“Several times.”
Wow…just wow. “No way.”
“I go when I need a place to think. Watching the fish can be very soothing.”
“Even with all those children around?”
“I like to see happy families.”
Somewhere over the Atlantic, Zephyr had become convinced that Piper was indeed pregnant. Regardless of the statistical probability after her years on the birth control patch. Therefore, he needed to convince her that marriage to him was a good option for her future, even without the love.
He wouldn’t give her love, but he realized he could give her more of himself. It went against his desire for self-protection, but he now considered his sharing of his past with her as a brilliant tactical move on his part. Piper needed to feel emotionally connected to people she cared about. He had seen the effect his sharing had had on her.
She’d drawn closer to him even as he’d attempted to backtrack to a shallower level of emotional intimacy. With his baby’s future on the line, he could and would give Piper a stronger connection, despite the fact he had no intention of allowing himself to be vulnerable to romantic love, were he even capable of the emotion.
Going to the aquarium wasn’t some big romantic thing, but it would allow Piper to glimpse a part of his life he did not share with others. It wasn’t much, but his instincts told him that sharing this habit with her would work toward convincing her they could have a strong enough marriage to raise children in.
Piper enjoyed the aquarium more than she thought she would. A lot more, but what she found most intriguing was watching the way Zephyr watched the other people there. She was sure he had no idea just how much his expression revealed of the inner man. His mouth would tilt in a half smile every time a child made an enthusiastic noise to its mother or father.
He watched the antics of the little ones with an indulgent grin and looked with pure longing at more than one set of parents visiting the aquarium with their kids.
“You really enjoy being here, don’t you?” she asked him in the glassed-in tunnel of exotic fish.
“Very much.” He looked around them with a wistful expression that was there and gone in a blink. “Everyone here has normal lives.”
“You assume.”
“I assume.” He smiled ruefully at her correction.
“You have a normal life. Now.”
“Do I?”
“Yes, of course,” she said.
“I’m a workaholic tycoon that spends most of his time making money and creating places for other people to enjoy the fruits of theirs.”
“So, spend some time enjoying them yourself.”
“Alone?”
“You aren’t alone right now.” If she didn’t know better, she would think he was making his case for how much he needed his own family.
“No, I am not.”
“Does that make you happy?” she couldn’t help asking.
“Yes, I like being here, in one of my favorite places, with you.”
“It’s special.” Really, really special. And he was sharing it with her. She reached up and kissed the corner of his mouth. “Thank you.”
They both stepped to the side as a young boy went racing by, his older brother right behind him and a woman even farther back calling for them to slow down.
Looking harried, but smiling, she rushed to catch up. “Sorry about that. They’re both crazy for the otter exhibit.”
Zephyr tilted his head. “No problem. You’re lucky to have such active children.”
“That’s one way to look at it.” But her grin as she sprinted after her children said she saw it the same.
“You really do want children, for more than just having someone to pass on your legacy of wealth.” How could she have thought anything else?
He looked down at her, his dark eyes filled with a longing she was just beginning to understand ran soul deep for him. “Yes.”
Lost to anyone else around them, she reached up to cup his cheek. “You’ll make a wonderful father.”
“That is my sincere hope.”
Cass was wearing a beautiful bright dress when she opened Neo’s apartment door to Zephyr and Piper later that evening.
She grinned at Zephyr and pulled him in for a hug. “Long time, no see, stranger. How was Greece?”
“Warm and beautiful.”
“You mean you actually took time to notice. When Neo told me you were taking a minivacation before going to the island, I almost fainted, but I’m glad.”
“Hey, I am not as bad as my business partner.”
“Only a robot works as many hours and holidays as Neo did before we met, but he’s well on his way to reformed now.”
The complacency in Cass’s voice made him smile. “I noticed.”
Cass turned to Piper. “Please tell me you’re taking on the job for Zee. He needs someone to.”
“Don’t answer that,” Zephyr demanded, then said, “Yineka mou, this is my best friend’s fiancée, Cassandra Baker, world-renowned pianist and composer. Cass, this is Piper Madison, brilliant designer and my very good friend.”
Cass’s brows rose to her hairline and Zephyr realized he had made a mistake using that particular endearment in front of her. No doubt Neo had long since told her the translation and the implications often associated with it. Implications he was becoming more and more comfortable with.
Cass took both of Piper’s hands in hers and squeezed them. “So, it is your job.”
“I’m beginning to think so, yes.” Piper glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “Good friends have an obligation to look out for each other.”
“That’s the argument Zee used when talking me into taking the piano lessons that changed my life,” Neo said as he came into the entryway. “Shouldn’t we all go into the living room? It’s got more comfortable seating.”
He gave Piper a smile that seemed to startle her, but she returned the gesture and said, “Good to see you again, Neo.”
Then Cass led Piper away by the hand while Neo hung back to give Zephyr a traditional Greek greeting. “It is good to have you back in Seattle.”
“I miss the island already.”
“I felt the same after leaving.” Neo nodded. “It is a special place.”
