Irresistible Forces - Brenda Jackson [66]
Taylor stared at him. Being a wealth and asset manager, she had a pretty good idea just how wealthy Franco Saxon was, and he was sitting there letting her know that he was thinking of her child and his place in its life. “Yes, I’m fine with it. In fact, your generosity overwhelms me and I don’t know what to say.”
“Say that as long as I have breath in my body that I will be a part of my great-grandchild’s life. I messed up with my grandson but I don’t want to mess up with my great-grandchild.”
Taylor heard the trembling in the man’s voice. He truly did love Dominic and was sorry for what he’d done all those years ago. Why couldn’t Dominic see that? She reached across the table and took the man’s hand into hers. “I make you that promise. You are the only great-grandparent my child will have and I am honored that you will be—want to be—a part of his or her life.”
She could tell her words had touched Franco, and he quickly glanced away so she wouldn’t see the tears in his eyes. Moments later, he looked back at her and said in a soft, appreciative voice, “Thank you, Taylor. You have brought joy to an old man’s heart.”
Later that night as Taylor slid under her bedcovers she couldn’t help but recall her dinner conversations with Franco. He was a proud man, yet he had humbled himself and admitted to the mistakes he’d made years ago by alienating his son and grandson. She had made Franco a promise tonight, one she intended to keep. Besides, she liked him. He indicated he would be leaving D.C. in the morning but had given her his business card and had invited her to come visit him in France. Before they had parted ways she had made another promise to him that she would.
She almost jumped when her phone rang. She hadn’t been sure Dominic would call and hoped it was him. She wouldn’t mention anything about her dinner meeting with his grandfather until she saw him. She wanted to be face-to-face with him when she did so. For now, she just wanted to hear his voice.
She leaned up and reached over and picked up her cell phone off the nightstand. “Hello.”
“Did I wake you?”
She smiled. “No, I’m in bed but I hadn’t gone to sleep yet. Are you still in London?”
“No, I’m on a plane returning to the States.”
She felt a gentle tug of joy in her stomach. He was on his way home. “You’re going to Los Angeles?”
“No, I’m headed straight for where you are,” he said softly. “By the time you awake in the morning I should have landed. I miss you.”
She felt another pull in her stomach. “And I miss you, too.”
“Will it be okay for me to come straight there from the airport?” he asked.
A grin touched her lips. “Yes, most certainly.”
She heard his soft chuckle. “In that case, I’m going to let you go so you can get your rest. Trust me when I say that you’re going to need it.”
She clearly understood his underlying hint and countered, “I encourage you to take a few catnaps on the plane as you’re going to need your rest, as well.”
After Dominic ended his conversation with Taylor he leaned back in the leather seat and closed his eyes. God, he missed her. For the past week he could barely concentrate on business without thinking about her. The meetings with his business associates had been intense, and with a heaping amount of sexual frustration thrown into the mix, negotiations at times had gotten downright heated. In the end, he had closed the deal he had wanted and his mission had been accomplished. Now he could set his mind and sights to other things.
Like finally acknowledging he had fallen in love with Taylor.
It had been bound to happen at some point, he thought. The week on that island had been no joke. Since then he had been trying to convince himself his attraction to her was only sexual, and that since Camry he had enjoyed a number of women’s company. But he’d known this thing with Taylor went deeper.
He would never forget the exact moment he’d realized just how he felt. It was the last time they had made love. After experiencing what he considered as the best orgasm of his life, he had lain beside her, held her in his arms