London Loves - Book 3 - Love's Great Adventure Series (12 page)

Sebastian couldn’t argue with Maxwell’s logic, because he would most likely feel the same way if the roles were reversed. “I have to talk to Tess.”

“Absolutely. Go to her.”

“Thanks, Max—for everything.”

Filled with anxiety, Sebastian made his way to the Associated Press office. Tess was the only person who could talk him off the ledge he was standing on. The lift dinged as it reached her floor. Walking up to the receptionist’s desk, he got a smile from the young woman when she recognized him. Before he could speak, she was on the phone paging Tess.

Tess came rushing toward him, her face bathed in confusion. “What is it? What’s the matter?” she desperately questioned. “Is it Mattie?”

How could he be so daft to alarm her this way? “Mattie is fine.” He handed Tess the report he was clutching in his hand. “Minton found my father.”

Tess took Sebastian by the hand and walked him back to her cubicle so they could have some privacy. They sat down facing one another, Tess still holding his hand, not bothering to read the report. “He’s alive then?”

Sebastian nodded affirmative. “Living on a small Greek island.”

“That’s good, right?” she slowly asked, her voice unsteady.

He bounced his right leg up and down with nervous energy. “I don’t know,” he whispered softly. “I feel so many things: confusion, frustration, hopeful yet discouraged. I’m utterly lost.”

“Of course you feel all those things. I’d be worried if you didn’t. This is a huge development.” Tess squared her shoulders and looked Sebastian in the eyes. “We should go see him—together,” she decided with great determination.

“I don’t think I could do it without you, Tess.”

“Then we’ll fly to Greece. If you don’t like what you find, we can turn around and come right back.”

Sebastian lunged forward and wrapped his arms around his amazing wife, hugging her so desperately she almost couldn’t breathe. “God, I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she said, pulling back just enough so she could kiss him. She glanced at the clock on her desk. “Mattie will be getting out of school soon. Let’s go pick her up together.”

“Can you leave?”

“I have an article I’m working on that I can finish at home. I’ll clear it with the boss.”

Sebastian kissed her hand and then closed his eyes and placed his cheek against her knuckles. “Thank you.”

Tess left him momentarily to visit her boss in his corner office and discuss her plans. When she walked back into her cubicle ten minutes later, she grabbed her purse and Sebastian carried her briefcase, and they exited the building together. She reached for his hand and asked, “The wedding’s in two weeks. Do you want to go to Greece before or after?”

“I don’t know. Who will watch Mattie? Can you get some time off work that quickly?”

“I don’t think I could wait if I were you.”

“It’s been twenty-five years.”

“And you seem anxious. The sooner the better, I say.”

“Rip the bandage off quickly, in other words,” he added.

“Exactly. I know this whole situation has you in knots. I don’t want to prolong it. The quicker we do this, the quicker you can stop wondering and move on.” They walked down the stairs into the Tube station and navigated through the tunnels until they reached their platform. “Let me call my mom. Maybe she can schedule a visit and take care of Mattie while we go find your father.”

“Let’s do it. I’m not sure how much longer I can take not knowing the outcome of this impending meeting.”

With haste, Sebastian and Tess made travel arrangements. A week later, they were picking Kate Hamilton up at Heathrow International Airport. Mattie jumped up and down as she spied Kate walking out of customs. “Grandmom!”

Kate gave the trio a wide smile. First, she picked Mattie up and hugged her. “How’s my favorite granddaughter?”

“Great!” Mattie replied as Kate set her back down on the floor.

Next she hugged Tess. “It’s so good to see you, honey. I’ve missed you all so much.” Then she hugged Sebastian.

“How was your flight?” he inquired.

“Good. Thank you for picking me up.”

Sebastian took Kate’s suitcase and led the group to the car port. The sky was misty and gray—typical English weather. He didn’t mind that the three girls chatted nonstop as he drove them back to London in the car he borrowed from Penny. The plan was to spend a few days with Kate to acclimate her to the city before he and Tess flew to Corfu. Luckily, Tess' boss was very accommodating in giving her time off. He even managed assign her an article while she was in Greece.

After a tour of their neighborhood and a walk through Regent’s Park, everyone settled in for a home-cooked meal. Sitting around the table, they talked and laughed. Sebastian was very happy Kate could make the trip, and had no qualms about leaving Mattie in her care.

As the day came to a close, Sebastian suggested Tess and her mom spend some time together, while he volunteered to put Mattie to bed. He sat next to her, his back propped against the headboard reading her a bedtime story.

“Why aren’t you doing the voices?” she asked.

“I’m sorry, Mattie. My mind’s on other things.”

“Will you miss me when you go to Greece?”

“Of course—but you are so lucky to have Grandmom Kate here to look after you.”

“Can she take me to school tomorrow so she can meet Michael?”

“Just what’s going on between you and Michael?” he asked in a stern tone of voice.

Mattie simply giggled. “Michael is my best friend, Daddy.”

“You only just met the chap a week ago.”

Mattie looked at her father and rolled her eyes.

“You are going to be a handful, aren’t you?”

“What does that mean?”

“Oh, nothing,” he wearily sighed.

“Daddy, you’re weird.”

“That’s not a very nice thing to say, Martha,” he scolded.

“I love you.” She curled her small arms around his waist and laid her head on his stomach.

“Enough reading for tonight. Shall I stay here until you fall asleep?”

Mattie nodded her head and closed her eyes. Within ten minutes, she was fast asleep.

Tess and Kate sat on the couch, drinking wine and talking. “I’m so glad you love London,” Kate admitted.

“It’s been incredible, Mom. Mattie has transitioned so well. I love my job at the AP. Sebastian is getting to know his older brother and sister.” She shook her head, pondering all the changes. “So much has happened in such a short amount of time.”

“And soon he’ll have the chance to meet his father.”

“Yes, I pray it goes well. He won’t admit it, but Sebastian needs him to be a good man. If he’s not, I’m not sure how Bas will handle it.”

“Don’t worry. Stay positive.”

Tess hugged her mom. It was so good to have her there. “I’m sorry you have to sleep on the sofa bed. You can have our bed when we go.”

“Honey, I’d sleep on the floor for a chance to be with my family. Sebastian was very kind to offer to put me up in a hotel, but I did not fly seven thousand miles to be alone.”

Sebastian walked into the room carrying fresh linens to make up the bed. “Mattie is asleep. I thought you might like to turn in, Kate.”

“Thank you. I didn’t get much sleep on the flight. I was so excited to see all of you.”

Sebastian moved the coffee table and began to convert the couch into a bed. Tess helped him cover it with bed sheets. “Sleep well, Kate,” Sebastian said, kissing his mother-in-law’s cheek.

“I’m heading out early in the morning so I can leave the office at three o’clock to come home, have dinner with you, and pack,” Tess added, hugging her mom again. “You and Bas can take Mattie to school.”

“Goodnight.”

Tess was out of the house and at the office by seven o’clock the next morning. Sebastian made eggs and toast for Mattie and Kate before they walked her to school. The sun was peeking through the clouds and it was shaping up to be a lovely day. While Mattie attended school, Sebastian was going to play tour guide and answer any questions Kate might have about her stay. After Mattie introduced Grandmom Kate to her teacher and her best friend, Michael, Sebastian and Kate were off to do some sightseeing.

They sat back in the red vinyl seats as the cruise boat sailed along the Thames River. They passed all the famous monuments that graced London’s shoreline: Parliament, Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Tower Bridge. “I’m grateful to you for making the trip so quickly, Kate. Everything is chaotic right now with Maxwell and Penny’s wedding next weekend.”

“Oh, I’m happy to do it. This has been the first vacation I’ve taken in…well, I don’t remember. The hospital begged me to take the time off.”

“I hope you’ll come to the wedding.”

“I don’t even know your brother. I don’t want to impose.”

“Nonsense—the more the merrier. You already know Penny. Mattie is a flower girl and you’ll get to see the castle,” he explained, his lips creeping up into a smile.

“Well, how could I refuse!” Kate looked out the window, appreciating the view. “This is a wonderful city. I see why Tess loves it so much.”

“Yes, she’s happy here,” he agreed.

Kate glanced over at Sebastian. “She’s happy wherever she is as long as she’s with you. I’m glad she’s going with you to meet your father.”

“I couldn’t do it without her,” he quietly admitted.

Kate placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I understand your reservations about meeting him. If you’re meant to have a relationship with him, it will happen.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

“Then you must know that you are the most incredible and loving father I could ever wish for my granddaughter. You don’t need to have a father to be a good one yourself.”

Sebastian let out the breath he didn’t even realize he’d been holding in. “Thank you, Kate.”

“I know Lily was a terrible mother to you, and Nanny Jones was the closest thing to a mother you had in your life. I would be honored if you would call me Mom—or Mum, if that isn’t English enough for you,” she said with a wink.

“I would be happy to call you Mom.”

They ate an early supper before heading off to the airport. Sebastian and Tess settled in for the three hour flight to Corfu. “How are you holding up?” Tess inquired.

“I feel good leaving Mattie in your Mom’s care. I’m glad they’ll get to spend some time together.”

“That wasn’t what I meant.”

He turned and gave her a feeble smile. “I know.”

Tess took his hand and squeezed it for support. “This will be over soon. For good or bad, you’ll be able to put this past you and move on.”

He didn’t want to talk about his impending meeting with his father, so he changed the subject. “Your passport is getting quite the workout and we’ve only lived in London for three months.”

“This is what I’ve dreamed about. All those years going to school and working hard—it’s paid off. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.”

“I love seeing you so happy. You deserve every bit of success you receive.”

“Mr. Irons, you are a big part of the reason I’m so successful,” she acknowledged, leaning in and kissing him on the cheek.

“We make a great team, Mrs. Irons.”

“Exactly—together we can do anything.”

It was nine thirty in the evening by time they got to their hotel in Corfu City. It was a charming four-story sandstone building flanked by large palm trees at the entrance. The attendant held open the front door for the couple to enter. Sebastian guided Tess across the terra cotta tiled floor to the reception desk. After exchanging pleasantries with the concierge, they were given a room key and declined assistance with their carry-on bags.

The room, on the top floor of the hotel, was quiet and simply decorated with a queen-sized bed, an armchair next to the window, and a small desk. Their surroundings weren’t opulent, but they were comfortable. “I like it. It’s cozy,” Tess said as she placed her bag on the luggage rack.

“We don’t need anything fancy,” Sebastian agreed. “We’re not on holiday.”

“Are you tired?” she asked, walking up behind him as he looked out the window.

“No—too keyed up,” he admitted. There was no way he was going to be able to sleep when he was so close to seeing, maybe even meeting, his father.

“So what are we going to do about that?” Tess asked in a not-so-innocent tone of voice.

Sebastian turned away from the window to face his wife, who was slowly backing away from him as she undid the buttons of her gray silk blouse. A sexy grin etched across her lips as she reached the last button and slid the blouse off, placing it on the desk. He took a seat in the armchair to watch the show Tess was putting on for him. Next, she reached behind her waist and pulled down the zipper of her black skirt, shimmying the skirt over her hips until it pooled on the floor at her ankles. Stepping out of the skirt, she sauntered toward her husband in black lace lingerie Sebastian had never seen before. He sucked in a breath as he reveled in her beauty.

“I know the perfect way to get you mind off your troubles,” she said in a low, seductive voice as she straddled his lap. Placing her fingers in his hair, she pulled him in for a kiss. It was deep and passionate, igniting a fire in his blood.

He moaned into her mouth, their tongues melding together, hot with need. His hands moved over the lace cups of her demi-bra and felt her nipples pebble under his touch. Sebastian’s tongue licked the swell of exposed breast. Hooking a finger under the strap, he pulled it down and then moved to the other side. Soon her breasts were free and he eagerly latched onto the nipple with his mouth. Tess laced her fingers behind her head to give him better access, sighing with pleasure as he licked and sucked. Sliding his hands down her waist, he gripped the lace fabric of her panties. “Take these off, now,” he ordered in a husky voice.

Tess stood up so she could comply with his demand. Meanwhile Sebastian frantically unbuckled his belt and lowered the zipper of his trousers to free his erection, holding his free hand out to Tess, who took it and positioned herself over the chair. Slowly she slid down onto his cock, grabbing onto his shoulders to steady herself.