Chapter 31

They left James’s estate later that afternoon. Blake didn’t drive. They were escorted by his team of armed body guards. Their street was filled with reporters trying to best to get the first photos of the newlywed couple when they reached home. It took nearly an hour for Blake and Liya to drive from the street and onto his property.

“This is crazy,” Liya said.

“It is,” Blake said.

Liya stared through the kitchen window. She massaged her temples with her fingers. “I wish I could shut out my thoughts for a while,” she told herself. The beginnings of a dull, throbbing headache threatened to bring her down.

“Liya, are you okay?”

“Huh? Sorry, Blake.” Her face flushed when she realized she’d spaced out while Blake had been talking to her.

He touched her face gently. “We really need to get away to some place quiet and peaceful where nobody us until this obsession with our marriage dies down.”

Liya struggled to keep her cool. She wanted to deny that being married to him for barely a day was already overwhelming. How would she manage in the future? “I’m fine,” she tried to lie.

“No, you’re not. I have a cottage on a secluded beach that’s really very unpopular because there are no malls or gas stations nearby. It’s private enough for us to hide out from the media for a few days.”

“Sounds like heaven.” Liya couldn’t resist sighing in relief. Blake was incredibly sensitive to her feelings. His sensitivity both touched and confused her, especially since his actions defied the terms of their engagement of convenience.

“When do we leave?”

“This afternoon. Your packing’s already taken care of.”

Liya’s heart melted at her fiancé’s boyish grin.

“I assumed you wouldn’t say no.”

“Yeah things have gotten a little crazy around here. It has become a little overhwleming.” Although her expression was cool, her insides were reeling in anticipation of the upcoming few days she’d spend alone with Blake and Sophia, her family.

Sophia burst into the kitchen, interrupting Liya’s thoughts.

“Liya, did Daddy tell you he’s taking the three of us on holiday?”

“Yes, he did.”

Sophia climbed on a chair nearest to her and hugged her. “I love you, Liya. Ever since I met you, my life has become so exciting.”

Liya’s gaze met Blake’s. “Thanks to Daddy it has.”

“Thanks to Liya it has,” Blake said.

“What time are we leaving, Daddy?”

“As soon as Liya’s ready.”

Liya smiled. “My packing’s already done. I need to pack us some food before we leave.”

“How about we leave in thirty minutes?”

Liya nodded. It was more than enough time for her to prepare sandwiches and pack snacks for the trip.

She was quiet during the two-hour drive. Sophia fell asleep almost as soon as they drove out of the gate in a decoy car. Blake’s bodyguards hired two lookalikes to leave in Blake’s Lamborghini.

Lucky their road trip wasn’t a long one. The beach was pretty rural untouched. She could see why nobody liked coming here. A few cottages dotted the landscape here and there. The cottage was almost on the shore of the picturesque beach. Once they arrived, Blake carried Sophia into the cottage. He joined her on the porch to watch the sun sink closer and closer to the ocean.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Liya said.

“Yeah, it is.”

“How did you find this place?” she asked, curious.

“This is the first house I ever owned,” he told Liya. “Andrew’s father gave it to me after he made his first million.”

“What? Oh my word, I can’t believe this, Blake.” Something about him sharing such an intimate detail about his past with her made her fall in love even more with him. “You’ve come a long way since then.”

“Yeah, I have. My life and luck has changed incredibly since then.” She didn’t object when he took her hand in his. “I have a family now.” Their lips touched. She didn’t object when the kiss deepened.

“Liya! Daddy!” Liya pulled out of his embrace within a split second.

“Yes, love.”

“Please, please, please can we go down to the beach, Liya?” Sophia had already changed into her pink bathing suit. Her pink sunglasses were already perched on her head.

Liya ruffled Sophia’s hair. “Of course we can. But we can’t stay too long. It’s almost time for the sun to start setting.”

“Do you have any chicken-salad sandwiches?”

Liya smiled and nodded. “Yes, my princess.” She’d made and packed enough chicken-salad sandwiches.

“Daddy, did I tell you Liya makes the best chicken-salad sandwiches ever?”

“Yes, dear,” Blake replied.

“In fact, Daddy, she is the best cook in the world.”

“Yes, she is the best cook in the world,” Blake agreed. “Will you ladies please excuse me for a few minutes?”

Liya nodded.

“Liya, aren’t you going to get changed?” Sophia asked.

“Yes, love, I am. I’ll be ready in five.”

Liya quickly changed into one of her favorite bikinis. She wrapped her yellow sarong around her waist. “You’re ready to rock ‘n roll?”

Sophia’s heartfelt smile warmed Liya’s heart. “Yes I am.”

“Mind if I join you beautiful ladies?”

Liya turned around and feasted her eyes on a bare-chested Blake clad only in a pair of shorts. Warmth of a more intimate nature flowed through her insides when Blake’s eyes swept over her bikini-clad body, barely concealed by her sarong.

“Not at all,” Liya whispered. If only Blake loved her back, then this scene would have been perfect.

“Daddy, please take your surfboard. Liya would love to see you surf.”

Blake grinned. “Would you, Liya?”

Her face reddened. “Yeah, I would,” she answered only because Sophia’s eyes were fixed on her. Her heart thundered when his eyes swept over her. She’d never tire of Blake Stone. Sophia chatted animatedly during the short walk to the beach. Once they reached the water’s edge, Blake swam off with his surfboard. The tide was just perfect for Blake to surf without going in too deep into the ocean.

“Go, Daddy!” she screamed, as soon as Blake managed to surf the first wave. She stayed back with Liya and watched her while she splashed in the shallow waves. Every now and then her thoughts strayed to the intimate moments she’d shared with Blake. She wished he loved her as much as she loved him. Her body, heart, and soul remembered the incredible magic of being in Blake’s arms. Her breath caught at the sudden gush of raw emotion surging through her body. She loved Blake. And she’d never stop loving him in this lifetime.

“Penny for em?” Blake’s voice drew her back to the present.

“Huh?” She’d drowned in the emotion of her love for Blake and hadn’t noticed him sitting across her. He dried his face and hands with a towel. “Only a penny?” she teased, recovering from her dreamy state with incredible speed.

“I could offer you more, but that would depend on what you were thinking about.”

He could offer her more, but would he offer her love?

They returned to the cottage before sunset. Liya prepared dinner while Blake played ball with Sophia on the porch. She smiled to herself each time her bubbly laughter filled the silence. Her laughter was the most enthralling sound in the universe.

She wished in that instant to hear her children laugh like Sophia as they all played together.

Her hand strayed to her tummy. She’d had unprotected sex with Blake on more than one occasion. What if she’d already conceived? Would Blake be happy? Would he love their baby even if he couldn’t love her?

“Something smells yummy!” Sophia ran into the kitchen and sniffed the air. “What’s for dinner, Liya?”

“Roast lamb and vegetables. And guess what’s for dessert.”

“Chocolate?”

“Close.” Liya grinned. “Chocolate mousse.”

“Yummy,” Sophia squealed before hugging her legs. “You’re the best mom in the whole wide world.”

Liya’s heart lurched. “And you are the best little girl in the whole wide world,” she replied softly, using all of her courage to keep her voice from cracking. It all made sense to her now. She realized in that instant why she’d agreed to go along with Blake’s arrangement. She’d seen herself as a five-year-old, yearning for Jasmine’s love while Jasmine showered her own daughters with love and affection. A mother’s love was priceless. It was the greatest gift on earth, a gift not even Santa Claus could recreate, no matter how many letters Liya had written to him as a child. It did not matter to her who had given birth to Sophia. All that mattered was that she’d never let another little girl yearn for a mother’s love the way she had at five.