been the same since his grandmother had passed away and now, to be taken by a strange man for three days—even if he was his father—could have a huge psychological impact on him.
And could she trust that this dangerous Russian was telling the truth about why he wanted Ty?
She forced herself to meet Leo’s guarded eyes and willed her mind to concentrate on what was important. ‘If that’s true, he’s not going to feel comfortable going with you,’ she informed him shortly.
He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced away. ‘I know. I should have thought of that earlier and organised the nanny to meet me here instead of my apartment.’
‘Nanny?’ Lexi frowned and glanced behind her to make sure Ty was still playing happily. ‘Has Ty met this person before?’
‘No.’
‘Then he won’t be happy with her either.’
‘She’ll know what to do.’
‘Not necessarily. Do you even have a proper car seat fitted?’
‘I have a limousine.’
‘That doesn’t answer my question. Listen, if Ty doesn’t know you and you’re taking him to an unfamiliar place, that will be scary for a three-year-old. Not to mention potentially damaging to his psyche.’
‘You let me worry about his psyche,’ he growled impatiently and Lexi could see from the arrogant tilt of his head that his momentary panic from before was over and that he was firmly back in control.
‘It doesn’t seem that you’ve been worried about much at all where your son is concerned,’ she said tartly.
His gaze sharpened. ‘Who do you think pays for this fancy establishment?’
‘I meant emotionally.’
He looked at her as if she were speaking a foreign language and she huffed out a breath. Arguing was not going to solve this situation. ‘He needs something familiar. Do you have his favourite toy? Blanket?’
For a minute he looked utterly lost and despite the fact that she despised his type, her heart went out to him.
He paced away from her and it seemed an age before he answered. Then he turned and her breath stalled at the sight of the bold smile that tilted the corners of his sexy mouth. ‘I have something better.’
She was almost afraid to ask. ‘Like what?’
‘Like you.’
‘WHY is he crying?’ Leo asked, tugging loose another button on his shirt, which felt suddenly too tight. Ty had been crying on and off for half an hour and the sobs were twisting his gut to the point where he couldn’t concentrate on work.
Lexi Somers, who had reluctantly accompanied him to his apartment two hours ago, reached across and took the distressed toddler from the matronly arms of the nanny, Mrs Parsons, whom Danny had organised. Instantly the boy cuddled into her and started sucking his thumb, huge teardrops clinging to his lower lashes.
Leo was aware that his pulse was racing just looking at his son and turned his attention to the woman holding him. Which wasn’t much better because his mind instantly recalled the feel of her soft body against his and the moment he’d almost kissed her. As if he needed that complication right now. Today, at lunchtime, he would have welcomed the way she made him feel. Now, with his world unravelling at the seams, the last thing he needed to think about was sex. Especially sex with a cute woman who was utterly furious with him.
‘He’s not comfortable with Mrs Parsons yet, but that’s to be expected,’ she answered him briskly, one of her hands rubbing Ty’s back soothingly. ‘This is all very traumatic for him.’ The reproach in her voice was unmistakable.
Not just for him, Leo thought.
‘He seems very comfortable with you,’ he said.
‘I’ve looked after him almost every weekday for two years. It’s only natural he feels comfortable with me.’
Leo felt movement behind him and turned to see Danny standing in the door of his home office. ‘Dmitri is on the phone.’
‘Right.’ Due to the delay in collecting Ty, Leo still had work to wrap up. But first he needed to sort the problem of Ty and the nanny. ‘You take him to bed,’ he instructed Lexi. ‘And then—’
‘Please.’
Leo blinked at her quiet reprimand.
He thought about telling her that if she interrupted him one more time with that gorgeous mouth he’d do something they’d both regret but found himself in the unique position of needing somebody else more than they needed him. A situation he did not like at all. He had to get rid of her and the sooner the better. ‘Please, Miss Somers, would you be so kind as to take my son to his bed?’
He could tell she wasn’t fooled by his mocking tone, but that was okay. He knew she’d do it. Ever since she had told Ty that this ‘nice’ man was taking them on an adventure and had made it sound as if it could rival Disney World he knew she was a soft touch under her no-nonsense exterior—a weakness he was ruthless enough to exploit.
‘Which room is his?’ she muttered.
‘This way.’ Leo hadn’t thought about which of his spare rooms to give Ty, but they were both the same so he chose the first one he came to.
He opened the door and inhaled vanilla as Lexi moved past him and looked around the room, a frown marring her smooth forehead.
King-sized bed, bedside tables, French windows leading to an outside balcony, private bathroom. What was there to frown about? Except maybe the absence of a cot. Chort vozmi. He hadn’t thought of that.
‘Are they locked?’ She nodded towards the French windows and spoke softly as the toddler was almost asleep in her arms, something Leo was glad about because he couldn’t look at Ty without remembering his brother, Sasha.
‘Of course,’ he said, but he walked over and rattled the handles anyway.
‘He really has never been here before has he?’ she said, almost to herself.
‘I told you that.’
‘Yes, but I don’t think I wanted to believe you.’ ‘I don’t lie.’
She cast him a fathomless look. ‘Can I have some more pillows?’
‘Why?’
‘Because he’ll feel more secure if he’s surrounded by pillows. This bed is too big for him.’
Leo opened the inbuilt wardrobe and pulled out three spare pillows and placed them on the end of the bed. ‘Anything else?’
‘Pyjamas.’
He glanced at Ty’s jeans and T-shirt. ‘Can’t he sleep in what he’s got on?’
‘Do you sleep in jeans?’
Her sharp rebuke both surprised and irritated him.
‘Are you trying to find out what I sleep in, Miss Somers?’ he asked, wondering if her eyes flashed golden when she was aroused as they did when she was angered.
He expected her to snap at him but instead she smiled sweetly. ‘I already know. It’s called a coffin.’
Leo blinked, astounded at her unexpected sassiness and then she surprised him again by shushing him. ‘Just go.’ She waved him away with her free hand as if he were an annoying insect. ‘I’ll take care of this.’
Leo left, not sure whether to be bemused or outraged at her temerity.
Lexi fixed the bed so that Ty wouldn’t fall