Page 53 of The Comeback Heir

He kissed her forehead. “You have the best ideas, Fliss.”

She found her clothes and used them as a shield. “Good night, Wynn.”

He frowned. “That’s it? Good night?”

Was he looking for a critique of his performance? She made herself step forward casually and kiss him on the cheek. “I’ll stay until the New Year,” she said. “That should give you time to find my replacement.”

His mouth set in a hard line of displeasure. “Explain to me again why you’re dead set on leaving?”

“It’s simple,” she said. “I’m not getting any younger. I want a husband and a home and a family of my own one day. I need to get back to my job and my real life.”

She had told him the truth about the past—that she had wanted babies with him—and more recently, she had done him a favor in caring for Ayla until Wynn could gather his wits and get settled in New York with his new responsibility.

He scowled. “And do you already have a candidate in mind for this fairy-tale existence?”

“I do,” she said slowly. “Plenty of them. Colleagues. Passengers. I’m lucky to meet a wide circle of people.”

“I see.” Now his features were set, his expression neutral.

“I realized I wasn’t being fair to you,” she said. “This would be a terrible time to search for a replacement nanny, with the holidays and all. So I’ll stay until the first of the year. But don’t think you can procrastinate. I won’t change my mind. Come January, I’ll be back on the flight deck.”

“And you and me? In the meantime? Our sexual relationship?”

If she said no to intimacy, he might eventually guess she was in love with him, so she tried to make light of it. “I see no problem with that. We enjoy each other’s company. And we’re compatible in bed.”

“Sounds like you have everything worked out.” The words were tight, critical.

“Don’t try to pick a fight,” she said. “Let’s enjoy the moment.”

He sighed. “I suppose I don’t have a choice. I can’t chain you up here. If you have to go, I’ll work something out.”

“Thank you,” she said, her heart breaking. “You and Ayla will be fine. I’m sure of it.”

Nine days later, Felicity stood at the familiar cemetery in Falcon’s Notch and watched her father’s coffin being lowered into the ground. Her grief had run its course. Now she was numb.

Somewhere, her resentment and fury burned. But it seemed disrespectful to be angry with a man who could no longer defend himself, so she had chosen to bury her emotions and deal with practicalities.

Wynn had done his best to tag along. He’d offered the private jet for comfort and convenience. He’d sworn she would feel less alone with him by her side. Everything he said was true. But Felicity turned him down.

It was one thing to sleep in his bed every night. She couldn’t let him take over her life.

After the brief graveside service, she drove back to Knoxville and opened up her apartment to air everything out. It was a nice place, but even before Wynn dropped back into her life, this little home hadn’t held any emotional significance. It was her third or fourth apartment. Her memories and her friendships were what mattered.

She went from room to room, trying to imagine herself moving back here in January. This was a base, nothing more. Her assignments would take her all over the world.

As she climbed into bed that night, she tried not to think about Wynn. The thought of him in New York—with Ayla—tugged at her heart. The two of them were dear to her, but she had to find her own family.

It was clear now that Wynn would always hold a piece of her heart. Even if she managed to find a compatible mate and start a relationship with him...even if he was a man who could give her what she wanted...would she ever get over loving Wynn...twice?

Her flight back to New York Sunday afternoon was uneventful. When the cab dropped her at Wynn’s apartment and she went upstairs, she was surprised to see Missy.

The young woman smiled. “Hi, Ms. Vance. How was your trip?”

“It was fine.” Missy and the baby were playing on a quilt on the living room floor. Felicity picked up Ayla and snuggled her. “Is Mr. Oliver out?”

“Yes, ma’am. He said he’ll be back by ten.”

“Do you come home from college every weekend?”