Free The Millionaire's Redemption by Margaret Tanner Page A

peril.
    Lilly crawled over to him, pulled herself up, and clung to his knee. He finished his tea in a couple of gulps and pushed the tray to one side. He picked up Lilly and stood her on the desk, holding her steady with a hand under either arm.
    “Well, little missie, what do you think of my office?”
    She clapped her hands and he chuckled.
    “You’re a clever little pumpkin, aren’t you?” He turned her from side to side and she waved her arms about.
    “You’re good with children,” Holly said, immediately regretting her impulsive words as his mouth tightened and his eyes iced over.
    “It’s easy putting up with them for a short time.”
    “You don’t mean that,” she retorted before she could stop herself. “You’ve got a natural affinity with them. You’re a natural born father.”
    “Like hell I am. If you’ve finished your tea, I’ll walk you downstairs,” he said abruptly, rising from the chair and picking up Lilly. She wrapped baby arms around his neck and pressed her face into his neck.
    With such a forceful dismissal, Holly could do nothing but put her bone china cup back on its matching gold-rimmed saucer and stand up. “You don’t have to escort us off the premises.” Hurt sharpened her voice. “We’re not going to pinch anything.”
    “I didn’t mean to imply that you would. She’s too heavy for you to carry downstairs. I’ll be back in a couple of minutes, Les.” He threw the words over one shoulder as he strode past the PA’s desk.
    “Goodbye. Thanks for the tea,” Holly said as she followed him to the elevator. “I can carry her. Even if I don’t look it I’m quite strong.”
    Holly was as soft as marshmallow, fragile as the finest porcelain and easily broken. He couldn’t understand the way he acted towards her, running hot and cold all the time. One minute he enjoyed the shared camaraderie and the subtle emotional pull between them. The next minute self-preservation kicked in, and he turned on her like a rabid dog.
    He acknowledged the greetings of a couple of young men who stepped into the elevator on the sixth floor and ignored their interested stares at Lilly, but he fumed when they turned their attention to Holly. Their eyes wandered all over her in that assessing sexual way young men had when they saw a pretty woman. Lecherous bastards.
    When they got to the security desk he placed Lilly in the stroller; and it looked shabbier and more beat up than he remembered.
    “Goodbye, Justin,” Holly said in a tremulous voice that did funny things to his inside. Better for both of them if he never clapped eyes on her again.
    “Thanks for bringing me the phone,” he called out to her departing back. She didn’t turn around, just kept pushing the stroller. The squeaking wheel sounded overloud and incongruous in the quiet luxury of the foyer.
    He glanced at the security book, making a mental note of Holly’s address and phone number purely out of curiosity.
     

Chapter Six
     
    Holly dressed carefully for her first day at work. She wore black slacks and a pale pink top. After applying her usual pink lipstick she left the bungalow.
    Humming to herself, she walked along the street pushing the stroller. Lilly wore deep pink overalls with a heart-shaped motif on the bib front and a pale pink blouse trimmed with lace around the collar. A good-natured baby, she only grizzled if tired or hungry.
    Just before nine, they arrived at the crèche. The moment of reckoning. Would Lilly like the people here? Would she enjoy being with other children? Holly hated leaving her, but what option did she have until she found out how much the government pension would be?
    “Good morning.” Cheryl greeted her with a cheerful smile. “And how’s Lilly?” She scooped the baby out of the pram and tickled her belly. “I’m sure we’re going to be good friends.”
    No tears, thank goodness. So far so good. “When I find out exactly where I’m working, I’ll let you know the extension