I please go upstairs and check Sooty? I think she might be lonely.’
‘Of course. I’ll come with you,’ Taylor said quickly, and caught the faint amusement evident in Dante’s dark gaze.
‘Perhaps we could go together,’ he suggested. ‘You can show me your toys.’
Ben didn’t hesitate, and for the ensuing hour man and boy communed on the merits of almost every wheeled vehicle currently on offer…including planes, trains and automobiles. For so young a boy, Ben could reel off a number of brand names…his favourite being a red Ferrari. Something he fervently hoped to own one day. Together with a motorbike.
Every boy’s dream, and he happily didn’t protest when she declared it was time for bed.
‘Taylor reads me a story every night.’ He looked at his uncle. ‘Will you stay and read me one, too? Please, Zio Dante.’
‘Of course, if you’d like me to.’
Something Dante appeared only too willing to do…whenever he was home, she added silently, which hopefully wouldn’t be too often.
A prediction which didn’t hold true, for he shared breakfast with them the next morning, and sat down to dinner each evening. Ben’s bedtime story became a nightly event, and Friday evening Dante added to Ben’s wish-list by suggesting they visit a dog breeder at the weekend in order to choose a puppy.
Not, praise heaven, Taylor begged silently, something with the potential to grow too big.
‘A Llasa Apso,’ Dante revealed, sparing her a musing glance.
Did he read minds? Or were her thoughts merely too easy to interpret?
‘They’re a small breed, and in this instance they’re already trained.’ He reached into his shirt pocket, withdrew a folded coloured print and showed it to Ben. ‘What do you think?’
Taylor saw Ben’s expression change into instant love, and the look he cast Dante held a degree of reverent awe. ‘Can I really have one?’
‘Yes, and we can bring it home.’
‘You’re the best.’ Ben’s eyes shone as he lifted his arms and gave Dante a hug. ‘Thank you.’
Dante returned the embrace and brushed his lips to his nephew’s forehead. ‘Time to go to sleep, hmm? Tomorrow will be a big day.’
Dante stood aside as Taylor tucked in the covers and kissed Ben goodnight before preceding Dante from the room.
‘That’s kind of you,’ she said quietly. ‘Leon had promised Ben a puppy for his birthday.’
He indicated the stairs and they began descending to the lower floor.
‘You think I’m attempting to buy Ben’s affection?’
She shot him a startled look. ‘A puppy is a perfect gift. Casey didn’t feel Ben should grow up thinking he could have anything he wants.’
He indicated the library, followed her in, then gestured towards a comfortable leather chair.
‘I fly out to New York on Monday for a few days, possibly longer,’ he revealed as he crossed to lean a hip against the antique desk. ‘You can contact me via my cellphone. You have the number.’
‘I’m sure it won’t be necessary.’
No, it probably wouldn’t. She was efficient, capable and considered Ben her main priority.
He slanted an eyebrow and his mouth curved in to form a light smile. ‘You could always call and say hello.’
‘I wouldn’t think of disturbing you.’
Did she have any idea the pulse at the base of her throat quickened in beat whenever she was in his presence?
Her controlled persona was a façade…and he wondered what lay beneath it.
He’d given her no reason to be wary of him, yet she wasn’t comfortable…and he was sufficiently intrigued to discover why.
In time.
‘I’ll set up a computer here, with a web-cam. It’ll enable Ben to have daily visual contact with me.’
He had the sudden urge to ruffle her composure, see those beautiful eyes dilate and watch the pulse at the base of her throat thud into a quickened beat.
Her reaction intrigued him…as she did. So outwardly practical. Laudable, but it was what lay beneath that held his interest. Had done so for quite some time. Yet distance and the pressure of business worked against him. Now, given unforeseen circumstance, he had all the time in the world.
‘If that’s all you wanted,’ Taylor offered as she rose to her feet, ‘I’ll say goodnight…and thank you.’
His eyes became faintly hooded, and a slow smile curved his generous mouth. ‘Thank me for what, precisely?’
‘Making the effort to ensure the transition is as easy as possible for Ben.’
He inclined his head. ‘And you, Taylor?’ he pursued softly. ‘Has the transition into my home, my life, been easy for you?’
No. She wanted to say he had to know that, for it disturbed her how well he appeared to read her.
‘I’m sure the arrangement will work out well,’ she concurred politely. With that, she moved to the door, opened it and escaped into the wide hallway, uncaring whether Dante followed or not.
The acquisition of a puppy proved a huge success, together with kennel, puppy toys, bowls and various trappings a well-cared-for puppy should have. Rosie, for the Llasa Apso Ben chose was female, lapped up all the loving attention Ben offered, and returned it in kind. Dante’s absence in New York provided Taylor with a welcome break from his presence, although his image was there every evening at a prearranged time via the computer webcam as he chatted to Ben.
Taylor was careful to keep her conversation to a minimum, offering a polite greeting on connection, followed by an equally polite ‘goodnight’ prior to deactivating the web-cam.
Did he guess at her apparent reluctance to participate in more than a perfunctory sentence or two? Undoubtedly. For she glimpsed the slight curve at the edge of his mouth, the faint musing gleam in his dark eyes.
It was Ben who relayed a birthday invitation for Sunday.
‘My friend Tamryn is having a party because she is going to be four. Taylor is taking me, and I wondered if you could come, too. Please, Zio. Will you be home in time?’
‘I’ll do my best,’ Dante assured. ‘Taylor can give me the details tomorrow evening.’
‘Cool.’
Sunday provided sunshine and crisp temperatures, and Ben’s excitement was engaging as the time to leave for the party drew close.
‘Everyone from kindy is going to be at Tamryn’s house.’
Taylor dropped a kiss on the top of his head. ‘You’ll have lots of fun.’
His eyes shone with anticipation. ‘Tamryn says there’s going to be a clown, and rides, and a huge big rubber house to play in.’ He barely paused for breath. ‘Can we go now?’
‘Sure we can.’ She picked up the brightly wrapped present with its fun card. ‘Shall we say goodbye to Anna first?’
‘And Claude,’ Ben added. ‘He’s in the garden.’
It didn’t take long, and the adherence to good manners brought forth a smile as both Anna and her husband bade Ben goodbye and hoped he enjoyed the party.
The invitation stated two o’clock, and Taylor drew the car into the kerb outside a large, stately home in suburban Woollahra.
A security guard manned