Page 27 of Discretion at Its Finest

“Because I want you to. That should be a good enough reason.” His voice dropped, the thread of amusement gone now as his hand slid around my waist, pulling me flush against him. Despite my efforts to push him away, my trembling hands against his defined chest, it was useless. “And because you still haven’t learned what happens when you tell me no.”

My heart stuttered. I hated that my body still remembered the way his authority could settle under my skin, make my breath catch in my throat.

“Let go of me,” I whispered. It came out weaker than I wanted, breathless, not commanding in the slightest.

He stared down at me, his eyes conflicted before he reluctantly pulled away. Despite the war in my mind, the loss of his touch made my skin feel cold.

“Eugene has that appointment this afternoon, doesn’t he?” He began after a moment, “Pediatric follow-up?”

“How do you even know these things?”

“You know I have my ways…” he said, leaning against the kitchen island. “You’re going to the office instead.”

“What?”

“I’ll take him.”

My pulse kicked up again. “Absolutely not.”

He looked amused. Somehow I must’ve missed the punchline. “I can handle a routine check-up at the pediatrician, Vieve. We’ll spend the afternoon together and be home before you know it. Consider it qualityuncle–nephewtime.”

“You can’t just—”

“Sure, I can.” He picked his jacket off the chair, resting it on his arm. “You need to begin coordinating appearances; the board wants to be up to speed with your plans.”

“I don’t have plans, Reid. I have a son, and you’re—”

“Taking the weight off your shoulders for a little. It’s no problem. You’ve been spread thin.”

I crossed my arms. “Don’t pretend this is considerate.”

“I’m not. Consider it practical. You need to be in that office. Eugene needs to be at that appointment. I’m solving both problems.”

“By inserting yourself into my son’s life.”

“By being available.” His eyes met mine, flat and unbothered. “Something his father hasn’t managed lately.”

I opened my mouth to retort, but the words died on my lips as he left the room. I wanted to argue, to shout that he was a manipulative self-centered idiot, that Gregory was there for us, that he was wrong.

But unfortunately, he wasn’t.

Chapter twelve

Reid

Eugene swung his feet beside me, sneakers thudding against the metal frame as I glanced around the pediatric waiting room that smelled of disinfectant and the faintest hint of room spray.

I tried to busy myself by going over Alexander’s notes for me for the week, but I couldn’t. Every few seconds, my eyes slid sideways to the boy and the concentration in his eyes as he toyed with the waiting room Rubik’s cube. His hands were furiously moving the pieces, pure self-assurance and confidence in his ability to solve it. It was a quiet defiance, one that showed even at this age, he wasn’t one to back down from a challenge…Exactly the way I was.

The nurse finally called his name. Eugene hopped up, grabbing my hand without hesitation. The small fingers curled around mine like it was the most natural thing in the world.

For a second, I didn’t move. It almost felt like I couldn’t.

The pressure of his grip shouldn’t have meant anything, but it lingered. All warm and trusting… it made my heart clench justslightly. I closed my hand around his and followed the nurse down the corridor.

She guided him to the scale, clipboard in hand. “Shoes off, sweetheart,” she said. “Let’s see how tall you’ve gotten.”

Eugene hopped up, back straight, head tilted proudly.