For the Sake of Their Son (The Alpha Brotherhood #5)(20)
Author: Catherine Mann

He’d gone to the track for prelim work, his race scheduled for tomorrow. Normally he arrived even earlier before an event, but the wedding had muddled his schedule. God, she hoped his concentration was rock solid. The thought of him in a wreck because she’d damaged his focus sent her stomach roiling. Why hadn’t she considered this before? She should have told him about Eli earlier for so many reasons.

She was familiar with everything about his work world. She’d been his personal assistant for over a decade, in charge of every detail of his career, his life. And even in their time apart she’d kept up with him and the racing world online. Formula One racing in Spain alternated locations every year, Barcelona to Valencia and back again. She knew his preferences for routes like Valencia, with the street track bordering the harbor. She was used to being busy, in charge—not sitting around a castle twiddling her thumbs, eating fruit and cheese from medieval pottery.

Being waited on by staff, nannies and chauffeurs, being at loose ends, felt alien, to say the least. But she’d agreed to give him a chance this month. She would stick to her word.

As if conjured from her thoughts, Elliot appeared in the arched doorway between the living area and her bedroom. Jeans hugged his lean hips, his turtleneck shirt hugging a well-defined chest. Her mouth watered as she considered what he would do if she walked across the room, leaned against his chest to kiss him, tucked her hands in his back pockets and savored the chemistry simmering between them.

She swallowed hard. “Are you here for lunch?”

“I’m here for you and Eli.” He held out a cashmere sweater of his. “In case you get chilly on our outing.”

“Outing?” she asked to avoid taking the sweater until she could figure out what to do next.

She’d worn pieces of Elliot’s clothes countless times over the years without a second thought, but the notion of wrapping his sweater around her now felt so intimate that desire pooled between her legs. However, to reject the sweater would make an issue of it, revealing feelings that made her too vulnerable, a passion she still didn’t know how to control yet.

Gingerly, she took the sweater from him, the cashmere still warm from his touch. “Where are we going?”

He smiled mysteriously. “It’s another surprise for you and Eli.”

“Can’t I even have a hint?” She hugged the sweater close, finding she was enjoying his game more than she should.

“We’re going to play.” He scooped his son up from the cradle in sure hands. “Right, Eli, buddy? We’re going to take good care of your mama today. If she agrees to come with me, of course.”

The sight of their son cradled in Elliot’s broad hands brought her heart into her throat. She’d imagined moments like this, dreamed of how she would introduce him to their child. Day after day, her plan had altered as she delayed yet again.

And why? Truly, why? She still wasn’t sure she understood why she’d made all the decisions she’d made these past months. She needed to use her time wisely to figure out the best way to navigate their future.

She tugged on the sweater. “Who am I to argue with such a tempting offer? Let’s go play.”

They left the suite and traveled down the sweeping stone stairway without a word, passing other guests as well as the staff dressed in period garb. The massive front doors even creaked as they swept open to reveal the waiting limousine.

Stepping out into the sunshine, she took in the incredible lawns. The modern-day buzz of cars and airplanes mixed with the historical landscaping that followed details down to the drawbridge over a moat.

The chauffeur opened the limo door for her. Lucy Ann slid inside, then extended her arms for her child. Elliot passed over Eli as easily as if they were a regular family.

Lucy Ann hugged her son close for a second, breathing in the baby-powder-fresh scent of him before securing Eli into his car seat. “Shouldn’t you be preparing for race day?”

Getting his head together. Resting. Focusing.

“I know what I need to do,” he answered as if reading her mind. He sat across from her, his long legs extended, his eyes holding hers. “That doesn’t mean we can’t have time together today.”

“I don’t want to be the cause of your exhaustion or lack of focus because you felt the need to entertain me.” She’d been so hurt and angry for a year, she’d lost sight of other feelings. Race day was exciting and terrifying at the same time. “I’ve been a part of your world for too long to let you be reckless.”

“Trust me. I have more reason than ever to be careful. You and Eli are my complete and total focus now.”

There was no mistaking the certainty and resolve in his voice. Her fears eased somewhat, which made room for her questions about the day to come back to the fore. “At least tell me something about your plans for today. Starting with, where are we going?”

He leaned to open the minifridge and pulled out two water bottles. “Unless you object, we are going to the San Miguel de los Reyes Monastery.”

She sat up straighter, surprised, intrigued. She took the water bottle from him. “I’m not sure I understand your plan….”

“The monastery has been converted into a library. We’ve never had a chance to visit before on other trips.” He twisted open his spring water. “In fact, as I look back, we both worked nonstop, all the time. As I reevaluate, I’m realizing now a little sightseeing won’t set us behind.”

“That’s certainly a one-eighty from the past. You’ve always been a very driven man—no pun intended.” She smiled at her halfhearted joke, feeling more than a little off balance by this change in Elliot. “I’ll just say thank-you. This is a very thoughtful idea. Although I’m curious. What made you decide on this particular outing when there are so many more obvious tourist sites we haven’t visited?”

“You sparked the idea when we were on the airplane, actually.” He rolled the bottle between his palms. “You mentioned not believing in fairy tales anymore. That is why I chose the castle. Fairy tales are important for any kid…and I think we’ve both lost sight of that.”

“We’re adults.” With adult wants and needs. Like the need to peel off his forest-green turtleneck and faded jeans.

“Even as kids, we were winging it with those fairy tales. Then we both grew jaded so young.” He shrugged muscular shoulders. “So it’s time for us to learn more about fairy tales so we can be good parents. Speaking of which, is Eli buckled in?”