Free An Heir for the Millionaire by Julia James

found out about Joey—and that he wanted to be a part of Joey’s life.
    And Joey, it seemed, twisting the knife in her breast, was of the same opinion. His childish conversation had returned to the subject of his father time and again over the last few days, and even though Clare had done her best to change the subject, Vi, of all people, had been matter-of-fact in answering.
    â€˜He’ll come when he can, lamb. Dads have to work, remember? So he’s very busy.’
    But not busy enough. Clare had heard his monster of a car arrive as Joey was finishing his lunch, and her heart had sunk to her shoes. Now it had congealed into cold ice. Was he insane, thinking she and Joey would go on holiday with him? Yet here was Vi, thinking it was a perfectly unexceptional thing to suggest.
    â€˜Yes,’ Vi retorted. ‘A holiday together would be just the thing. It’s a very good idea.’
    â€˜I don’t want to!’ Clare exclaimed vehemently.
    Vi gave her a level look. ‘Joey’s got a right to his father, love,’ she said calmly. Her gaze went to Xander again. He gave her a slight nod of acknowledgement.
    Clare was staring at Vi as if she were a traitor.
    â€˜He can come and visit here !’ she countered.
    â€˜Well, he will, love. And he is already, and that’s all very well. But Joey needs to spend more time than just an outing to the park or some playtime indoors. A holiday would be just the thing, like I say.’
    â€˜I couldn’t possibly leave you, Vi. How would you manage?’ Clare said desperately.
    â€˜That has been taken care of,’ Xander interjected. ‘Mrs Porter has been good enough to accept a minute token of my appreciation for her contribution to the care of my son over these last years. While Joey is on holiday she will be too.’
    â€˜That’s right,’ said Vi. ‘Though I don’t need thanking—Clare and Joey are family to me. But I’ll be very glad to see Devon again.’
    Clare felt another punch of betrayal go through her. ‘We were going to go there all together! In the summer—’
    â€˜Well, Clare, love, a caravan always was going to be a bit tricky for me, wasn’t it? And this hotel I’m going to is specially adapted for old people, and it’s right on the sea front. It couldn’t be better. And this time of year the town won’t be too crowded either—nor the weather too hot for me.’
    â€˜So, do you have any more objections?’
    Clare’s eyes snapped to those of the figure at the other end of the sofa. Somewhere deep inside, on a different plane of existence from the one her mind was occupying, something detonated. Xander was not wearing a business suit today. He wore the kind of casual wear that looked relaxed but was, she could tell at a glance, extremely expensive. His dark blue sweater was cashmere, his loafers hand-made, his petrol-blue trousers bespoke tailored.
    But it wasn’t his clothes that had caused the detonation.
    It was the body beneath…
    The body she had once known with such sensual intimacy that if she even began to remember it would crucify her…
    I don’t need this.
    Wasn’t it hideous enough having to watch Xander with Joey—and, worse, Joey responding with increasing confidence and pleasure to all the attention from him? Wasn’t that enough torment for her?
    Why did her own self have to betray her as well?
    There was only one cruel comfort, if such a thing were possible in this nightmare that had engulfed her since she had come face to face with Xander Anaketos again. Only one.
    That, whatever her treacherous memory might be trying to conjure back, it was finding no answering echo within him.
    From him came only grim hostility and condemnation.
    Be grateful for it, she thought. Be grateful he treats you like a block of wood!
    And she must do likewise. It was the only way she would be able to cope.
    But how could