Andre trotted into the kitchen and stood there looking around. Tea. It can’t be that hard. He just needed some hot water, a tea bag and some cream and sugar.
He could always heat the water up in the microwave. But for how long?
Well, there was only one thing to do. He reached for his cell phone in his inner blazer pocket and hit the speed dial. Instantly, he heard his valet’s voice.
“Simon…” Andre said just above a whisper, so he didn’t disturb Tasha. “I need a cup of hot water. For tea. How long should I microwave it?”
After receiving instructions from Simon, Andre laid out tea for two on a tray he found in one of the cabinets. He would take it in to Tasha’s room, they would have some nice, soothing tea, and then they’d decide how to proceed.
CHAPTER EIGHT
TWO DAYS LATER, TASHA WAS FEELING MUCH BETTER. Andre invited her to come with him to see a house that he’d said Papa and Claudette were anxious for him to sell—on Lecie’s behalf. Tasha happily accepted.
The Spanish-styled hacienda had great beach access and a gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean. But Tasha couldn’t understand why the family had gotten Lecie the house in the first place if they just wanted to turn around and sell it out from under her.
A wall of three sets of French doors flanked the western side of the massive living area. The realtor had opened the doors and now Tasha leaned against the middle doorjamb, gazing out at the blue ocean behind the green grass.
Andre stepped up beside her. “Denise says,” he said of the realtor, “there’s a terrace just beyond the lawn on the way down to the beach. She says it’s just a few steps down to get to it. Want to take a look?”
Tasha glanced at Andre. “Sure.” She pushed off the doorway and kicked her shoes off before stepping onto the soft, supple grass.
Andre reached for her hand. They strolled together toward a wooden walkway that dropped down a few steps to the terrace, then twisted and turned all the way down to the Pacific.
Cozy beige and tan chairs circled a round table on the patio. Andre waited until Tasha sat, then he did the same.
“God, it’s beautiful here,” she said, her eyes still glued to the Pacific. A slight hint of salt wafted in on the sea air.
“That it is.”
Tasha could feel his eyes on her. She pulled her gaze away from the ocean to look at him. The wind tousled his dark hair about his face. Even though Andre was smiling, his blue eyes weren’t successful in shielding the torment hiding behind them. He hadn’t said much about the baby since he’d discovered the pregnancy test stick in the bathroom yesterday.
She knew he wasn’t keen on marriage. Until recently she hadn’t been a fan of it herself. But now, with a baby on the way, her opinion was changing. She wanted the baby, but she also wanted Andre to raise it with her.
“So…will you be selling the house?” she asked.
“To Papa and Claudette’s dismay…” He shook his head. “Unfortunately not. With the current state of the economy, the market is just too unstable. Lecie would lose millions on the deal. Papa and Claudette aren’t going to like it, but I’m going to recommend that Lecie retain ownership for now.”
“I don’t get it.” Tasha twisted sideways in the chair to face Andre. “If they don’t want her to have this property, why’d they buy it for her in the first place?”
“Oh, they didn’t. My sister inherited it from my lately deceased uncle, Edouard Renault.”
“Something Maurice can’t control.” Tasha chuckled. “I’ll bet that’s driving him mad.”
“More than you can imagine.” Andre shrugged a little, then his whole demeanor changed, growing serious. “Have you given any more thought to what you want to do? About the baby?”
“I know this is crazy, but I want to keep it.” She waited until his gaze came back around to meet hers again. “You’re welcome to as little or as much involvement as you want. No pressure.”
Andre sucked in a breath, then said, “How do you feel about me?”
“Huh?”
“It’s a simple question. Do you have feelings for me?” While Andre waited for her answer, sensuous thoughts of them played in her head. He must have seen the mischievous smile that touched her lips because he followed his inquiry with, “I don’t mean like that.” He hesitated, then added, “Do you love me?”
Her head began nodding before she said, “Yes.” And that, she realized, was why she couldn’t consider aborting their child. “Of course, you know I do. If I don’t say it enough…I love you, Andre.”
He leaned toward her and wrapped his hands around hers. “I’m glad you said that because you know I feel the same way. I love you.” He hesitated again, squeezing her hands this time. “Why don’t we get married?”
“Married?” Seriously?
“Sure, why not? We love each other. We should get married and give our child a proper family.”
“A baby isn’t a good enough reason to get married.”
“Sure it is, if the parents love each other.” His eye contact with her was powerful, even more intense than when they were making love. It was a look that turned her inside out and made her want to say, yes.
The need to cry, born from somewhere deep down in her gut, clawed its way up her chest and into her throat. She inhaled sharply, trying to crush it.
“Tasha…” Andre continued his bid to win her over. “All the baby does is prompt me to do what I should’ve done a long time ago.” And then he did it. Andre de Laurent went down on one knee. “Marry me. Spend the rest of your life with me and make me the happiest man on Earth.”
Her voice broke as she said, “Are you sure?”
Andre stood and pulled her into his arms. “Never more sure of anything in my life.”
“But what will your family say?”
“Well, Julian won’t be happy that he wasn’t the one to deliver the first grandchild, but Papa is going to be over the moon. And Claudette…we may have to fight her for that baby.”
Andre pulled Tasha’s mouth to his and kissed her long and hard and convincing.
Two days later, Tasha leaned back against the plush couch on the de Laurent jet. Andre and Simon were huddled together on the other side of the cabin near the wet bar. They had to be up to something, but what she couldn’t guess.
Andre turned toward her with a mischievous grin tipping the corners of his mouth. He looked at her and something in his manner soothed her. She smiled, and he went to her and cuddled up next to her on the couch.