Chapter 35
1629words
It tugged at Peter. He barely resisted the urge to tell her," You're my adventure, Erin Lavelle."
That truth could very well offend her, make her withdraw from him, halt his progress in finding out more about her. So far, it was all good. No boyfriend.
What family she had—divorced parents—had no strong claim on her. She was free to do whatever she chose, and tonight she'd chosen to have dinner with him before going off to a party.
Not that she would get to that party.
Peter was determined on holding her with him.
'Today has not been my usual scene," he conceded, aware she wanted to be given a reasonable explanation for his actions. But it has felt surprisingly good and I guess I want to finish it up still feeling good."
'Why were you in the park?" she asked, pinning him down to detail. Because you were there.
Would she be flattered to hear that? Or frightened?
His hunting instincts warned it was better to get closer to her before showing his hand. He shrugged and answered," The whim of a moment. I'd spent the morning at Randwick Racecourse, meeting with my trainer. The Autumn Racing Carnival is coming up and he wanted to discuss the form of the horses I own. I was driving back into the city, thinking what a beautiful day it was." His smile invited her to smile back at him as he added," The urge to stop and smell the roses came upon me."
She laughed at his whimsy. 'There are no roses in that park."
'Fresh air then," he supplanted. 'You don't get fresh air and sunshine in boardrooms."
Her eyes danced with amusement. 'When was the last time you played hokey from your usual life?"
He shook his head. I can't remember."
'And it still feels good—" she gestured to their down-market surroundings '—being here?"
His eyes lightly teased as he answered," How could it not when a princess
sweeps in, wanting to bring joy to a child for evermore?"
'Oh!" Her hands flew up to cup cheeks that suddenly bloomed rose- red."You really were listening to me tell that story!"
'You had those children—and me—totally rapt."
'You liked it?" She glowed with delight, as though such an accolade was totally unexpected and an immense pleasure.
'You have a very special gift, Erin," he assured her.
'That's one of my favorite stories. I'm so glad it…" She stopped, frowned as though having second thoughts about the rush of uninhibited enthusiasm. Her lashes lowered and he caught the sense that she was hiding something from him.
'Go on," he urged, wanting the happy animation on her face to return. It was so open and unaffected.
She flashed him a self-deprecating little smile and picked up her glass of water. I was getting carried away by your compliment, Peter. And I do thank you for it, but let's talk about the Harper family now. That is what you came for."
It was on the tip of his tongue to deny it. He had come for her. He could have asked for and received a report on Dave's ex-wife over the telephone. But it was probably too soon for Erin to feel comfortable about being the sole focus of his attention. Better to get the Harper family issue out of the way first.
Adopting an expression of eager interest, he opened up with," I presume your aunt used my business card and explained my intervention on Dave's behalf?"
'Not to begin with. She told Mrs. Harper about Thomas's father turning up in the park and…" Erin frowned over the recollection. 'It was weird, Peter.
Instead of being angry or frightened or agitated…she looked triumphant as though he'd walked into a trap she'd set for him. Her body language was all hyped up eagerness as she asked if the police had been called to take him away."
Peter nodded. 'That fits with Dave's story. She wants Thomas to herself with Dave right out of both their lives, and she's pursuing every nasty ruse to bring about that outcome. I imagine your aunt was subjected to a blast of angry frustration when the answer was negative."
'It was like a bomb going off." The shock of it widened her eyes and colored her voice as she described the reaction. 'Abuse, threats, insults. Mrs. Harper's face was red with fury by the time Sarah managed to cut through the tantrum, handing her your business card and relaying your support for Mr.
Harper."
'What happened then?"
'Well, your name certainly knocked the stuffing out of her. She didn't want to believe it. Kept saying things like…How could Dave know him? Why would he stick his oar in? It's got nothing to do with him. Anyhow, Sarah told her you were very definitely taking an interest on Mr. Harper's behalf. Then she got hysterical, almost screaming that it was her life and she was going to live it her way."
'That fits, too," Peter said, satisfied he was supporting a just case. 'Dave said he always had to give in to her for the sake of peace, but he couldn't bear having his son taken from him."
'I think she'll fight it right down to the wire," Erin warned," I think she's too used to getting her own way not to."
'I don't doubt that. But I've put Dave in the hands of a lawyer who will ensure appropriate visiting rights and take the custody battle to court. It won't go all her way."
His confidence clearly piqued her interest. 'Why have you involved yourself, Peter? I mean…Mrs. Harper had a point. Why stick your oar in when it's none of your business?"
'Do you disapprove?"
'No. Not at all. It's just…well…just not what people generally do, taking a stranger on board and doing what you can for him."
She was impressed and intrigued by his generosity. Peter knew he could capitalize on her admiration but he never felt comfortable when money was behind it."When you have all the advantages of great wealth at your fingertips, it's easy to play The Good Samaritan, Erin," he said sardonically.
'I guess that's true," she said slowly, thoughtfully. 'But this wasn't just tossing money at him. You gave him your time, as well. Went out of your way to fix things for him."
'I didn't want him to lose his son. It's not right what happens with divorce.
Too many fathers are cast adrift without their family. I know if it happened to me I'd fight tooth and nail for my children."
Erin believed him. The hard, ruthless edge in his voice, the brooding expression on his face, the glint of hell-bent determination in his eyes—the thought ran through her mind and shivered down her spine—heaven help the woman who tried to separate Peter Ramsey from his children! The Viking warrior would go into battle with a vengeance.
But would it be from a sense of possession or did he really intend to be a hands-on parent?
'Not all fathers want the responsibility of raising their children," she said quietly. 'They prefer to leave it to the mothers."
A flash of hard mockery preceded a swift switch to the laser probing. 'Is that your personal experience, Erin ?"
'Yes, it is," she conceded, adding her own touch of mockery as she explained.
'My father is an academic, a professor of English, who lives in the rarefied world of literature. He takes it for granted that his needs will be looked after by a woman. A child's needs…" She shook her head, smiling wryly. 'He only ever did what suited him and that was mainly talking books to me. Which I liked. But I was always aware that our relationship was limited to what he enjoyed doing. I didn't really exist for him beyond that bit of sharing. In fact, I rather painfully learnt…after my parents separated…there was no point in asking him for more."
Peter grimaced. A totally self-centered man. I'm sorry, Erin. We're not all like that."
'No. And all women aren't like Mrs. Harper." 'Your mother didn't want you, either?"
Erin hesitated. Her comment on Thomas's mother had been aimed at what she sensed was a general cynicism about women, wanting him to review his attitude.
Another probe into what was deeply personal to her made her feel uncomfortably vulnerable. She'd just revealed more to Peter Ramsey about her childhood than she'd ever revealed to anyone. Somehow the issue with the Harper family had lured her into it…or was it the keen interest in the riveting blue eyes?
Did it matter if she told him how it had been for her? They were simply talking around the consequences of divorce. This was a one-off night in their lives so it was highly unlikely that any private information she gave him would come back to bite her in a discomfiting fashion. Besides, answering his questions gave her grounds for demanding he answer hers.
'I wouldn't go so far as to say my mother didn't want me, but she bitterly resented my father not doing his share, so she kept pushing me at him. In hindsight, I realise she hated having been displaced by another woman and used me to spike his new comfort zone as much as she could."
'So your father left her."
Erin sighed, remembering all the yelling and screaming that had preceded the separation, shutting herself in her bedroom, trying not to hear, desperately
wishing it would stop."My mother discovered he was having an affair and made it impossible for him to stay," she said flatly.
