Playing For Keeps (The Alpha Brotherhood #3)(37)
Author: Catherine Mann

“If we’re being honest, then yes, you were spoiled, but my son made his own choices,” Terri Ann conceded—surprisingly generous. “In the long run, you didn’t ruin his life. Getting sent to that military boarding school was the best thing that ever happened to him. He got opportunities there I could never give him, no matter how many second jobs I took cleaning a salon or waiting tables.”

Celia had certainly never thought of it that way. His sentence had seemed like just that…a sentence for a crime he didn’t commit. She kept her silence as Terri Ann continued.

“Your father made that chance happen. He pulled strings with one of his judge cronies for Malcolm to go to that school rather than to jail or some crime-riddled reform school.”

Celia wrestled with the shifting image of her past and the secrets her father had kept from her. Why hadn’t he told her what he’d done for Malcolm? “My dad never told me. But then I was dealing with some pretty serious issues in those days.”

She’d sunk into a depression during her pregnancy that had only deepened after the baby was born. The postpartum blues had spun out of control into a full-out breakdown. Putting the pieces of her life—of her

sanity—together again had been a long, painful process.

Had her father just not wanted to risk her revisiting that time, even in memories? She might not have been strong enough to discuss the subject in the beginning, but she was now. And wow, how strange if felt to realize that about herself. To accept it. To let that confidence settle deep inside her.

Terri Ann smiled, thumbing a smudge of bright pink lipstick from the corner of her mouth. “I won’t deny I was glad you were no longer in my son’s life. I know what it’s like to be a parent too young, and I wanted him to have better than I was able to give him.”

“But Malcolm turned out amazing. He’s built an incredible life for himself.” Did his mother know about the Interpol angle and just how far her son took being a good guy? “You did a good job bringing him up on your own.”

“It was tough as hell, but I owed him for bringing him into this world. Do you think I wanted him to go through those same struggles, even younger than I was when I had him? At least I was nineteen when I had him.” Terri Ann stared at her pointedly. “But then you certainly understand what I mean about making the best choice you can for your child. We can only do what we can with the resources we are given.”

And here Malcolm’s mother had shocked her all over again with support from an unexpected corner.

Terri Ann’s smile faded. “Now, that doesn’t mean we have to be best friends, like you said. I don’t know you, the adult you. So as far as I’m concerned, let’s both just start with a clean slate.” Standing, she smoothed her denim skirt, picked up two sandwiches, carefully wrapping them in her napkin. “I’m going to leave you and Malcolm alone. Please tell my son I put some of his favorite barbecue in the fridge and a pecan pie on the counter.”

* * *

Giving Celia the tour of his home had been satisfying and nerve-racking as hell. But so far, she liked the place. She’d sighed in appreciation over the antiques in the dining room. Spun a circle in the sunlight streaming through the domed conservatory. Sighed in bliss over the music room.

And he still wasn’t any closer to finding out what had set her on edge after talking to his mother.

Perhaps it was time for a more direct approach.”What did you and my mom talk about?” he asked, leading her through the kitchen toward the steps to the cellar, where his favorite feature of the house waited.

“We talked about you, of course. She left you some of your favorite foods in the kitchen,” she said, skimming her fingers along the cool stone walls of the narrowing corridor. Sconces lit the way with bulbs that resembled flickering flames. “And we discussed how you ended up at the military boarding school. How she felt like my dad did you a favor sending you there.”

“Ohh-kay.” That stunned him for at least two quick heartbeats before he said, “Not your average light chitchat.”

“Does she know about your Interpol work?” Her footsteps echoed behind him.

“No, I don’t want to worry her.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I meant it when I said telling you was a big commitment.”

Her deep brown eyes stared back, still a little wary, confused even. Maybe he was moving too fast and should focus on how they communicated best. With sex. Really, really spectacular sex. Later, when she was ready, he could tell Celia that his feelings for her were about more than just the physical.

He stepped aside to reveal his latest treat for a woman he wanted to pamper with everything he’d earned over the years.

The old cellar enclosed a bubbling hot spring in the far corner. Except, it was more than a cellar. He’d renovated the space into a luxurious spa with modern conveniences while preserving the historical feel. Weathered bricks, tan and ancient, lined the walls of the sprawling space. The natural spring had a deck of slick stones with steps leading down into the inviting waters. Steam rose toward fans hidden in the ceiling, the wafting heat attesting to the muscle-soothing promise those springs held.

Lounge chairs filled a corner by a wooden bar refurbished from an old pub. The bar had been outfitted with a refrigerator. On top, candles glowed alongside vases of flowers and a silver wine bucket holding a bottle of champagne—he’d placed that there himself. Some things, a man simply could not ask his mother to do.

The space provided the ultimate escape from the world for a man who had one helluva time finding peace and solitude. Intricately carved screens shielded a corner for changing, with fluffy robes and towels hanging on hooks buried into the walls.

Celia’s gasp of pleasure mingled with the sound of trickling water. “This place is incredible.”

“I looked at quite a few manor houses, even a couple of castles. But the minute I walked down here and saw the hot springs, I knew. This place would be mine.” He knew this was the home he’d once dreamed of buying for Celia. And even thinking he would never be with her again, he’d still bought the place to remind himself of what they’d had. To remind him of the mission he had to make up for past mistakes.

“You renovated it, though, didn’t you?” She eyed the sconces flickering on the wall and casting shadowy illumination.

“I had some help from a professional, but yes, I gave substantive input on what I wanted the place to look like. How did you know?” He pulled out the magnum of champagne and uncorked the bottle.