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Chapter Thirteen
Ava
A black Escalade with tinted windows pulled up the drive as Ava rounded the house after her morning run. She’d been disappointed Wesley had to cancel, considering their wager, and that she planned to win.
Ava hung back, slick with sweat and breathing hard, stretching her legs. When a stunning Indian woman exited the vehicle with her long, dark braid hanging down the front of her turquoise blouse, Ava watched with curiosity. A kid with a backpack and a small suitcase exited the back seat, adding to the mystery. The driver, a man wearing a trimmed beard and a sports jacket in the heat, exited the vehicle but kept the engine running as Wesley strode toward them.
“You made it.” Wesley sounded thrilled as he dropped a knee to hug the boy.
“Hi, Dad.”
Dad?The shock of the word threw off her balance while in her stretching stance, making her dance around until she regained her footing. She took a giant step backward, praying she hadn’t made a sound and drawn their attention.Dad? Wesley had a kid?What the hell?
Ava stayed out of sight, blown away as if she were hit with cannon fire, but remained within hearing distance.
The bearded man rounded the hood and stood beside the woman. “Good morning, Wesley. Thanks for helping us out last minute.”
“Absolutely, Johnathan.” Wesley nodded enthusiastically. “Satya, thanks for letting him stay with me while you two attend your function.”
The woman watched the interaction between Wesley and the boy intently, a keen gleam in her dark eyes.
Wesley gripped the boy’s shoulder. “I’m stoked at the wonderful turn of events.”
“Me too,” the boy said, his grin unsure, “though I hope my nanny feels better soon.”
“Your nanny will be fine,” said the boy’s mother. “It’s just a bad cold. She needs to rest.”
Ava frowned. This kid, who looked to be about Jack’s age, maybe younger, still had a nanny? Seemed ludicrous. Then again, considering her own situation, having to leave Jack with the neighbor or rely on Jorge or the team to look after him when she left the property, she reconsidered; having a nanny would come in handy. Furthermore, having someone to help him with his summer packet would be terrific.
“It’s been awhile since I’ve seen you, Tejas. I think you’ve grown quite a bit.”
Wesley’s compliment made the boy’s grin grow into a shy smile as he pushed his glasses up his nose. He had his mother’s jet-black hair, though from this distance she couldn’t tell whose eyes he had.
“We’ll return in three days. But don’t hesitate to phone me if Tejas needs anything. Wesley, am I clear?”
Well, she seems…uncompromising.
“Of course. But don’t worry. We’ll be fine. Just look at this amazing house—and pool.”
“If he swims, he must be supervised.”
“Yes. Of course,” Wesley said assuredly. “I know.”
Yup, she has Wesley by the balls.But why? What could have happened for him to be away from his son? And why hadn’t he mentioned Tejas to her—or anyone? Before five minutes ago, it seemed like the kid never existed.
The woman shrewdly eyed the manor and grounds. “I always loved these old mansions. Oldport is beautiful. Johnathan and I came here for our fifth wedding anniversary and stayed in a quaint B&B.”
“Was I with you?” the boy asked.
“No,jaanu, you stayed with Nani and Dadi back then.” She leaned over to rest her hand on his arm. “You will enjoy the history here.” Tilting her gaze toward Wesley, she added, “Make sure you take him to the Breakers mansion.”
Wesley appeared to be overly accommodating, agreeing with whatever Satya said as she continued with a list of things, like not too much dairy because it bothered Tejas’s stomach and how sixty minutes of reading each day would keep him from the summer slide. Ava could relate to that one, though she let Jack slack off with that.
“But it’s summer.” Tejas sighed.
“Yes, and you have summer reading. You need to stay ahead of the curve,jaanu.” Satya pressed a kiss to his forehead.
“His education is very important,” Wesley interjected, buttering up the woman.
