His Seductive Proposal: A Touch of Persuasion / Terms of Engagement / An Outrageous Proposal

The six young cousins had been raised in isolation in this huge house after the violent deaths of their mothers. It was no wonder they had formed a bond. Tragedy had marked this family and shaped its face.

When the meal was concluded, the men were itching to get back to work. Annalise turned to Olivia, her face alight with enthusiasm. “Why don’t we go swim in Gareth and Gracie’s pool?”

“A pool?” Olivia looked askance at the window where lightning flashed and water rolled down the panes.

“Indoors, silly.” Annalise laughed.

Kieran frowned. “Does Cammie know how to swim?”

“We’re from southern California. Of course she does.” Olivia noted Kieran’s response, as did Annalise. He had reacted with a parent’s automatic concern. Olivia wondered how long it would be before someone in Kieran’s family came right out and demanded to know if Cammie was a Wolff.

The pool was amazing. Built to resemble a natural tropical lake, it featured a waterfall, twittering parakeets and water that was heated just enough to be luxuriously comfortable.

Cammie loved it. She swam like a fish, and soon she was all over the pool. Gracie joined them soon after they arrived. The small redhead had a quiet smile and a look of contentment about her that Olivia envied.

At one point, Annalise threw back her head and laughed in delight. “I love having women here,” she exclaimed, beaming in her gold bikini that seemed more suited to sunbathing at a resort on the French Riviera rather than actually getting wet.

Gracie nodded. “Me, too. After our honeymoon, Annalise was gone, and I have to confess that I was lonely sometimes for girl talk.”

“How long have you two been married?” Olivia asked.

“Less than two months. I’m still getting used to this amazing house.”

Gareth’s Western-themed home was spectacular, though not as large as Wolff Castle, of course. And Olivia had glimpsed Jacob’s more modern house through the trees. She frowned. “Why has Kieran never built his own place?”

Annalise shrugged. “Doesn’t need one. He’s here less than a dozen nights during the year. Two days at Christmas if we’re lucky. Other than that, he’s always on the go. The constraints of our situation were hard on all of us kids growing up, but Kieran chafed at them more than anyone. At the first opportunity, he struck out for freedom and has never really looked back. You can’t cage a man who wants to roam.”

Was that pity Olivia saw in Annalise’s eyes? Olivia hoped not. It was bad enough for Olivia to acknowledge to herself that a future with Kieran was impossible. She didn’t want or need anyone’s commiseration, no matter how well meant.

When Gracie hopped out of the pool to dry off and get back to her painting, Olivia spoke quietly to Annalise, all the while keeping tabs on Cammie’s high energy stunts. “Kieran has asked me to go to New York with him overnight. He thought you wouldn’t mind keeping Cammie. Did he volunteer you too freely?”

“Of course not.” Annalise straightened one of the flimsy triangles of her bathing suit top. Though she was the complete antithesis of Olivia’s mother in looks, she possessed the same star quality. A woman no one, particularly no man, could resist. She smiled. “Cammie is a delight, and I’d be happy to look after her.”

Standing next to her, waist deep in silky water, Olivia felt frumpy and large, though Kieran certainly seemed to have no complaints about her less than reed-thin figure. His appreciation for her… assets was flattering.

She signed inwardly. “Just one night, and we won’t be late the following day, because Cammie and I will have to catch the red-eye back to the West Coast. That reminds me, I need to shift our tickets one day later.”

“Why don’t you take the family jet? Did Kieran not offer?”

“He has. Several times. But I prefer to make my own travel arrangements.”

“Because you don’t want to feel beholden to him?”

“It’s not that. I’ve tried to raise Cammie away from the over-the-top lifestyle my parents enjoy.”

“How’s that workin’ out for you?”

Olivia shook her head ruefully. “Sometimes I think it’s a losing battle.”

“So you didn’t like growing up with all the bells and whistles?”

“I liked the toys and activities as much as the next kid. But I had friends whose parents were what I thought of as normal. Nine-to-five jobs, cookouts on the weekend. T-ball games. That wasn’t part of my life, and I wanted it for Cammie.”

“Sometimes we don’t appreciate what’s in our own backyard. There’s something to be said for not having to worry constantly about money. And there’s also the satisfaction that comes from helping people less fortunate. Our family has never wanted for anything, but I like to think we aren’t spoiled. Our fathers instilled in us a sense of responsibility, noblesse oblige, if you will.”

“If I can do as much for Cammie, I’ll be happy.”

Annalise twisted the ends of her long hair and squeezed out water. “She’s a great kid, already. For a single mom, you’ve done a great job. It can’t have been easy.”

Here it comes. Olivia braced herself, waiting for Annalise to demand an explanation of Cammie’s parentage. But the other woman merely smiled.

“Thank you,” Olivia said awkwardly. She followed Annalise out of the pool and began drying off.

“If you ever need a friendly ear, I’m here.” For once, the bubbly personality shifted to reveal a deep vein of seriousness. Her eyes, like Jacob’s, seemed to see all.

“I appreciate that.” For a moment, Olivia was tempted. She wanted to share with another female the fears and heartaches that came with being Kieran’s lover, with bearing his child. But Annalise was Kieran’s cousin, part of his family. Olivia had not even allowed Kieran to claim his daughter yet, so it would be unethical at the very least to share their secret.

She wrapped a towel around her waist and stretched out on a lounge chair to watch Cammie play. Annalise did the same. From speakers tucked away somewhere in the foliage, pleasant music played. Olivia yawned, ruefully aware that her unsettled sleep had everything to do with Kieran. When she wasn’t actually with him, she was dreaming about him. What did that say about her subconscious desires?

Annalise’s long legs were tanned and toned, making Olivia realize it had been some time since she herself had hit the gym. It was tough with a child. An older woman in Olivia’s neighborhood came most mornings for several hours to watch Cammie so Olivia could work. Cammie still napped in the afternoons, and after that it was time to fix dinner, play games and enjoy bath time.

The routine worked well for them, and Olivia wasn’t willing to leave her child with an evening babysitter to go work out. Perhaps after Cammie started kindergarten it would be easier.

Cammie did a handstand in the shallow end, making sure both women were watching. They clapped and cheered her success.

Olivia grinned, pleased that her daughter was enjoying this visit. “Cammie found one of your old ballet costumes in the attic. I hope it was okay for her to play with it.”

“Of course.” Annalise yawned, leaning back her head and closing her eyes. “Tomorrow I’ll show her my secret trove of Barbie dolls. I had to keep them hidden or the boys would pop off their heads.”

“That’s terrible.” But Olivia chuckled in spite of herself.

Annalise lifted one eyelid, her expression morose. “Don’t get me started.”

Nine (#ulink_6db3181a-7592-54fe-89bf-dfc2b5c1030b)

Olivia and Kieran left for New York at first light. Though Olivia had worried about abandoning Cammie, it was clear the child was having the time of her life. Victor Wolff doted on her. Jacob promised her a tour of his clinic and a lollipop, and Gareth and Gracie had sent up a note inviting Cammie to swim again.

And then there was Annalise. She and Cammie had bonded like long lost sisters. If anything, Cammie was the more sensible of the two. Annalise had planned out a twenty-four-hour agenda of fun that would be impossible to fulfill, but she delighted in making Cammie laugh at her antics.

Kieran and Olivia said their goodbyes and departed via helicopter to a small airstrip near Charlottesville. There, the Wolff family jet sat waiting, its brilliant white fuselage gleaming in the sunlight. Though Olivia was well accustomed to luxury and pampering, the level of wealth enjoyed by Kieran and his clan far surpassed anything she had experienced.

Fortunately she had packed liberally in preparation for her trip to Wolff Mountain. Knowing nothing of Kieran’s family or what to expect socially, she had gladly paid for extra bags so her wardrobe and Cammie’s would cover all eventualities. Which meant that she had plenty of choices for this impromptu New York trip.

Inside the plane, a handsome male attendant offered Olivia her pick of beverages along with a midmorning snack, in case her breakfast had been inadequate. She declined the fruit parfait with murmured thanks. Her earlier meal had been more than generous. Victor Wolff’s current chef had once served in the White House, and with three full-time cooks to assist him, the menu offerings were varied and delicious.

Kieran grabbed a bag of cashews and went forward to chat with the pilot. As Olivia fastened her seat belt in preparation for takeoff, she had time to appreciate her plush seat. It was more of an armchair, really. She stretched her legs and felt a little frisson of excitement wend its way through her veins.

Rarely did she take time all to herself for something as frivolous as a vacation. Tending to a rambunctious child, even when she and Cammie traveled with Lolita and Javier, generally meant little downtime.