’s mansion. I’m used to collecting Daniel here. Often he runs straight out as soon as I pull up, and I don’t have to get out of the car.

Not today, though. Today I would have to get out and grovel, kiss her feet, give her a blank chequebook or whatever the hell she wants me to do. Both of them. So if I have to play their game, that's what I’ll do. The alternative was losing Daniel, and that simply wasn't an option.

Taking a deep breath, I finally get out of the car and walk up the path to the house.

Gemina opens the door. She’s wearing dark blue jeans with knee-high heeled boots, along with a loose, red wool sweater. Her long blond hair falls in waves over her shoulders. She looks like she’s ready to go out, but then she always looks like that.

“Gemina.”

“Tristan. I'm glad you came.” She smiles but her eyes look red as if she’s been crying.

“Is he here?” I ask curtly.

She shakes her head.

“Dad!”

I manage to crouch just in time as my son bursts through from the kitchen, a huge grin splitting his face. He throws himself into my arms. Once again, I feel the familiar jolt of pain at how much Daniel looks like his mother and nothing like me. Not that it altered how much I loved him. Not in the slightest. "Daniel, Mummy needs you to go upstairs and play while she and Daddy talk.”

“Only if I’m allowed a coffee.” He pouts. “Mummy said I can’t have coffee.”

I look at him bewildered. “Why do you want coffee? You can have one tea on a special occasion. You know this.” And if he thinks he’s consuming anything without my consent for the next ten years, he’s got another think coming.

“I’m not a baby,” he growls. “Can’t you come up to my room and play for a while?”

“Not right now, buddy,” I reluctantly tell him. I put my hands on my son's shoulders to look him in the face. "Mummy and I need to have a boring grown-up talk. I promise I'll be up to play as soon as we're done, okay? Then we both can have some frothy milk instead of coffee."

“You promise?”

“You bet. Why don't you go up and pick out what you want to play?"

“Okay!” Mollified, Daniel turns and runs up the stairs. I watch my son—and he is still my son, whatever any DNA test said—only turning back to my ex-wife once Daniel is out of sight.

“Can I get you a drink? Tea? Coffee? Scotch?”

“I'm fine.”

“Come on." She leads me into the kitchen. "You drove all the way here. I have your favourite Scotch ready.”

“George drove all the way here. Fine. Scotch then. With—”

“Two ice cubes.” She smiles sadly. "You think I don't remember?" Her hand brushes across the top of mine as I take a seat beside the kitchen island.

“What’s the proposal, Gemina?” My nerves are shot.

Her back is turned to me. She says nothing for a moment as she pours. Slow deliberate movements. Finally, she turns to look directly at me, her eyes filled with tears.

“Hey,” I close the distance between us and take her shoulders gently. “Daniel’s fine, Gemina.”

She lets out a loud sob and clutches my bicep. “Tristan. I’ve really fucked up. I’ve ruined everything. I’m so unhappy. Matias…I’m sorry, h-he’s the biggest mistake of my life.”

I flinch.

Matias.

The man I introduced her to. The man I invited into my home to help her career.

The man she had an affair with for four years. Four years.

He mentored my wife and fathered my child.

He stole my fucking life.

Her features contort with pain. “These past few weeks, I’ve realised…”

I stiffen. “What?”

“I want you, Tristan. I want you.”

I stare at her, speechless.

“I mean it.” She clutches my forearm. “I love you. I realise I did some stupid things, and that I hurt you, but I want to try again. I miss you. I want us to be a real family again. You, me and Daniel.”

“A family?”

“Yes. A family. A real one this time. I didn't realise before how much I took it all for granted. I was stupid. Daniel needs you, his real father. And I need you too.”

I say nothing. Get back together with Gemina? Pretend the last two years never happened? I let out a bitter laugh. "I fell for that once before and look where it got me.”

“I know, and I'm sorry...”

"Being a happy family didn't mean anything to you before.”

"Yes, it did," she insists, “You were always preoccupied with the firm. You worked late every night. I never got to see you. You stopped going to see my shows. I thought you fell out of love with me.”

“I didn’t.” I swallow, slumping on the bar stool. “Not then.”