Boyd #2
“I grew up poor. The kind of poor where you didn’t know where your next meal was coming from or if you’d come home to an eviction notice slapped on your front door.
My mother did her best, but she hadn’t even graduated high school.
She was a single, teen parent with a deadbeat dad and her parents cutting her off.
I wanted Luka to grow up to be a responsible adult and not a spoiled brat. ”
“You had him young too, right?”
Boyd nodded. “I was fifteen when he was born. My mother nearly beat me to death. She hadn’t wanted that life for me.”
“Did she support you?”
“Of course she supported me.” He stirred the noodles, meat, and cheese sauce all in a pan.
“She was the only reason we survived—and the reason I finished school. Luka’s mom didn’t want him, but it was too late for an abortion.
She resented him for changing her body. While my mom watched him, I went to school and work so we could eventually survive on our own. ”
“She must be very proud of you.”
“Well, she always says Luka is the best thing that happened to us. I know it was for me. Without him, I likely would’ve ended up living paycheck to paycheck at some blue-collar job I’d grow to resent.
” He filled a bowl for Queenie and turned to give it to her, immediately regretting his choice of words. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“He may have been the best thing to happen to me , but he was clearly the worst thing to happen to you.”
Queenie only shrugged, taking the food offered.
“ Doesn’t mean you can’t love him. Clearly, he gave you the right motivation.
Otherwise you wouldn’t be standing here, would you?
” She sat with him at the table and the moment she tasted the food, she beamed at him and did a happy dance in her seat. “That’s really good.”
“Damn,” Boyd cursed, feigning disappointment. “I guess that means no dinner date.”
Queenie worked on her next bite of pasta, drawing out her response. “I suppose I could make an exception.”
That made his heart flutter in a way it hadn’t for a while. “I look forward to it.”
They fell silent as they emptied their bowls, and Queenie asked for more once hers disappeared. He happily nodded but before he could move, Queenie was out of her seat and helping herself.
“So, Boyd, what do you do on your weekends when you’re not meeting up with strangers in the park?”
“Work.”
She gave him a flat stare as she returned to her seat. “Does a businessman like you not get days off?”
“I do.”
“But you’re a workaholic.”
“You see right through me.” Queenie grinned and gave him a wink, stirring up those butterflies again. “What do you do on your weekends?”
“Run errands, mostly, but I try to at least plan one activity that takes me out of the apartment.”
“What was on your list today?”
“Grocery shopping, but I heard the zoo has welcomed a baby elephant. She made her debut two weeks ago, so I’m hoping it’s not too busy now to see her.”
“Is that activity an exclusive event or is it open for invitations?”
“I’m not sure, no one has asked yet,” she replied with a cheeky grin.
He laughed, knowing he would have to bite the bullet. “Queenie, would you allow me to accompany you to the zoo tomorrow?”
“I would like that very much.”
“What time works for you?”
Queenie pulled out her phone and started typing. “They open at nine. Maybe we can beat the heat a little if we go early.”
“Sounds like we have a plan.”
“Maybe even a date?” she asked with a blush creeping up her throat to her cheeks.
“Yes, Queenie. It can be a date.”
“Well, then I’d better get all my errands done today,” she said, collecting their dishes and carrying them to the sink. “Do you want me to help with these?”
“Absolutely not, this was your treat.”
He leaned back in his chair and when she was within arm’s reach again, he pulled her between his widened legs. With one hand running up her outer thigh, he held hers with the other. “If you get home and change your mind about tomorrow, I won’t be upset.”
“You can change your mind too.”
“It’s a little too late for that on my end.” He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “Just know there is always an out and I will understand. Things are more complicated for you, and that’s okay.”
She leaned down and captured his lips in a soft kiss. “Thank you.”
“Would you like me to walk you to your car? ”
“That would be very sweet.”
He waited by the door until Queenie was sure she’d collected her things, then led her to the elevators.
He offered her an arm, and Queenie hesitated before hooking hers into his elbow.
It wasn’t until someone blatantly stared at her arm that the reason for her apprehension dawned on him: he was holding onto her left arm.
She’d made a comment about it during sex, but he’d truly forgotten.
The thought that Luka may have been responsible for her insecurity boiled his blood. His own flesh and blood had made this beautiful woman’s life hell, even ten years later.
“My car is on the other side of the park,” she said, indicating the right direction as soon as they stepped out of the lobby.
“Where do you live?”
“Off Westheimer and Voss.”
“Would you like me to pick you up tomorrow?”
“You don’t have to. You’d be driving past the zoo to get to me.”
“You can’t use that as an argument, Queenie.”
“What would be an acceptable argument?”
“So, you can use it against me?”
“Basically.”
“Cheeky, but I’ll grant it. I would only accept something along the lines of not wanting a stranger to know where you live—or that you simply don’t want me to.”
“Such a gentleman. Because I think you are, I don’t mind sharing my address with you.”
“How about I’ll pick you up around eight and we can grab breakfast on the way?”
Queenie leaned closer to him, and he seized the opportunity to kiss her hair. “I like your ideas.”
Once her car was unlocked, he opened the door with one hand and cupped her cheek with the other, brushing his thumb over her kiss-swollen bottom lip. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
“Me too.” She stretched onto her tiptoes, stealing one last kiss before getting into her car.
He stepped back, waiting until she vanished in the distance before returning to his apartment.
Damn. Never in a million years had the thought that one day would change his whole perspective.
He’d had one-night stands before, but he’d never felt compelled to learn more than their name, much less cook them lunch—or ask them on a date.
When he’d first laid eyes on Queenie just the night before, he hadn’t thought she would leave him longing for more.
He didn’t know what it was about her either.
Maybe it was the fact that they somehow shared a past, even if it was a loose connection.
Maybe it was the universe’s way of making up for his son’s mistakes, but could that really make him feel butterflies tingle in his stomach?
The simple thought of her had his heart fluttering in his chest.
“Fuck,” he muttered to himself, stepping into the elevator.
Sure, the sex had been amazing and could have been the reason that Boyd was so flustered, but he knew better. There was so much more to Queenie than just being a good lay.
He tried to restrain his thoughts by spending the afternoon browsing some new properties his real estate agent had sent him.
He was always in the market to add to his portfolio, and there was a new development he was rather interested in.
It wasn’t on the market yet, but Alex had his connections and charm, which was the main reason Boyd had kept him around.
That evening, though, he pulled out his phone and dialled Luka’s number. Queenie’s inquiries that morning made him realise that he hadn’t heard from his son in quite some time.
“Hi, Dad,” Luka greeted with his usual casualness.
“Hi, son, how are you?”
“Good. You?”
“Same. I realised I haven’t checked on you in a while.”
Luka sighed and Boyd could practically see his bored and annoyed face before his eyes. “I haven’t been the best communicator either. Are you still stressed about that new client you got a while back?”
That was rather surprising. Luka usually never initiated much small talk. “No, they saw the results we gave them and calmed down.”
“So, you’re still working with them even though you said he’s a jerk?”
“Yes, but he’s rather tame now. Did you start that new job?”
“I did and hate every second I spend there. I mean, it pays well and it gives me experience but I fucking hate it with every bit of my soul. And no, I won’t quit.”
Boyd smiled to himself. Luka knew him far too well, it would’ve been his next question. “Okay.”
Some time later, they finally hung up and Boyd was surprised to see that their call lasted over twenty minutes—a record. Usually, they either ended up fighting or gave up trying to fill the awkward silence. Boyd pocketed his phone, wondering if their relationship was taking a turn.