For the Sake of Their Son (The Alpha Brotherhood #5)(16)
Author: Catherine Mann

“True enough. But they sure as hell are broken up by fighting over the child. Be smart in how you work together when it comes to Eli and it might go a long way toward smoothing things out with Lucy Ann.” Troy ran a finger along the collar of his tuxedo shirt, edging a little more air for himself around his tie. “If not, you’ve got a solid relationship with your kid, and that’s the most important thing.”

Was his focus all wrong by trying to make things right with Lucy Ann? Elliot had to admit Troy’s plan made some sense. The stakes were too important to risk screwing up with his son. “When did you get to be such a relationship sage?”

“Hillary’s a smart woman, and I’m smart enough to listen to her.” His sober expression held only for a second longer before he returned to the more lighthearted Troy they were all accustomed to. “Now more than ever I need to listen to Hillary’s needs since she’s pregnant.”

“Congratulations to you both.” Elliot clapped Troy on the back, glad for his friend even as he wondered what it might have been like to be by Lucy Ann’s side while she was expecting Eli. “Who’d have predicted all this home and hearth for us a few years ago?”

“Colonel Salvatore’s going to have to find some new recruits.”

“You’re not pulling Interpol missions?” That surprised him. Elliot understood Hillary’s stepping out of fieldwork while pregnant. But he wouldn’t have thought Troy would ever back off the edge.

“There are other ways I can help with my tech work. Who knows, maybe I’ll even take on the mentorship role like Salvatore someday. But I’m off the clock now and missing my wife.” Troy walked backward, waving once before he sprinted toward the party.

Elliot knew his friend was right. The advice made sense. Focus on the baby. But that didn’t stop him from wanting Lucy Ann in his bed again. The notion of just letting everything fall into place was completely alien to his nature. He’d never been the laid-back sort like Troy. Elliot needed to move, act, win.

He needed Lucy Ann back in his life.

For months he’d told himself the power of Lucy Ann’s kiss, of the sex they’d shared nearly a year ago, had been a hazy memory distorted by alcohol. But now, with his body still throbbing from the kiss they’d just shared, his hair still mussed, the memory of their hands running frenetically—hungrily—over each other, he knew. Booze had nothing to do with the explosive chemistry between them. Although Gianna’s arrival had sure as hell provided a splash of ice water on the morning-after moment.

He’d screwed up by not breaking things off with Gianna before he let anything happen between him and Lucy Ann. He still wasn’t sure why he and Gianna had reconciled afterward. He hadn’t been fair to either woman. The dishonor in that weighed on him every damn day.

At least he’d finally done right by Gianna when they’d broken up. Now, he had to make things right with Lucy Ann.

Their kiss ten minutes ago couldn’t lead to anything more, not tonight. He accepted that. It was still too early in his campaign to win her over. But a kiss? He could have that much for now at least. A taste of her, a hint of what more they could have together.

A hint of Lucy Ann was so much more than everything with any other woman.

She was so much a part of his life. Why the hell had he let her go?

This didn’t have to be complicated. Friendship. Sex. Travel the world and live an exciting life together. He had a fortune at his disposal. They could stay anywhere, hire teachers to travel with them. Eli would have the best of everything and an education gleaned from seeing the world rather than just reading about it. Surely Lucy Ann would see that positively.

How could she say no to a future so much more secure than what they’d grown up with? He’d been an idiot not to press his case with her last time. But when she’d left before, he’d thought to give her space. This time, he would be more persistent.

Besides, last time he’d been a jerk and tried to goad her into returning by making the news with moving on—a total jackass decision he never would have made if he’d thought for a second that Lucy Ann might be pregnant.

Now, he would be wiser. Smoother.

He would win her over. They’d been partners before. They could be partners again.

* * *

Lucy Ann peered out the window of the private jet as they left Africa behind.

Time for their real journey to begin. It had been challenging enough being together with his friends, celebrating the kind of happily ever after that wasn’t in the cards for her. But now came the bigger challenge—finding a way to parent while Elliot competed in the Formula One circuit. A different country every week—Spain, Monaco, Canada, England. Parties and revelry and yes, decadence, too. She felt guilty for enjoying it all, but she couldn’t deny that she’d missed the travel, experiencing different cultures without a concern for cost. Plus, his close-knit group of friends gave them a band of companionship no matter what corner of the earth he traveled to during racing season.

She sank deeper into the luxury of the leather sofa, the sleek chrome-and-white interior familiar from their countless trips in the past, with one tremendous exception. Their son was secured into his car seat beside her, sleeping in his new race car pj’s with a lamb’s wool blanket draped over his legs. She touched his impossibly soft cheek, stroking his chubby features with a soothing hand, cupping his head, the dusting of blond hair so like his father’s.

Her eyes skated to Elliot standing in the open bulkhead, talking to the pilot. Her former best friend and boss grew hotter with each year that passed—not fair. That didn’t stop her from taking in the sight of him in low-slung jeans and a black button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Italian leather loafers. He looked every bit the world-famous race car driver and heartthrob.

How long would Elliot’s resolution to build a family life for Eli last? Maybe that’s what this trip was about. Proving to him it couldn’t be done. She wouldn’t keep his son from him, but she refused to expose her child to a chaotic life. Eli needed and deserved stability.

And what did she want?

She pressed a hand to her stomach, her belly full of butterflies that had nothing to do with a jolt of turbulence. Just the thought of kissing Elliot last night… She dug her fingers into the supple leather sofa to keep from reaching for him as he walked toward her.

“Would you like something to eat or drink?” he asked, pausing by the kitchenette. “Or something to read?”