Billionaire's Second Chance (sam, bella and Kate Book 2) (15 page)

By seven that night, he could do no more, his mind starting to shut down as images of her lovely face, her look judging and disappointed filled his mind.  Groaning, he looked up as the door opened, a small hope that Bella had decided to come and speak with him again filling him, needing to see her.  However it was Lucy who pushed the door open, wearing a pink pair of pyjamas
.  She clutched a sheet of paper in her hands.  Frowning, he watched as she gingerly moved towards the desk, her small pixie face looking up at him, filled with uncertainty and pain.  “I’m sorry daddy.”

Her words surprised him, as he looked down at her, his voice suddenly thick, “What are you sorry for Lucy?”

Her serious expression wavered slightly as she held up the sheet of paper for him.  Taking it, he looked at the child’s drawing, the stick figures showing he and her holding hands, another figure with blonde hair holding her other hand.

“For making you mad at me daddy”, her soft
words sad as he felt the lump in his throat move, tears rising to his eyes as he looked down on the little girl, his little girl, his little princess, his voice hoarse from the myriad of emotions which ripped through him.

“No Lucy
, you didn’t do anything wrong.  I’m so sorry for being a big grumpy-toes with you.  I’m so sorry, will you forgive daddy?”

Leaning forward he picked her up, holding her tightly to him as she threw her small arms around his neck, her voice so serious.  “There
, there daddy.  Me and mummy love you”, the words making him give a half-laugh, half-sob as his heart swelled deep within his chest.  Bella was right.  Bella was always right. Pulling the little girl slightly from him, he smiled lovingly down at her.  “I think that I am a very lucky daddy, having you and mummy to love me.”

The little girl now smiled widely at him, her nervousness and sadness replaced with such a loving
look.  Standing, he carried her in his arms, moving slowly up the stairs to her room, knowing that it was her bedtime.  “Maybe we can get mummy to read a story with us”, he whispered softly, Lucy giving him a sad, pained look.

“Mummy left”, her eyes once more filled with sadness, “Will mummy come back?”  Philippe froze hearing the words that Bella
was gone.  He had yelled at her to go, to leave.  He meant the study, his eyes closing softly.  Had she thought he meant him, panic filling him.

Placing
Lucy into her bed he calmly read the small child a nursery story, while his insides churned with the need to go and find Bella, once more dreading that history was repeating itself, instinctively knowing that if he did not fix things this time, there would be no more chances.  As Lucy’s eyes fluttered closed he dropped his head to kiss her little forehead, feeling so bad that he could ever have blamed the innocent little child in her bed.  The child he loved with his whole heart.

Moving down the stairs he spotted something glinting on the small table at the door, moving slowly to pick up the ring, panic slamm
ing into him as he groaned, rushing back into his study to pull out his mobile phone.

Bella made it to the airport just in time for her flight, having returned the car and checked in the three hours ahead of schedule expected when flying from the US.  She was relieved that she would not have to wait around longer than was necessary, her whole body moving on automatic pilot.  She needed to get home, to put distance between herself and everything about Philippe, once more swallowing the sob as the image of the little girl clinging to her almost tore her apart. 

She would be OK if she could just get home she kept telling herself, just get back to normality.  She felt the way her heart mocked her at these thoughts.  Four years ago she had never got
ten over Philippe, having known him for less than two days – so how did she expect to move on knowing what it was to truly love him?  Her head told her that she would, even as her heart shattered into thousands of pieces.  Dashing away another tear, she lifted her chin defiantly, her features fiercely set.  She, Bella Smith would be fine, biting down the almost hysterical sob that broke from her lips.

The flight had been even worse on the return leg.  The departure was delayed by over two hours as the plane sat fully boarded on the runway, the tired and irritable passengers becoming fidgety and testy.  Finally
, as they took off, they were required to fly around the storm which had kept them on the ground for so long – to somewhere Bella had not even heard of, this adding another three hours to the flight, resulting in the plane landing over five hours behind schedule. 

Bella
however, hardly noticed the delay, her body shutting down from the turmoil of spinning emotions tearing at her, staring blankly out into the darkness as the plane took her further and further away from the man she loved.  Disembarking, she moved listlessly through to pick up her bag, handing her passport over at the security gate as, tired and heart-weary, she moved from the arrivals door, making her way to the line of taxis just outside the main terminal.

The hand on her shoulder made her gasp, Bella spinning around to confront the person touching her, her eyes growing wide as she moaned softly, “Philippe”
  Her eyes were full of disbelief, feeling as the whole area spun, her head becoming dizzy as heat and cold rippled through her, not believing that he could be there, her eyes staring at him in shock. 

With a sob
, she stepped back, the pain in her eyes unmistakable, as he moved determinedly forward.  “We need to talk”, his tone sure as she shook her head.

“No
.  I said everything I had to at your house”, her finger rising to point at him, “And I think that you should know that if you plan on giving Lucy up, I will apply to be her foster mother.”

He however, took her elbow, moving with her towards the exit.  “I don’t think so Bella.  I made the mistake of not
coming after you once before, and as for Lucy I will explain everything”, his tone sombre. “This time we ARE going to talk.”

Bella had been too taken aback to argue with him as she found herself quickly bundled into the waiting limousine by the grim-faced Philippe, his expression daring her to argue, her mouth closing seeing the determination in his features.  Moving to the very
side of the seat she glared over at him.  “You do know that this is tantamount to kidnapping”, feeling anger build within her as his lips twitched fractionally before ignoring her he also turned to look out of the window.

Seething inside, she sat back, her arms crossed in front of her, not prepared to begin the conversation, peeking small looks in his direction.  Tired and heart-weary she felt the anger rise in her as he had seemed to sit calmly as though there was nothing wrong.  She could not understand it.  How had
he gotten to the UK before her?  There had been no more flights scheduled that evening, especially given the weather, Bella almost tempted to poke him to ensure that he was real.

The limousine slowed outside the five star Hilton hotel, Philippe quickly leaping from the car, her door being soon opened by him as his hand grabbed hers, dragging her with him through the lounge.  The fact that he did not stop at reception indicated that he had already booked in, Bella’s scowl widening as she once more tried to understand how.  In the elevator she finally turned to him, “Philippe...”

His hand lifted to lay a finger on her lips.  “Not here.”  Surprise filled her as she stared back at him, her eyes wide as her mouth snapped shut.  As the elevator opened he again took her hand, pulling her with him to his suite, moving assuredly inside before depositing her on a large couch.  Only then did he turn to really look at her, aware of the myriad of emotions in her beautiful eyes.  Anger, surprise and questions all swirled within her.  Taking a deep shaky breath he crouched down before her taking her hands in his as she frowned.

“Bella.  I am sorry, so sorry.  You were right
– completely and utterly right.”  The frown disappeared as a more wary look crossed her face.  “I love Lucy, and she is my daughter.  She will always be MY daughter.  It was a shock to find out about her but you were right again.  I was behaving so selfishly, not seeing what I have.”

His eyes delved into hers, seeing the way she blinked, her eyes welling up.  “I phoned Allisa’s mother and asked her why the medical documents were hidden from me at her birth.  She knew everything.  She thought I wanted to give up Lucy and told me that she would take her.  I guess then I really knew how much I loved her
.”  A small wry smile came to his lips, “I told her that if she tried to take Lucy from me I would take her to every court in the land.”

A smile lit Bella’s face at these words, a small tear winding down her cheek.  “What did she say?”

Philippe felt some hope fill him at her reaction.  “She told me exactly what you said.  That Allisa only wanted the best for Lucy.  That Allisa had considered me to be the best person to bring up a child, and that to her I was a wonderful father for her granddaughter.”

Lifting her hand
, she gently touched his cheek, “Allisa was a good judge of character Philippe.  What about her biological father?”

A smile tinged with sadness now filled his face.  “He was a rock star she met after we broke up.  Unfortunately, he died of a drug overdose not long after that.  Apparently Allisa left a will with her mother
, in case I ever found out.  It made it clear that her wishes were that Lucy be brought up by me, so legally I am her guardian.”

A tremulous smile crossed Bella’s face as she shook her head softly, “No Philippe you are not her guardian.
  You are her father.  You have always been her father.”

He nodded softly, sadness crossing his eyes. “I didn’t mean for you to leave Bella.  I wanted you to leave the study
, not me.”

She dropped her eyes to her lap, her voice sad, “Four years ago we broke up because you didn’t talk to me, and you again exclud
ed me from the important things in your life.  I don’t want that kind of relationship Philippe.  I thought that we had something special, something really deep, but how can we when you do not confide in me?” 

He groaned softly
, taking both her hands into his.  “I am so sorry.  I have had to deal with my problems by myself my whole life, to protect those around me from having to deal with them, and it does not come easy to share.  But you made me see what I was doing was wrong.  YOU did.  You are the best person I have ever met Bella Smith, and the only person who I ever want to share my life with, and everything important in it.”

His eyes were now full of pleading as he pulled her hands to his lips, “Please Bella, I promise never to exclude you again, never to push you away from problems. 
I promise never to pretend to myself that I am protecting you, when really you are stronger than I could ever be.  Please give me one more chance.  One more chance to prove myself to you.”

Her eyes flicked over his, searching for any sign that he was holding back, finding only honesty within the darkness, swallowing down the small lump that had risen to her own eyes.  “You hurt me Philippe.
  You hurt me four years ago and you hurt me yesterday.”

She was shocked to see his eyes become wet as he nodded.  “I am so sorry
Cara
.  I never ever want to hurt you, and if you give me one more chance I will promise that I will never hurt you again.”

His whole body had been tense, waiting for her answer before she gave a small sob launching herself into his arms.  “I love you Philippe.  I love you so much it hurts”, words tumbling from her mouth, “
But a good hurt, not the hurt of being without you.  That is a very bad hurt.”

The two of them rolled onto the plush carpet as he threw his arms around her small waist
, holding her tightly to him, kissing her cheek, her neck, anywhere his mouth could reach.  “I love you Bella.  I never knew that it would be possible to love somebody this much, or how really blessed I am – I have you and I have Lucy.”

Rolling over so that he lay half over her, he pulled back slightly, the glow of joy coming from her wonderful soulful eyes swelling his belly with such warmth and happiness.  His hands fumbled in his pocket as he pulled out a small black velvet box.  Opening it, her eyes once more fell on the ring she left by his door.  “Bella, I am asking you once more to please be my wife.  To be my
confidant and the voice of reason I so badly need.”

Her lip
s curled into a big smile as she nodded, holding her hand up to allow him to place the ring back on it before his head dropped to kiss her lips, the kiss full of the passion that coming so close to losing the other unleashed, Bella forgetting how tired she was as he made love to her.  The only important thing that she was in his arms and that he had come after her.

It was nearly seven that night when the two finally stirred, having slept wrapped in the other’s arms, both exhausted.  After their frantic lovemaking of that morning which had spilled over into the en
suite bathroom, Philippe had enveloped her within a large fluffy bath towel, drying her before lifting a laughing Bella into his arms to the bed they had up till that moment not reached, sleep taking them fast, both once more so happy.

Holding each other, her head rested on his shoulder, her arm slung over his waist, his fingers ran down the smoothness of her arm.  She finally looked at him
– a quizzical light in her eyes.  “How did you get here?  I was on the last flight and I’m sure that you were not on the same plane.”

He chuckled squeezing her gently, “If I had been on the same plane
Cara
then there would be a whole plane full of passengers with a story to tell.”  Bella’s laughing mouth tickled his skin as he dropped his head to kiss her hair.  “I told you I have my own plane.  We were able to stay low enough to avoid the main storm and not have the wait you did.”

Her eyes widened, “You flew all the way over on a little plane?”, her mind picturing one of the small planes her father had
flown during his ‘pilot for a day’ gift from her.

He however chuckled
, “Well, it isn’t that small Bella.  It has its own bedroom and office.”

She looked at him with surprise before shaking her head softly
, remembering Dante’s boat.  “Of course it does – boys and their toys.”

That night Philippe took her to dinner at one of the most expensive restaurants in the city after the two had bought suitable clothing from the
vast selection of designer stores which dotted the exclusive area of the capitol.  She laughed as despite the stores being closed, they opened the minute his name was mentioned, Bella shaking her head realising just how much money he was spending. “Just how rich are you?”, she whispered as they were personally escorted around the store.

Philippe winked playfully at her
, “Richer than any man I know: I have you”, his response causing her lips to break into an even wider smile.

“You did not just say that
!”, she laughed as he pulled her once more back into his arms.

“Like I told you so long ago Bella
, I really am that smooth”, both laughing together as they held the other’s hand.

In the restaurant he looked over at her, a fire burning brightly within the darkness
of his eyes. “Bella”, his soft word seeing her smile back as his expression was one of complete devotion. “What you said about Lucy, that you would adopt her.”

A
blush rose to her cheeks.  “I... Well I was not sure that you would realise...”, she murmured softly as his hand stilled her, his look full of love.

“It meant more to me than you could ever know.  That you defended her.
  Were there for her...”, his voice pausing slightly as her fingers entwined within his as he continued, “You are going to be the best mother in the world.”  His voice dropped slightly, “Perhaps for more than just Lucy?”

The question in his voice saw a huge grin on her face as her eyes shone brightly, her voice soft
, “Well of course.  I don’t think either of us wants a dog.”  His laugh brought one of her own to her lovely mouth.

That night the two sauntered together back to the hotel, Philippe pulling her in close as they closed the hotel room door, his eyes dancing suggestively with hers
. “Now, I am a firm believer in practice future Mrs Tremour.  And I am feeling in the need for some no-dog practicing right now.”