Claiming His Hidden Heir: Claiming His Hidden Heir

At the time, the only reason he had guessed her engagement was over had been the lack of a ring and the absence of his calls. There had been no tears from Cecelia or days off and no impact on her efficiency that he’d been able to see.

‘Was it you who ended it?’

Cecelia gave a terse nod.

‘How did he take it?’

‘Luka!’ she warned.

‘I’m just curious. I’ve never been with anyone long enough to be engaged. I can’t imagine getting that close to someone.’ His eyes narrowed a little as he looked at her, still trying, as he had been since the day they had met, to gauge her. ‘Was there someone else involved? Is that why you ended it?’

‘Of course not,’ she bristled.

‘Did you live together?’

‘I really don’t want to discuss my private life,’ Cecelia said. ‘You don’t.’

‘Yes, I do.’

‘No, Luka, you don’t. I might deal with your exes but I know nothing about you—’

‘That’s not true.’

‘How long has your mother been ill?’

His jaw gritted and Cecelia gave a little smirk as she took a sip of her water.

‘Fair enough.’ He watched as she put down her glass and told her a truth. ‘I’m going to miss not getting to know you, though.’

She would miss him far more than he knew.

‘Is there anything I can do to dissuade you from leaving?’ he asked.

She looked up at his voice for his tone had surprised her. She had expected sulky, or manipulative, or for more money to be waved in front of her.

Instead he asked if there was anything he could do to keep her.

‘No.’ Cecelia said, and then she cleared her throat, for the word had come out huskily. ‘Luka, I will be here for another month and I will find the best replacement that I can. I’ll train her myself. It really has been an amazing year but I’m ready for a new challenge.’

‘So I’m no longer a challenge?’

‘Of course you are,’ Cecelia said.

He was actually a constant challenge to her senses—recklessness crept in whenever he was near, which Cecelia had to fight constantly just to keep it in check.

‘How was the bourdeto?’ Cecelia asked as his plate was removed unfinished.

Luka shrugged.

He had far more on his mind than food.

‘What if I promise to stop calling you Cece?’ he suggested. ‘It takes twenty-one days to form a habit.’

‘It actually takes sixty-six days,’ Cecelia corrected. ‘So there isn’t time for that. But thanks for offering.’ And then she smiled, something Cecelia so rarely did.

Rather, she rarely smiled properly, but now, as she did so, Luka watched as she checked herself midway and it dimmed.

For Luka, the fading of her smile felt like summer was ending.

It was, of course.

In a few weeks’ time summer would be gone.

Of course it would come around again, but this summer, this one, would never return.

‘Was Gordon upset when you finished with him?’ Luka asked. ‘And before you tell me that it’s private, I know it is.’

‘So why ask now?’

‘Because you’re the best PA I’ve ever had, and I didn’t want to push you into leaving by getting too personal, but now that you’ve already resigned I don’t have to behave.’

‘Yes, you do,’ Cecelia said, and though her voice remained even there was a flurry of nerves low in her stomach as to what her boldness today had unleashed.

So she answered the question.

‘Yes, he was upset, although, to be honest, I think he was more embarrassed than upset.’

‘No, I imagine he was very upset,’ Luka said in his deep, low voice, and met her eyes. Suddenly the cool breeze from the river felt like a warm one.

At times, Luka would disregard her professional boundaries and flirt with her.

Like now.

That little hint of his silken charm carried from his lips and sent a slow shiver the length of Cecelia’s spine.

‘I’d better get back to the office,’ Cecelia said, ‘and set up for your meeting.’

But he would prefer to linger.

The changing world was waiting and it was nice to be here by the river.

With her.

‘Garcia can wait,’ Luka said.

‘One day he might get tired of waiting.’

‘I doubt it,’ Luka said. ‘Right now he wants to wrap up the purchase.’