Free In Christofides' Keeping by Abby Green Page A

nearly felled him. His hand had shaken as he’d reached out to stroke soft skin—soft as a rose petal. And he had known in that moment, as he’d looked down at her flushed and downy cheeks, at the riot of golden curls around her head and that tiny, fragile and yet so sturdy body, that he was possibly falling in love for the first time.
    As for her mother…Rico welcomed the hardness that settled in his chest at just thinking of her. All he felt for Gypsy was a singular irritating desire, which he hated to acknowledge, and the need to seek vengeance. To make her bend to his will. To punish her for keeping their daughter secret from him.
    Just then he heard Lola’s cry come from the baby monitor, which Gypsy had obviously left in the kitchen last night. She cried out again, and the cries became more forceful as she woke up. Rico tensed all over. Silently he cursed Gypsy. Why wasn’t she attending to their daughter? Perhaps something was wrong?
    Feeling a very unwelcome sense of panic, Rico was about to stride from the room when he heard Gypsy’ssoft, sleep-filled and husky voice. ‘Good morning, sweetheart…’
    He heard the rustle of movement but still couldn’t relax; hearing Gypsy’s voice was sending a new kind of tension through his body.
    ‘Did you sleep well, my love?’
    Lola cooed in response, and Rico heard the sound of kisses. Heat flooded his body.
    ‘I bet you did…you’re my best girl, aren’t you?’
    With an abrupt move, Rico shut off the monitor. The problem was she was his girl now too, and the sooner Gypsy came to terms with that the better.
    He finished his coffee with one gulp and went to his study to make some calls.
    Gypsy was just finishing feeding Lola her breakfast when Rico walked into the kitchen. Immediately her heart thumped hard, and she felt self-conscious in the same baggy jeans and an ancient college T-shirt, with her hair dragged up and held in place with a big clip.
    Lola grinned happily at Rico, sending specks of food flying as she waved her spoon around and chattered in baby-speak. Immediately aware of how pristine Rico was in comparison to her, in his dark trousers and white shirt, Gypsy leapt up to get a cloth and wipe the floor.
    His voice came curtly. ‘Leave it. Mrs Wakefield will see to it.’
    She flushed, but sat back down again. ‘I don’t want to give her any more work to do.’
    Rico smiled tightly. ‘While your concern is commendable, Mrs Wakefield has a veritable army of cleaners under her, so don’t worry about it.’
    He leaned back against the fridge and looked with such indulgence at Lola that Gypsy found it hard tobreathe. Then his expression changed visibly to something much cooler as he looked at her. ‘I trust you slept well?’
    She nodded, watching as Lola grabbed her cup. She was getting to that age when she was determined to do everything herself. ‘Yes. Very well. I’m lucky that Lola has always been a pretty good sleeper, and she was tired last night.’
    ‘ You look tired,’ he said abruptly, and when Gypsy glanced up she could see his face flush, as if he was angry with himself for noticing.
    She shrugged, feeling even more self-conscious and haggard. ‘I’ve been working hard…’ She amended it, ‘ Was working hard.’
    He obviously noticed her T-shirt and asked now, ‘You went to London University?’
    Gypsy busied herself cleaning Lola, who squirmed to get away. She hated having to tell him anything, but nodded and said, ‘I studied psychology, and specialised in child psychology.’
    ‘When did you graduate?’
    ‘Two years ago.’ Just weeks before she’d met Rico in that club. Not that she was going to mention that now.
    Rico finally walked over to the coffee machine, and with his intense regard off her for a moment Gypsy could breathe again. She cast his broad back a quick glance. ‘I’ll need to go out today to get some things for Lola. I need nappies and some other supplies.’
    Rico turned around and leaned back