Once he was in Aria’s bedroom, James concentrated on helping his daughter choose her wardrobe for the day, not that he was any good at it. He didn’t quite understand little girls’ tastes, not like he understood women’s fashion. He personally appreciated a woman’s body, Mia’s especially. And buying garments to fit that beautiful figure was a pleasure. His mistress might not know it, but she suited most clothing he bought for her. Seeing her wearing what he’d chosen made his heart glow with delight. Not that he had any qualms about ripping the expensive material to pieces simply to get his hands on her naked body either. It was thrilling and so fucking satisfying as he worked his way through what was keeping him away from what he desired most—the smooth, sensuality of her skin.

He had just finished going through the wardrobe with his daughter when Sophie appeared, having finished drawing a bath for Aria. James noticed her shy smile, which was directed at him, and her nervous movements as she came over and ushered Aria away into the bathroom. He didn’t miss the fact that the woman was giving him sidelong looks either.

James wasn’t stupid. Sophie was personally interested in him. Sure, he’d always appreciated her breathtakingly beautiful face and gorgeous figure, but there was nothing in the woman that sparked his interest. There were no raw thrills that coursed hot in his veins. Not like when he looked at Mia.

Mia, James thought with a dark smile, made the blood in his veins erupt in excitement and stirred his cock into life. She was deeply sincere, fucking innocent, and beautifully refreshing. She had depth. She had substance. She was what he wanted in a woman.

Sophie? When did he start to realize she was just… superficial? There was nothing sincere about her, as if there were no depth or substance to her, as if she were merely a one-dimensional person.

When did he start to suspect she wasn’t all perfect? That she might have an underlying agenda?

Fuck! He was a notorious businessman, and sizing up his competitors’ true intentions had always been his instinct. But with Sophie, how the hell did he miss the fact that she had more than just looking after Aria in mind?

Thinking back, it had been the day he and Mia had returned to LA that started it off. It was when Mia had unthinkingly told him Aria had lost her cell phone only to find it again in his bedroom. Flicking through his mind, the timing was right, which was why he hadn’t been able to get through to Aria and only to encounter Sophie receiving the call.

What was her purpose? Fuck! But surely the woman was dangerously playing with fire.

His mind flashed back to that day he had confronted her about the incident. Of course she had denied any responsibility for the unusual incident and, in fact, had firmly told him in an arrogant manner that he was jumping to conclusions and it was probably another staff member who had done it.

When he’d challenged her about the timing, which fit perfectly, she became flustered and nervous. It had been then he’d placed a warning on her. He doubted she was pleased with the fact that if she were to again overstep her boundaries where Aria was concerned, he had no choice but to let her go.

In the end, the woman sincerely apologized if she had caused any trouble and would ensure nothing of the sort would ever happen again. Though she stuck with her innocence where intercepting Aria’s cell phone was concerned.

James leaned back against the wall and sighed. Truth be told, he’d gladly take down a bunch of fully armed gangs in the back streets of Las Vegas or conduct ruthless business transactions with crafty men any day of the week rather than having to deal with cunning, manipulative women. And Sophie, he instinctively knew, was one of those cunning, manipulative, and fucking twisted women, just like his ex-wife Whitney.

Yep, he admitted, he fucking did not know how to deal with them. That was why Mia was a breath of fresh air. She was transparent and had no hidden agenda.

Aria came running out into the bedroom again, wearing a white bathrobe. On her head was a white towel wrapped in an elegant turban style that made James want to chuckle with amusement.

Behind her was Sophie, who had an unpleasant expression on her face. It was as if she were annoyed with Aria’s behavior, which in turn irritated James. The amusement left him, and replacing it was a sour aftertaste.

“Aria, please don’t run,” Sophie said sharply. “And behave yourself.”

Aria halted in her tracks, and James thought his daughter looked more than a little frightened at the sharp tone directed at her.

At this point, James wondered if Sophie had ever been hard on his daughter—worse yet, abused her because of the power he’d given her as the nanny.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

He stepped forward and gently pulled Aria into his arms. “Sweetheart,” he said, “are you okay?”

Sophie looked offended immediately and went bright red, as if she understood where James was heading.

“What are you implying, Mr. Maxwell? Of course she’s okay. Come on. Let’s get her dressed up, or we’re going to be late.”

“It’s fine,” he said sternly, his eyes dark on her. “You can leave. I’ll take care of my daughter.”

Sophie was a little surprised by his no-nonsense command. She hesitated for a moment, as if considering whether to obey his order or not. Then she hardened her face and said, “All right. Do as you please. But it’s no good spoiling that child, Mr. Maxwell. She’ll grow to be selfish. And Aria needs a proper woman to raise her. She can’t afford to be influenced by an uneducated girl from the streets with a suspicious background.”

The moment she’d finished uttering those words, she left before James could respond.

Fuck! James’s frown was dark and dangerous. What the fuck was that woman on about? Was she implying he was spoiling Aria? Was she implying Mia was a bad influence? As if it were any of her fucking business how he treated his daughter, if he spoiled her.

Fuck, what father didn’t want to spoil his beloved, sweet, cute, adorable daughter? Furthermore, he’d never thought Mia was a bad influence on Aria. On the contrary, he thought his mistress was doing a fine job where doting on Aria was concerned, giving her the motherly affection the little girl was missing and sorely needed, of which he had previously hoped Sophie herself would provide. Apparently, that was not the case, and it seemed Sophie herself was rather tired of her role as the nanny, if her rude, dismissive attitude were any indication. In which case, James had to reconsider things.

Alone with his daughter, he started getting her dressed. All the while, Aria was watching him with her innocent, childlike interest. A moment later, the little girl couldn’t help herself and asked, “Daddy? What’s wrong?”

James pinched her cheek fondly, wondering if he should ask her about Sophie. He wanted to know if she was mistreating Aria. Fuck. He desperately wanted to know whether she was abusing her. Though he couldn’t see any sign of abuse anywhere on his daughter’s little body, but then again, abuse didn’t have to be physical. Condescending tone and words alone were considered abuse enough toward children, especially if those words were meant to hurt them emotionally. And that was what James was worried about. Emotional and mental harm was much worse than the external, physical type.

But fuck! How the hell did one phrase those sorts of worries? Especially directed at a six-year-old girl?

“Raise your hands for me,” he said as he picked up the light blue Cinderella dress.

Aria happily obliged, and once James had finished zipping her up, she giggled.

“What do you think, Daddy?” she asked as she spun herself in her spot, grinning from ear to ear, completely oblivious to her father’s concern.

James nodded in approval. “You look adorable. One of the cutest girls I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet.”

“Really?” she asked, her brow furrowing.

“Really,” James said. “The most adorable and cutest and sweetest little girl.”

With so many compliments from her beloved father, Aria giggled and jumped up and down as she clapped her hands together.

“Daddy, it’s going to be so much fun today,” she said in excitement. “It’s going to be so fun because Mia is coming.” She wrapped her arms around her father’s neck and gave him a peck on the cheek. “Daddy, you like Mia too, don’t you?”

That surprised James. Fuck! Where the hell did that come from? His daughter asking him about his mistress?

James couldn’t help himself and cocked his head to one side. “Yes, why do you ask?”

Aria giggled some more, as if she knew some very exciting secrets and couldn’t wait to reveal all for the world to hear.

“I saw you kissing her. That means you like her, right? But you kissed her so funny. Not like you kiss me at all.” She giggled again.

That caught James off guard. Damn, he didn’t know Aria had seen him kissing Mia. And not just a little peck on the cheek either but that all-consuming, passionate kiss that indicated he wanted more.

James chuckled and hugged his daughter tight. “Yes, sweetheart, I like her. Daddy likes her a lot. What about you?”

Aria nodded her head furiously. “I like her a lot too. We have so much fun together. It would be nice if Mia can stay with us for a long time, like forever, right, Daddy?”

James felt his heart skip a beat. What the fuck was that? Forever? Mia? With him and Aria?

Fuck! Yes! Oh fuck! Yes!

James lifted his daughter in his arms and headed out the bedroom door. “Why don’t you ask her to see if she wants to stay with us forever?” he suggested, a handsome smile playing across his lips.

Aria looked pleased at her father’s proposition. “Can she really, Daddy? Like with Sammy and Alfie.”

James couldn’t help but laugh, his voice echoing in the great hall, which made the household staff wonder what could have caused this new, happy mood to surface all of a sudden. He was most often so fucking dark, aloof, demanding, and scary that this uncommon light disposition of his was throwing them off track. More than that, they were suspicious. In fact, they wondered if he had managed to eliminate one of the high-ranking, ruthless gangs in Vegas who happened to be his rivals. Not that they would be surprised if that were to really happen since the Maxwell family themselves weren’t the type anyone would want to fuck around with.

“Not exactly like Sammy and Alfie,” James said, his eyes glinting. “She’s not a pet, darling.”

Aria shook her head. “That’s not what I mean, Daddy. Mia’s not a pet. She’s not like Sammy and Alfie at all. She’s my friend, and she’s your friend too. But if you really like her, because you know, you were kissing her so hard… Like when I saw my best friend Susie’s daddy kissing her mommy. Doesn’t that mean you really like her? Like Susie’s daddy likes her mommy? Does that mean Mia can become like my mommy too?

That caught James off guard again. Shit! Where the hell did his daughter get that idea from? Mia? His wife? Mia? The mother of his daughter?

Aria continued with her chatter. “You know what, Daddy?”

Aria’s voice drew James’s attention from his thoughts of Mia and the possibility of her graduating from the position of his mistress to that of his wife.

“What?” he asked, trying to imagine what it would be like, having Mia as his wife.

She’d be a wonderful wife—he knew instinctively. And she’d be undemanding. More importantly, she’d please him mightily in bed. They’d probably end up having a few kids together in addition to Aria if he kept vigorously and habitually fucking her as he had in Vegas.

Fuck! Kids! Pregnancy! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

Now that he thought about it, he hadn’t been using protection when he had first taken her nor thereafter. What the fuck had he been thinking? Having unprotected sex with Mia? Of course he knew he was clear where disease was concerned, but still…

The thought of that made him a little sick to his stomach.

Pregnancy. Fuck. But he wasn’t sure if Mia wanted any kids either, especially at her young age.

His daughter’s voice drew James’s attention from his unpleasant thoughts of STDs, pregnancy, and Mia.

“Mia said she’s never been to Disneyland before. That’s so sad that her mommy and daddy have never taken her there. I mean, everyone I know has been there. It’s one of the best places in the whole wide world. What a mean mommy and daddy, right, Daddy? But we get to take her there, so it’s going to be so much fun for her, right?”

James chuckled with amusement. It pleased him that Aria, in her own way, was taking Mia under her wings, making sure his mistress was comfortable and having fun.

They were just landing on the ground floor and heading toward the dining room when Mia appeared from the kitchen.

“Hello, Aria. You’re all done I see,” she said in greeting, grinning from ear to ear.

James couldn’t help but marvel at his mistress. At that moment, the thought of her as his wife played seductively in his mind. With her wearing jeans coupled with a checkered blouse and her long hair braided and resting over one slender shoulder, she looked casual yet enchanting at the same time. A perfect young wife to be sure.

Aria wiggled her little body in James’s arms, drawing his attention away from Mia.

“Hmm?” he asked his daughter.

“Put me down please, Daddy,” Aria requested.

James obliged, and once her feet touched the floor, Aria rushed up to Mia and showed off her blue dress.

“Oh my, you do look pretty in that dress, Aria,” Mia said, chuckling.

“Really?” Aria asked shyly. With Mia nodding her head in confirmation, the little girl giggled. “Daddy helped me choose it.”

Mia nodded in approval. “I know your dad has good taste,” she said, winking.

Though the wink wasn’t meant for him but for his daughter, James still felt infected by it. It was yet another side of her he adored.

A few moments later, James found himself watching his two darlings enjoying a hearty breakfast, along with Sammy and Alfie by their feet. The scene was so domesticated and pleasing it tugged deep at his heartstrings, and he didn’t want it to end. But alas, it had to end, as it was time to get going if they wanted to beat the traffic and get to Disneyland by the planned time.