Chapter 35
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Alexander
“You’re a million miles away.” Phoebe’s hand lands on my shoulder. “What are you thinking about?”
Who am I thinking about is the question.
The answer is Olivia Hull.
I spent last night at her apartment. I left her four hours ago and I haven’t stopped thinking about her for a second.
She made me coffee after we fucked, joined me in the shower and when she got dressed for work, I sat on the corner of her bed and watched her every move.
I had no idea that watching a woman readying for her day could be so captivating.
Everything from the way she slipped into her white lace panties and bra to the way she brushed her hair made me want her even more.
I’ve never felt this way about a woman. The lust is consuming me, but there’s a hint of something else there. I have no fucking clue what I’m feeling for her.
I step out of the way when a nurse rushes past me on her way down the corridor. I glance into Alvin’s room again, but he’s still in the washroom.
“Once Alvin is changed, we can go home.” Phoebe drags a hand through her hair. “Thank you again for stopping by my house to pick up the change of clothes for us.”
It was the least I could do.
That and the coffee I brought her along with a banana muffin. I knew she wouldn’t put anything into her body since she refused to leave Alvin’s side all night.
“How’s Monte?” I ask because I know firsthand that he was a wreck last night.
I talked to him on the phone briefly before I left the hospital. He was near tears knowing his son was sick and he was over a thousand miles West of New York.
Phoebe’s eyes close on a sigh. “I told him that Alvin would be just fine, but he’s having a hard time forgiving himself for not being here.”
I grab her shoulder and squeeze it. “He loves that kid more than anything.”
Her eyes mist once she opens them. “I need him here, Alex. Dammit, I wish he could be here all the time.”
I pull her into me for a hug. “You’re both doing the best you can. Alvin’s a lucky kid to have two parents who love him as much as you and Monte do.”
She nods through a sniffle. “He has you too. You’re staying in New York for a few more weeks, aren’t you?”
I haven’t laid out my long terms plan for her yet, because nothing is written in stone. I have a meeting this afternoon that will put more of the pieces of my future in place.
“I’m not going anywhere.” I glance over her shoulder to the sight of Alvin waving both hands in our direction. He’s standing next to the hospital bed where he spent the night. “It looks like your son is ready to hit the road.”
She turns back, waving a hand in the air. “We’ll be right there, sweetheart.”
“Mom,” Alvin groans. “I’m ten-years-old. I’m not your sweetheart.”
I laugh. “He’s feeling better.”
“Let’s get him home.” She reaches up to adjust the lapels of my suit jacket. “It didn’t slip past me that you’re wearing the same clothes you were wearing last night.”
I cock a brow. “You always did have an eagle eye.”
She smiles and grabs my hand. “You smell like my favorite body wash. Monte got me a bottle from Matiz Cosmetics for my birthday.”
“You wanted to be a police detective when you were a kid. You should have gone with that. Your investigation skills are impressive.”
“I like Olivia.” She squeezes my hand. “Alvin likes her. Be good to her, Alex.”
“I’m starving,” Alvin calls from behind us. “Can we please go home already?”
I look at Phoebe. “You heard the little man. It’s time to get out of here.”
She gives me a curt nod and a wide smile. “I couldn’t agree with you more.”
“Fancy meeting you here.”
I feel a tap on my shoulder with those words.
I’d know the seductive tone of that voice anywhere. I turn around eager to kiss her, but that’s washed away when I realize she’s not alone.
Olivia is standing on a sidewalk in Midtown Manhattan next to a guy in a three-piece suit. He can’t keep his eyes off of her.
Who the fuck is this?
“Alexander Donato.” I shove a hand at the dark-haired, blue-eyed schmuck.
He glances at Olivia before his hand lands in mine. “Derek Tocher.”
I wait for someone to explain how the hell these two know each other.
“How’s Alvin?” Olivia steps nearer to Tocher when a group of tourists pushes past her.
I take a step closer to her to even the distance. “Good. I dropped him and Phoebe off at home earlier.”
Her eyes scan my face. “I’m glad he’s doing better.”
I glance over at Tocher who now has his eyes pinned to Olivia’s ass. I clear my throat, but he doesn’t even blink.
Asshole.
“Do you have time for a cup of coffee, Olivia?” I question as I step even closer to her. “Or tea?”
“We need to be somewhere.” The bastard who is eye-fucking her responds.
“We have a meeting,” Olivia chimes in.
“You’re in the lingerie business?” I ask the dweeb, so he’ll raise his head and look at me.
“No,” he answers succinctly.
I shoot Olivia a look, but she’s glancing at something over my shoulder. Times Square has a way of stealing the attention of everyone.
“It was good to see you, Olivia, and nice to meet you, Daryl.”
“Derek,” he corrects me with a smirk.
“I’ll text you later.” Olivia flashes me a cute smile.
I don’t respond because what the fuck was that?
I take off down the crowded sidewalk trying to brush off what just happened.
My sole focus should be on the meeting I have in an hour because it’s going to change my entire life, but all I can think of is Olivia and what the hell is going on between her and Derek Tocher.