Hattie wasn't prepared for their destination. Atlanta had many lovely spots for al fresco dining, but Piedmont Park brought back too many memories. Had Luc chosen the location on purpose?
As Hattie freed Deedee from her seat, Luc gathered the food, a blanket from the trunk, a bottle of chilled wine and a corkscrew he'd added before they left the house. It was a perfect spring evening. The park was crowded, but after a few minutes' walk, they found a quiet spot away from Frisbees and footballs.
Deedee had eaten earlier, so Hattie buckled her into a small, portable seat with a tray and fed her Cheerios while Luc opened containers. The smells made Hattie's stomach growl.
She snagged an egg roll. "This looks heavenly. I'm probably going to make a pig of myself."
Luc ran his gaze from her long legs all the way up past her waist to her modest breasts. "A few extra pounds wouldn't do you any harm."
The intimacy in his voice caught her off guard. What kind of game was he playing?
They ate leisurely, rarely speaking, content to watch the action all around them. Hattie remembered their college days with wistfulness. Back then, Luc would already have had his head in her lap. She'd be stroking his hair, touching his chest.
She trembled inwardly as arousal made her weak with longing. Deedee was no help. Her little head slumped to the side as she succumbed to sleep. Hattie unbuckled her and lifted her free. Luc moved the seat, and together they tucked the baby between them.
Luc reclined on his side facing Hattie. "I heard from the lawyers today. They've spoken to their counterparts, and it seems that Eddie's trying to claim it was really your sister at the wheel that night. That he was confused by the impact and that was why he left the scene."
Hattie clenched her fists. "Please tell me that won't fly."
He propped up one knee. "The police report is pretty clear. But that doesn't mean the case won't drag on. I don't know what they're getting paid, but my guys said the other team doesn't seem to have trouble with Eddie committing perjury if it will get him off."
Hattie was stunned. Since when could a man literally murder other people by driving under the influence and not end up in prison?
Luc was attuned to her distress. He stroked the sleeping infant's back. "Try not to worry. I'm only keeping you informed. But I don't want you to obsess about this. Our bottom line is keeping Eddie away from Deedee. Some judges side with a biological parent automatically, but if it comes to a hearing-and it may not-we'll show proof that Eddie would be a danger to his own child."
Hattie shivered. "I hope you're right. Judges can be bought."
Luc's grin was feral. "Good thing I have deep pockets."
Moments later he surprised the heck out of her by falling asleep. As Hattie looked at man and baby, she realized an unpalatable truth. It would be dangerously easy to fall in love with Luc Cavallo again. The few men she had dated seriously in the last decade were shadows when held up against Luc's vibrant personality.
Hesitantly, she reached out and barely touched his hair. It was soft and thick and springy with the waviness he hated. Usually, he kept his cut conservatively short, but perhaps he'd been too busy for his customary barber visit, because she could see the beginnings of a curl at the back of his ear.
Something hot and urgent twisted in her belly. She wanted to lie down beside him, whisper in his ear, pull him on top of her and feel his powerful body mate with hers. Her hand shook as she pulled it back. She would go to him eventually. It was inevitable. And he would have the satisfaction of knowing that she had made a mistake in leaving him. He would taste her regret and know the scales had been evened.
Luc held all the power. She was helpless to stem the tide of the burgeoning desire she felt. It had only been lying dormant, waiting to be resurrected.
And no matter how much pain she would have to endure when the marriage ended, she would not be able to walk away from the temptation to once again be Luc Cavallo's lover.
Seven
The morning of May 14 dawned bright and clear. The entire household was up at first light. Ana brought Hattie breakfast in bed, toast and jam and half a grapefruit.
Hattie, who had been awake for some time, sat up, shoving the hair from her eyes. "You didn't have to do this."
Ana sat down on the edge of the bed. "A bride deserves special treatment on her wedding day. Sherman and Mr. Leo have taken Deedee outside for a walk in the stroller. All you need to do is relax and let the rest of us pamper you."
Hattie took a bite of toast and had trouble swallowing. Even the freshly brewed hot tea didn't help. Fear choked her. Panic hovered just offstage. She wiped her hands on a soft damask napkin and looked at Ana. "Am I doing the right thing?"
A few nights ago, Luc and Hattie had decided the older couple needed to know the truth. Luc had hired round-the-clock security to be in place during the honeymoon, but it wasn't fair to leave Deedee's caregivers out of the loop.
Ana smoothed the embroidered bedspread absently. "Did I tell you that Mr. Luc offered Sherman and me an embarrassing amount of money if we wanted to retire?"
It seemed an odd answer to Hattie's question.
"I knew he gave you the option. But he told me you loved the house and didn't want to leave."
"As it was, he almost doubled our salaries. We're taking our first cruise this fall, nothing too fancy, but it will be a change of pace."
"Sounds like fun."
"The thing is, Hattie, I've worked my whole life. I wouldn't know what to do if I had to sit around all day. The previous owners of this grand old property were both in their nineties when they passed. They never had a family, and Sherman and I weren't able to have children, either. This is a big, wonderful house with all kinds of interesting history. But until you and Deedee moved in, it was missing something." She paused and smiled softly. "Mr. Luc wants to help you and that precious baby. What could be wrong with that?"
"But it isn't a real marriage. We're not a family."
Ana shrugged. "That may be true at the moment, but things happen for a reason. I've seen it too many times in my life not to believe that. Take it a day at a time. You'll be fine, Hattie dear. Now eat your breakfast and get in the shower. Mr. Luc's not one for running late."
Luc had chartered a private plane, and at ten-thirty sharp, it was wheels up. The short flight from Atlanta to the southeast coast of the state was a source of constant fascination for Deedee. She sat with Ana and Sherman, stuck her nose to the window and was uncustomarily still as she watched the clouds drift by.
Leo and Luc huddled together in the front row talking business and who knows what else. Luc's friend, who was to do the ceremony, sat with them. Hattie was left to chat with Ana's niece, Patti. The young woman's eyes were almost as big as Deedee's.
She took a Coke from the flight attendant and turned to Hattie with a grin. "I've never been on a plane before, and especially not one like this. I could get used to the lifestyle. Did you know the bathroom has real hand towels … not paper?"
Hattie smiled at the girl's enthusiasm. "I can't thank you enough for helping out while we're gone on our honeymoon."
Patti wrinkled her nose. "Well, I love kids, and when Mr. Cavallo offered to pay my fall tuition in exchange for the week, I wasn't about to say no. My aunt and uncle and I will take such good care of Deedee. You won't have to worry about a thing."
Hattie gulped inwardly. Her debts to Luc were piling up more quickly than she could calculate.
Before Hattie could catch her breath and gird herself for what was to come, the plane landed smoothly on a small strip of tarmac. Three large SUVs sat waiting for the wedding party. Once in the cars, they were all whisked away to a nearby dock where they boarded a sleek black cabin cruiser.
At first, Luc's island was nothing more than a speck against the horizon, but as the boat cut through the choppy waves, land came into view. Down at the water's edge, a large wooden pier had been festooned with white ribbons. Uniformed staff secured a metal ramp and soon everyone stood on dry land.