Chapter Sixty-Six
Phoenix
Pasting on a big smile, Isla turned in the front passenger seat of the Denali and held out a fist to Linc in the back seat. “It was so awesome to meet you, Linc. And have I mentioned that you have the coolest name ever?”
Cheeks heating with embarrassment at the compliment, Linc fist-bumped her. “Um, kinda? In the pool? Like, maybe a few times.” He half laughed. “You have a cool name too.”
“Coming from you, Mr. Musician, I’ll take that as high praise—even though I had no part in naming myself.” Her smile faltered. “Guess we both had cool moms, huh?”
Linc’s face fell, and his gaze hit his lap. “Yeah,” he said quietly.
Isla didn’t miss a beat. “You know what makes me feel better when I get sad about my mom?” She hadn’t faltered since Lincoln indirectly told her about his mother. Yes, she’d initially panicked and understandably had a moment. By the time the table was set, though, she’d rallied.
Lincoln shook his head. “No, ma’am.”
My intruse imparted more of her wisdom. “I talk about her.”
My son looked up, then nervously glanced at me before addressing Isla. “Um, thanks.”
“You know, your dad’s a pretty good listener.
That’s why he’s quiet. Some people, like myself…
” She pointed at her chest. “Are talkers. And some people?” She pointed at me.
“Listeners.” She dropped her hand. “But you know the great thing about you, Linc?” She didn’t wait for a reply.
“You’re both. Musically, you have to listen in order to be able to play.
And when you put your hands on the piano keys?
That’s just another way of talking. I think it’s amazing that you have multiple ways to express yourself.
And I hope you always talk about your mom.
To your dad or anyone you want to. I know your mom would be proud—she is proud.
” Reaching back again, this time Isla held out her hand.
Lincoln took it.
“Just remember that, okay?”
Emotion welled in his eyes, and my son dropped his head. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Guess what?” she asked cheerfully, tugging on his hand.
Lincoln took one of his deep inhales and looked up. “What?”
“I have a new rule.” The little trespasser grinned. “Awesome people with cool names can only call other people with equally cool names by their first name.” Grin holding, she glanced at me. “You don’t count. I don’t even know what’s going on with the hot mess that’s your name smorgasbord.”
Lincoln fought a smile.
She looked back at him. “You can only call me Isla, and I can only call you Linc. Deal?”
“Deal,” he agreed.
“Good.” She let go of his hand and picked up the small purse she’d brought with her. “Now, don’t forget what we talked about. On the way home, you know what to do.”
“Yes, ma’—” Stopping himself, his face flushed. “Okay, Isla.”
“Perfect.” She winked. “You boys behave. Or not.” She opened her door.
“Wait,” I ordered Isla before glancing at Linc. “One minute.”
“Sure.” He looked toward my little intruse. “Bye, Isla.”
“Good night, Linc.”
She was out of the SUV and had her door shut by the time I rounded the front of the vehicle.
Discreetly, so Lincoln wouldn’t see, she held up a hand to stop me from coming in any closer. “We’re good.”
“Good?” I’d thought we were great. When Lincoln mentioned his mother, I knew I’d have to walk it back some.
I told her we’d talk after he was asleep, and I intended to follow through.
Mitigate her concerns. But this was a hell of a lot more than the panic episode by the pool.
“What’s going on?” I hated bringing her back here.
The second she’d mentioned wanting to return to the hotel, it’d felt wrong.
It had since the moment she’d walked into the house today.
But I couldn’t waterboard my kid with my lifestyle choices any more than I could force her to stay.
That fucking smile of hers, the one that was all show, made an appearance. “We’re not doing this. Linc is incredible. Thank you for introducing—”
“Isla,” I warned, moving in and grasping her chin.
“You’re right. We’re not doing this—whatever the hell you think you’re about to do.
I understand I threw you in the deep end today.
We’ll talk it through. I apologize for not reading you in and giving a heads-up that Lincoln’s mother is gone, but I was giving my son the chance to tell you on his terms.”
“I’m not blaming you for allowing Linc to tell me, but she’s not just gone, Will. She died of cancer. Do you even comprehend what that means? What Linc went through?”
Watching every inch of her face, I saw the shift. The one that’d happened in the pool. “Yes, I realize what he went through.” I didn’t need to burden her with my own past. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Oh my God.” Shaking out of my grasp, she looked past me. “I’m tired, Will. It’s been a long day.”
Taking note of how she’d called me Will, I kissed the top of her head. “Get some sleep.”
Instantly pulling back, she crossed her arms. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?” I didn’t make out with her in front of my kid. “I’m saying good night.”
“Don’t kiss me like that,” she retorted angrily, stepping to my side.
I caught her arm. “Hey.”
She didn’t look at me, and she didn’t say a word. She stood perfectly, tactically, still.
I slid my grip down her arm and grasped her hand. The same one that’d held my son’s. Then I played defense. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning. We’ll talk. I’m asking you to give me that, Isla.”
She didn’t reply.
“Oh eight hundred.” I squeezed her hand. Then I did what I had to. I let go.
Without a single backward glance, she walked into the hotel.
Grabbing my cell as I aimed for the driver’s side, I made a call.
Cypher picked up on the first ring. “I see you at the hotel valet. I’m watching in real time. The hacks have seemed to stop, or the new code I installed is doing its job. Either way, I’ve got eyes again.”
“Copy. I need overwatch on the penthouse suite tonight.” What I really wanted was Tauk or Helios to fucking barricade her in, but I was past that point. She was read in. She’d met Lincoln. Now I had to play the long game.
“I thought you moved into the house,” Cypher said distractedly.
“I did.”
A crash sounded in the background, and Cypher held the phone away while he yelled, “You fucking drop my shit again, Chaos, I’m shooting you.”
“It’s not all your fucking ammo, and I’m moving it, not dropping it,” Chaos countered. “Besides, you won’t shoot shit in your palace. Then you’d have to clean blood off your precious equipment.”
“Cypher,” I clipped, standing outside the SUV as Linc glanced at me.
“What?”
“Penthouse. Eyes,” I demanded.
“Target?”
“Isla, and she’s not a target.”
Cypher exhaled. “She should be.”
“Surveillance only. If she moves, I want to know about it. Immediately. Copy?”
“Copy.” Another crash sounded. “Fuck. I gotta go. Chaos!” Cypher hung up.
I got into the SUV and glanced back. “You good?”
“Yeah. I mean, yes. Isla’s really nice.” He glanced toward where she’d disappeared into the hotel. “Did I mess up by telling her about Mom?”
I turned in my seat. “Absolutely not. Don’t ever take that on, not for anyone. Your mother was and will always be your foundation. You have nothing to hide. Understand?”
“Yes.” He nodded, then he took one of his deep breaths. “So, um, why isn’t Isla your girlfriend?”
“I’m working on it. Join me in the front.”
“Oh. Ah, right.” He quickly got out and hopped into the passenger seat.
I waited until he had his seat belt buckled before I pulled away from the hotel and asked. “What did Isla want us to do on the way home?”
“She, um, wanted me to tell you to take me somewhere?”
Noting how he was back to ending his statements as questions, I hoped like hell the nervousness my son carried would eventually dissipate as he settled in. “Where?” Whatever Isla had come up with, I already knew I was going to take Lincoln. The woman had a way with my son that I didn’t.
“She, ah, said we should go to Chug’s Diner? That they have this cast-iron pancake? She said it’s really good. And they’re open late tonight.”
“Good copy.”
Forty-five minutes later, we were eating pancakes.