The Billionaire's Christmas Cinderella Read online

  Kissing was usually a means to an end to Abe.

  A mere precursor to bed.

  He did not hold hands in public, let alone kiss in a park, yet there was no thought to his surroundings at that moment. Just that her lips were cold so he must warm them. He felt her hesitancy mingled with shivering want, and she reminded him of that little squirrel, nervous and cautious yet yearning.

  Abe made her yearn.

  The pressure of his lips was sublime. He dropped her hands and wrapped his arms around her, and winter disappeared as he pulled her closer into his strength and warmth and she was cradled in the arms of bliss. Her lips parted without thought, lost to his kiss, but then came the next shock, the feel of his tongue, which had her head pulling back, but his hand was exerting slight pressure there, and after a second she sank into the stupor of his deepening kiss and the feather-light strokes that stirred her inside.

  Naomi gave in to the sweet and sensual pleasure of mouths mingling, tasting and exploring each other, and she savoured each sensation, from the surprising softness of his mouth to the slight scratch of his lightly stubbled jaw, which increased as he kissed her harder, their mouths more insistent, and she knew what to do now.

  As pleasure and want merged, she moaned and he swallowed it, guiding her generous hips into his with the palm of his hand, and then held her in a sensual embrace.

  She felt a new hunger, one she had never known before, unfurl inside her. And when he had kissed her so hard that she was breathless, when he had taken her from hesitant to urgent with the stroke of his tongue, he pulled back.

  Abe had no choice but to do that for the feel of her in his arms dictated a need for more, and the strength of their kiss had to be severed, for decency’s sake.

  Their foreheads rested against each other’s, and he could feel her breasts against his chest as her breathing refused to calm, and the shock of how good a kiss could be was Abe’s now.

  ‘I’ve been wanting to do that since last night,’ Abe said, their lips still almost touching, and she let out a small laugh.

  ‘I’ve been hoping you would,’ Naomi admitted, relieved that she hadn’t been imagining things after all. That this knowing, sensual man had been feeling the same way she had.

  His arms held her steady and Naomi looked up at him and, quite simply, if he took her hand now, and if somehow there could be a magical bed, then he could lead her to it.

  For Naomi, it was a revelation.

  Till now she had never been kissed, never been close enough to another to touch them intimately, let alone consider sharing a man’s bed.

  And when he released her, when the world rushed in, so too did doubt.

  He could hurt her, her mind warned.

  Hush, her heart said.

  He pulled out his phone and read a text informing him the car was here. ‘We’ll speak tonight,’ Abe told her.

  They sat apart in the car, and not just because of the giant teddy commanding its own seat, but because it was just all too new and too complicated to fathom, let alone share with the world.

  But she was floating, and wondering how to deal with Merida and Ethan and, gosh, how to tell this suave man that she’d never slept with anyone before.

  Yes, she was certain that this was where it was leading.

  ‘Thank you,’ Naomi said, as she got out of the car.

  It felt a little paltry to offer such bland thanks for giving her the very best day but she kept things polite and smiled at Barb as she was let into the house.

  ‘How was your day, exploring?’ Barb asked.

  ‘Marvellous.’

  ‘Was that Abe’s driver that dropped you off?’

  ‘Yes,’ Naomi answered as casually as she could. ‘He said to let him know when I was finished sightseeing, and that he’d give me a ride back...’ Then she stopped having to think up excuses as she was suddenly blindsided by the tree. ‘Oh, my...’

  It was pink.

  Yet it was still elegant.

  There were pale pink snowflakes that looked like blossoms dotted on the branches, and pale pink baubles that were so delicate that they looked like they might pop like bubbles if she so much as breathed.

  ‘It’s heavenly,’ Naomi said, but there really wasn’t time to dwell too long. ‘I really have to get changed and then head to the hospital. I’ll get a cab...’

  ‘No need, Bernard will take you.’

  Before she changed, Naomi sat on the bed for a moment and tried to steady herself, because when she was away from him she felt fat and uncertain and it all felt impossible.

  You’re here to work, she told herself.

  But she had a life too.

  One that had been devoid of men.

  Devoid of passion.

  Devoid of love.

  And it was too soon to be even thinking that, but every part of this was new to Naomi.

  So instead of panicking about the impossibility of it all she pulled on dry jeans and a black jumper, and as she did so she recalled his kiss.

  And while she tried to reel herself in, her heart felt as if it was rolling out and she ran down the stairs on a cloud of excitement about all the night might hold.

  Bernard, as it turned out, was Barb’s husband and had been Jobe’s driver. ‘I’ve driven him for close to twenty-five years,’ he told Naomi as he drove her to the hospital. ‘Barb started working for him after Mrs Devereux passed and then he took me on as his driver. We were going to stay for two years,’ he told her as he pulled up at the hospital. ‘That was the plan.’

  Naomi was about to laugh and say something about the best-laid plans, but it died on her lips when she saw his strained face and remembered that tonight not everyone felt as happy as she did. He must be so terribly sad about Jobe, and perhaps worried about his and Barb’s future.

  ‘It’s such a difficult time,’ Naomi said, and Bernard nodded.

  ‘It’s great news about the baby, though.’

  ‘It is,’ Naomi agreed.

  ‘I’ll wait for you here.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  Naomi headed into the private wing and, having shown her ID, was let through to see Merida, who was rather more flustered than yesterday.

  ‘How are you?’ Naomi asked.

  ‘Fine, but she’s not feeding and they said she needs to go under the lights. That she’s got jaundice.’

  It was all completely normal, but for Merida completely overwhelming, and Naomi took her time to reassure her that all was well, but Merida was worried about Naomi too. ‘I feel terrible that you’re here and rattling around the house on your own.’

  ‘Don’t be daft,’ Naomi said. ‘Barb and Bernard have been lovely and I’ve been out sightseeing today.’ She had already decided not to mention that her day had been spent with Abe.

  In fact, she would have to work out when, or even if, she would tell Merida.

  For now, though, she focussed on the baby, who was crying and hungry. ‘Try and relax,’ Naomi said as she positioned her to feed. ‘Maybe try talking to me while you feed her.’

  And it worked, because as Merida chatted about all that had been going on between her and Ethan, she relaxed and so too did little Ava.

  ‘I know you’ve been so worried about our marriage, and in truth so have I, but things are going really well. I know you must be thinking it’s just in the rush of Ava being born, but it was before that. We talked, I mean, we really talked. I think this is a new start for us.’

  ‘I’m so happy for you.’

  ‘We both want this marriage to work.’

  She looked down at her baby. ‘I’m so glad that Jobe got to see her. Ethan and he are finally talking...’

  ‘But they work together,’ Naomi pointed out.

  ‘I mean, they’re finally close. There’s some stuff with the mother that I found out...
’ She didn’t elaborate and Naomi didn’t push—in fact, her eyes came to rest on the huge teddy bear.

  ‘Abe brought that in for Ava this evening,’ Merida said when she saw where Naomi was looking. ‘Hard to believe. There must be a heart in there somewhere...’

  ‘Everybody’s nice if you give them a chance.’

  Merida shook her head ‘Not Abe. He’s an island. And a hostile, uninhabitable one at that.’

  And Naomi had no choice but to listen as Merida spoke on.

  ‘Honestly, the way he works his way through women... I don’t know how Candice puts up with him.’

  ‘Candice?’ Naomi checked. She’d heard that name, or rather she was sure that she had read it somewhere as she’d skimmed articles on Abe during her research into the Devereux family. She had only really been trying to find out about Ethan, so she could help her friend.

  So, who was Candice?

  Merida soon answered. ‘Abe’s partner.’

  Thankfully Merida was looking down at Ava so she didn’t see the look of horror wash over Naomi’s face.

  ‘His partner?’ Naomi echoed, struggling to keep her voice even.

  ‘Yes, they’ve been together for a couple of years.’

  ‘They’re still together?’

  Merida frowned at either the sudden inflection or the sudden interest in Abe Devereux’s love life and Naomi had to think quickly. ‘It’s just I thought I’d read somewhere that they’d broken up.’

  ‘You probably did.’ Merida nodded. ‘They’re always breaking up—he constantly cheats and she always ends up taking him back, but, no, they’re definitely together. She came in to visit with him tonight.’ Merida looked up. ‘Believe me when I say he’s an utter bastard.’

  Oh, Naomi believed her.

  She had just found that out for herself.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ABE HAD A PARTNER!

  Merida’s words had left Naomi reeling but she’d had to remain calm and dig deep to smile her way through the rest of the visit.

  That didn’t end at visiting time, though, when she wished she could walk home from the hospital, if only to gather her thoughts. Instead, after a visit spent reassuring Merida, and with her own head spinning, Naomi stepped out of the hospital to the car waiting for her.

  She wanted to cry but she refused to.

  More than that she wanted to erase the day. Her wonderful, beautiful day, she simply wanted it gone, and to never, ever have known how it felt to be held and kissed by Abe, and to be utterly fooled by those dark eyes.

  So she chatted away to Bernard on the drive back and then the door opened and there was Barb, anxious for news about mother and baby.

  ‘How’s Merida?’ she asked as Naomi took off her coat.

  ‘She’s doing well.’

  ‘And little Ava?’ Barb checked, taking the coat and clearly anxious for a more detailed update.

  ‘Gorgeous.’

  ‘Will they be home tomorrow?’

  Her mind felt as if it was wading through mud just to formulate a response. ‘I think it might be a couple more days,’ Naomi said, and then she saw Abe, coming out of the drawing room. His jacket and tie were off and he was holding a glass. He looked exquisite. She quickly jerked her eyes away, refusing to even allow herself that thought.

  ‘I’ve got dinner ready for you...’ Barb said, and her voice seemed to be coming from a long way away. She could feel Abe’s eyes on her.

  ‘That’s lovely, but I’m really tired. I’ve walked for miles today and I think jet lag has finally caught up with me.’

  She knew.

  Instantly, Abe was certain that she had found out about Candice. He could tell from her pinched expression and the way she turned away from him.

  Damn!

  Candice had met him at the hospital, as had previously been arranged, except he’d forgotten. His driver had dropped him off, and there, beside the elevators to the private wing, had been Candice.

  ‘What the hell is that?’ she had asked when she’d seen the bear.

  ‘It’s for my niece.’

  ‘Well, it would hardly be for me.’

  As arranged, they had gone in to visit together.

  He had spent years fashioning his life, and only Candice, himself and Abe’s private attorney knew of the deal they had agreed to.

  He had admitted to Ethan the truth of their status, but that had been on the night he had told him that Merida was pregnant and Abe had attempted to show his brother that there were other ways to deal with the situation than marriage, but they had never discussed it since.

  Abe’s seeming relationship with Candice was a business arrangement. Her stability and presence appeased the board, but they hadn’t slept together in years.

  Their arrangement allowed a veneer of respectability to put a layer of gloss over his rather debauched life.

  He housed her in an Upper East Side apartment and paid her a generous monthly allowance and, in return, she seemingly stood by his side.

  Certainly, it was not something he shared with someone he’d had one kiss with.

  It was not something he’d ever intended to share with anyone.

  He waited till Barb had taken her coat and had headed off before he attempted to speak to her.

  ‘Naomi...’

  She ignored him and headed up the stairs.

  Possibly not the most adult way of dealing with things but, hell, Naomi just wanted to process what she’d found out alone, and work out how she felt about it all, before having to deal with him.

  ‘Naomi!’ He called her name more sharply and came to the bottom of the stairs, and she had the feeling he wouldn’t hesitate to follow her up.

  ‘Yes?’ She turned and attempted to look composed, but she looked past Abe’s shoulder at the gorgeous tree rather than at him.

  ‘Come through to the drawing room,’ he said. ‘It’s more private in there.’

  ‘We have nothing private to discuss,’ Naomi answered. She didn’t want to hear his excuses and lies, but more than that she wanted to be alone with her own thoughts and to assemble them into some sort of order before she discussed this with him.

  But Abe was persistent. ‘We need to talk.’

  ‘I think we already did quite enough of that,’ Naomi said. ‘In fact, we spoke most of last night and all of today, and during all that time you refrained from telling me the one thing I should have known.’

  ‘Can we not do this on the stairs?’ Abe suggested.

  ‘Can we simply not do this?’ Naomi implored.

  She loathed any sort of confrontation and, though she would never, ever admit it, despite her devastation, Naomi was just the tiniest bit relieved.

  Yes, relieved that the feeling he evoked, the hope that had been gathering, could now safely lead...nowhere.

  That she could reel in her heart right now, before it was too late.

  She had learnt, long ago, how it felt to be discarded, to put down tentative roots and then be plucked up and moved along. Not so much in romance, she had no experience there. But in love, in family, at school and with friends, and she never wanted to revisit those feelings again.

  And with that thought she was able to look him in the eye and dismiss the magical time they had shared. ‘It was a day out. It was a kiss. Probably small change to you and I was tired from flying and...’ She shrugged. ‘Abe, I’m here to work and to be a friend to Merida. Can we please just forget it happened?’

  ‘Naomi...’

  But she had already walked off.

  To Abe’s discredit, he was just a touch relieved by her dismissal.

  It had been a day out that had ended with a kiss, nothing more.

  Certainly, it was nothing worth rocking the boat over.

  God knew, there was enough else going on.

&nb
sp; * * *

  Abe was absent from the kitchen the next morning and again that night.

  And he was absent in the two weeks that followed.

  His name came up in various conversations, some Naomi was a part of, though most she was not.

  ‘Abe’s staying over at the hospital tonight,’ she’d heard Ethan tell Barb on the day Ava had come home.

  And when Ava was two weeks old, and Naomi and Merida were about to head over to the park, Ethan rang to say that Khalid was flying to NYC to sort out, face to face, the land sale issue.

  ‘Don’t ask,’ Merida said, and rolled her eyes.

  Naomi definitely didn’t.

  She was doing her level best to put the elder Devereux brother out of her mind.

  And there was more than enough to be getting on with.

  Merida was still struggling to feed Ava herself, and the baby was hungry and difficult to settle and liked to sleep the morning away and stay up all night.

  Mid-afternoon, rather than have Merida give in and feed her again, they bundled her up in blankets and a hat and she lay screaming in her new pram.

  ‘Isn’t it too cold?’ Merida checked.

  ‘She’s as warm as toast,’ Naomi said. ‘And they like the motion of the pram.’

  Ava did.

  She didn’t sleep, but she did hush as they walked the paths. The snow had let up and it was a crisp, sunny day as Merida told her just how difficult Naomi had been theh previous night.

  ‘I don’t want to take her into bed with me, but she takes the tiniest feed and then falls asleep. The second I put her down, she starts to cry.’

  ‘Why don’t you let me have her for the night?’ Naomi suggested. ‘I could bring her in four-hourly for feeds.’

  ‘I want her with me.’

  Abe, damn him, was right.

  Business and friendships were best kept apart.

  Oh, Naomi didn’t consider her work as business as such, but she was professional in her role.

  Usually her employers wanted a nanny.