What a Rich Woman Wants Read Free Page A

time she’d met a man in her own age range who sent a zing through her with just the touch of his hand. Maybe not since Steven, though she shied away from that thought. She’d been divorced from him for over five years.
    Had it been that long since she’d had anything but a passing interest in a man?
    In fairness, she acknowledged that she’d been devastated by her husband’s infidelity, an act he’d perpetrated right under her nose. She’d been forced to make quick decisions, to exert damage control to contain the chaos he’d created, and to protect the life of an infant.
    But she’d never stopped blaming herself for all of it. For believing his lies, believing he cared for her. Most of all she couldn’t forgive herself for making the foolish decision to marry him.
    And then Maria’s pregnancy had happened, as had the complications. She remembered Maria’s fear for her son’s survival. Even now Lesley didn’t know how she could have turned her back on Maria’s pleas. Not in the light of Maria’s impending deportation. The universe had been so unfair to the woman, Lesley had to do what she could to help.
    Then the universe revealed its twisted sense of humor, and she learned who the baby’s father was. Steven had made sure Maria was deported before she could tarnish his sterling reputation, and refused any responsibility for the child he’d created with her. That had been the last straw. Lesley had divorced Steven but kept the child. She’d made a promise to the young woman Steven had seduced and abandoned. To watch over and protect the son she had to leave behind. And unlike Steven, promises meant something to her.
    A figure crossed her line of vision as she gazed absently out the window. Niko Morales had discarded his jacket and rolled up his shirtsleeves. He was walking backward across the driveway when he suddenly dodged to his left and stopped, then kicked at something the landscaping hid from view.
    Lesley stood to get a better look and saw a soccer ball roll back toward Niko. It looked like the one she’d given Ricky for his birthday last month. It had been a ridiculous gift, she’d realized after he opened it. Ricky had no one to play soccer with outside of school because he had few friends. But it looked like perhaps he’d made one.
    Niko spoke and gestured. Lesley shifted left and leaned closer to the window. Now she could see Ricky listening and nodding at whatever Niko was telling him. Niko kicked the ball and Ricky managed to bring it to a stop underneath one of his sneakered feet. Niko made a clapping motion and said something that Lesley couldn’t hear. She tried to remember the last time she’d seen Ricky smile.

Chapter Two
    The following morning Lesley made her way from her suite to the main kitchen. She’d slept poorly and she needed coffee desperately. A lot of it. Lita would have it ready. She always did.
    Even before Lesley entered the kitchen, she could hear Ricky chattering away with Lita. She knew as soon as she arrived he would clam up and barely acknowledge any conversation she tried to make. Lita had bonded with Ricky. Lesley had not. It was Lita who had cared for him, who had gotten up in the middle of the night when even the nanny Lesley hired hadn’t heard his whimpers. Although Lesley was legally his adoptive parent, Lita was more of a mother to him than she’d ever been. She hated that this was the way things were, but it was her own fault.
    She braced herself as she continued forward, forcing a smile onto her face as she stepped into the kitchen. “Good morning, Lita. Good morning, Ricky.”
    â€œGood morning, Miss Lesley,” Lita greeted her in her heavily accented but perfect English. Lita poured coffee into a delicate bone china mug and handed it to her.
    Lesley took a sip. “Mmm. Thank you, Lita.”
    She joined Ricky at the table, where Lita had given him a