Christien was very still. ‘I’m prepared to be generous and make you an offer—’
‘I’m not very fussed about the kind of offers you make,’ Tabby declared with complete truth.
‘Either you hear me out or my lawyers deal with this situation. Your choice,’ Christien traded, smooth as silk.
‘We don’t have a situation here.’ Tabby’s hands closed so tight in on themselves that her nails carved dents into her palms. ‘I was the one who told you that Jake was your son and you can see him as often as you like. I’m pleased that you want to spend time with him and I can’t see why you need to talk about bringing lawyers in.’
‘Naturally not. However, I want Jake and you to live with me—’
A disconcerted laugh fell from her dry lips. ‘You can’t always have what you want—’
‘You think not?’ A winged ebony brow quirked in open defiance of that statement. Hard dark golden eyes surveyed her. ‘If you can’t even accept that I have the right to make terms that will enable me to see more of my son, you will leave me with no choice but to challenge you for legal custody.’
This time, Tabby could not have laughed had her life depended on it for she was shattered by that warning assurance.
CHAPTER EIGHT
TABBY imagined trying to fight Christien for custody of Jake and almost winced for she only had love to offer. She struggled to stay calm and make allowances for Christien’s anger with her while curiosity prompted her to say, ‘What exactly are your terms?’
Christien sent her a slashing smile as if she had already lain down at his feet and awarded him victory. She wanted to slap him so badly that her palm tingled with longing.
‘You and Jake move in with me—’
‘Move in?’ Tabby repeated. ‘Quantify “moving in” from my point of view.’
‘I get to buy you boxes of sexy lingerie and you get all the sex you can handle…as well as a lifestyle most women would envy.’
The tingle in Tabby’s palm had become almost unbearable. ‘What happens when you get bored?’
‘We remain civilised.’
‘I’m not civilised. Right now I just want to kill you for having the sheer nerve to suggest I would agree to a casual arrangement of that nature—’
‘Even though it is what you want too?’ Christien chided. ‘Why else did you choose to come to Brittany?’
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘You could’ve sold the cottage and never set foot here with our son. Instead you brought him to a property within three kilometres of Duvernay. Your choice of location speaks for itself, ma belle.’ Christien sent Tabby a knowing look that sent a tide of chagrined colour up into her cheeks at the same time as it made her want to scream at him in a very unladylike fashion. ‘It’s obvious that you were as eager to see me again as I was to see you—’
‘That is untrue!’ Tabby slung at him shrilly.
‘The first chance you got, you went to bed with me again.’
‘Drop dead, Christien.’ Tabby stalked past him.
‘Zut alors…the first chance I got, I went to bed with you too,’ Christien drawled. ‘Even being furious with you doesn’t stop me lusting after you every hour of the day!’
‘Every hour?’ Tabby queried involuntarily.
‘I even dream about you,’ he growled.
Tabby concealed the grin that had come at her out of nowhere. If lust was all he could feel, she was happy that it should be a source of hourly torment for him. But on that same thought, the desire to grin ebbed fast. Was it possible that she had cherished a subconscious hope that she could be with Christien again in Brittany? Did he know her better than she knew herself?
Whatever, she was in no position to consider an uncommitted relationship with Christien. Everything she did affected Jake and her son was already coping with big changes. In bringing him to France, she had taken him away from all that was familiar. However, she had made the decision to do that with a clear head and the belief that a fresh start would benefit both of them. All right, getting involved with Christien again had been foolish, but at least she could own up to her mistake and guard against repeating it. Jake would be terribly hurt if he got used to his parents being together and they broke up again. He would be damaged by yet another change of home and lifestyle. Their son needed to feel secure.
‘Us rushing into a relationship that might turn uncivilised within a few months would be very hard on Jake—’
‘I’m sure you’ll make a special effort to tell the truth at all times and avoid snogging guys on motorbikes,’ Christien murmured with sardonic cool.