For the Sake of Their Son (The Alpha Brotherhood #5)(18)
Author: Catherine Mann

So she simply said, “Peace is a very good thing.”

“Peace doesn’t have to be bland.” His thumb stroked the inside of her wrist.

Her pulse kicked up under his gentle stroking. “I didn’t say that.”

“Your tone totally implied it. You all but said ‘boring.’” His shoulder brushed hers as he settled in closer, seducing her with his words, his husky tones every bit as much as his touch. “A truce can give freedom for all sorts of things we never considered before.”

“News flash, Elliot. The kissing part. We’ve considered that before.”

“Nice.” He clasped her wrist. “You’re injecting some of your spunky nature into the peace. That’s good. Exciting. As brilliantly shiny as your hair with those new streaks of honey added by the Carolina sun.”

Ah, now she knew why he’d been playing with her hair. “Added by my hairdresser.”

“Liar.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I’m willing to bet you’ve been squirrelling away every penny you make. I can read you—most of the time.” He skimmed his hand up her arm to stroke her hair back over her shoulder. “While I know that you want me, I can’t gauge what you intend to do about that, because make no mistake, I want us to pursue that. I said before that motherhood agrees with you and I meant it. You drove me crazy last night in that evening gown.”

He continued to stroke her arm, but she couldn’t help but think if she moved even a little, his hand would brush her breast. Even the phantom notion of that touch had her tingling with need.

She worked to keep her voice dry—and to keep from grabbing him by the shirtfront and hauling him toward her. “You’re taking charming to a new level. I’m impressed.”

“Good. But are you seduced?”

“You’re good, and I’m enticed,” she said, figuring she might as well be honest. No use denying the obvious. “But Elliot, this isn’t a fairy tale. Our future is not going to be some fairy tale.”

He smiled slowly, his green eyes lighting with a promise as his hand slid away. “It can be.”

Without another word, he leaned back and closed his eyes. Going to sleep? Her whole body was on fire from his touch, his words—his seduction. And he’d simply gone to sleep. She wanted to shout in frustration.

Worse yet, she wanted him to recline her back on the sofa and make love to her as thoroughly as he’d done eleven months ago.

Six

By nightfall in Spain, Elliot wondered how Lucy Ann would react to their lodgings for the night. The limousine wound deeper into the historic district, farther from the racetrack than they normally stayed. But he had new ideas for these next few weeks, based on what Lucy Ann had said on the plane.

After the fairy-tale discussion, inspiration had struck. He’d forced himself to make a tactical retreat so he could regroup. Best not to risk pushing her further and having her shut him down altogether before he could put his plan into action to persuade her to stay longer than the month.

Once she was tucked into the back room on the airplane to nurse Eli, Elliot had made a few calls and set the wheels in motion to change their accommodations along the way. A large bank account and a hefty dose of fame worked wonders for making things happen fast. He just hoped his new agenda would impress Lucy Ann. Winning her over was becoming more pressing by the second. Not just for Eli but because Elliot’s life had been damn empty without her. He hadn’t realized just how much until he had her back. The way her presence made everything around him more vibrant. Hell, even her organized nature, which he used to tease her about. She brought a focus, a grounding and a beauty to his world that he didn’t want to lose again.

Failure was not an option.

He’d made himself a checklist, just like he kept for his work. People thought he was impulsive, reckless even, but there was a science to his job. Mathematics. Calculations. He studied all the details and contingencies until they became so deeply ingrained they were instinct.

Still, he refused to become complacent. He reviewed that checklist before every race as if he were a rookie driver. Now he needed to apply the same principles to winning back Lucy Ann’s friendship…and more.

Their new “hotel” took shape on the top of the hill, the Spanish sunset adding the perfect dusky aura to their new accommodations.

In the seat across from him, Lucy Ann sat up straighter, looking from the window to him with confusion stamped on her lovely face.

“This isn’t where you usually stay. This is…a castle.”

“Exactly.”

The restored medieval castle provided safety and space, privacy and romance. He could give her the fairy tale while making sure Lucy Ann and their son were protected. He could—and would—provide all the things a real partner and father provided. He would be everything his father wasn’t.

“Change of plans for our stay.”

“Because…?”

“We need more space and less chance of interruptions.” He couldn’t wait to have her all to himself. Damn, he’d missed her.

“But pandering to the paparazzi plays an important role in your PR.” She hugged the diaper bag closer to her chest; the baby’s bag, her camera and her computer had been the only things she’d insisted on bringing with her from home.

“Pandering?” He forced himself to focus on her words rather than the sound of her voice. Her lyrical Southern drawl was like honey along his starved senses. “That’s not a word I’m particularly comfortable with. Playing along with them, perhaps. Regardless, they don’t own me, and I absolutely will not allow them to have access to you and our son on anything other than our own terms.”

“Wow, okay.” Her eyes went wide before she grinned wryly. “But did you have to rent a castle?”

He wondered if he’d screwed up by going overboard, but her smile reassured him he’d struck gold by surprising her.

“It’s a castle converted to a hotel, although yes, it’s more secure and roomier.” Safer, but also with romantic overtones he hoped would score points. “I thought in each place we stay, we could explore a different option for traveling with a child.”

“This is…an interesting option,” she conceded as the limousine cruised along the sweeping driveway leading up to the towering stone castle. Ivy scrolled up toward the turrets, the walls beneath baked brown with time. Only a few more minutes and the chauffeur would open the door.