Chapter 12
Alexander
“Alex, finally, you’ve returned my call.”
God, I already hate this conversation.
“I apologize, Arthur,” I reply. “I’ve been a little busy.”
“So I’ve heard,” he drawls, and I have to stop myself from slamming the phone down.
I don’t know why Lando keeps him around as our family solicitor.
“I don’t have long, so let’s get down to business. The reason I’ve been calling repeatedly”—he draws out each syllable—“is because we need to secure your estate. The paternity results are indisputable, so we have to discuss protecting your assets.”
“I don’t need protecting.”
“Alex, you have considerable personal wealth. And this girl—”
“Haven.”
“Sorry?”
“Haven. Not this girl.”
Arthur clears his throat. “Right. Haven. And we’re sure this wasn’t something purposely manufactured?
Forgive me for being crude, but this is not the time to be delicate .
. . I’m assuming you were using protection.
Did she say she was on birth control? Because if so, and you chose not to use protection based on her lie, then we have a case for a single payment payoff.
Now, she’s American, and it’s a little different over there—”
“Arthur—”
“And I understand this took place during the week you left after Lando’s wedding,” he continues with a haughty laugh. “I have to say, you boys are keeping me busy this year. This is the sort of behavior I’ve always prepared for with Miles.”
Oh my God. Why did I think this was going to be a quick call? I’m too tired for this today.
“Arthur! Can you shut the fuck up?” I snap. “Respectfully.”
The line goes silent. I can almost see him pursing his lips, but I have zero inclination to apologize and stroke his ego. He’s made enough money from our family that he can stroke his own. I add a “thank you” anyway, when he remains silent.
Blowing out a long breath, I start again. “I don’t need protecting, Arthur. And she hasn’t done this on purpose. She’s not here for money. She’s here so I can get to know my daughter. Which is exactly what I want too.”
He lets out a quiet huff. “Then I suppose it would be prudent of me to offer my congratulations.”
Even though the guy’s a dick, I know I’m preening at his compliment. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. And if you say she’s not after your money, what can I help you with, Alexander?”
Alexander.
I’m tempted to ask him to address me in the manner my title befits, as he does for Lando, but the tension is already thick enough.
“I need to change the terms of my will. I also want to set up a trust for my daughter.”
There’s a pause on the line. “Of course. I’m assuming it’s similar to what Hendricks has for Max?”
“Yes.” I nod, though I’m not entirely sure about the details of what Hendricks had done when it comes to Max’s mother. “But I don’t hate Haven. Quite the opposite.”
“A larger monthly stipend, then?” he replies, like it’s the only solution, and I can’t deny I’m tempted.
It’s something I want to do for Haven because it’s clear that she’s struggling financially. She was when I met her, and now that she’s not working, it can’t be any easier, but I also know she won’t take any financial assistance from me.
In fact, I’m certain that if I so much as suggest it, she’ll tell me to stick it up my arse.
It’s been hard enough buying things for Everly since they’ve been staying with me, but I learned that I could get around most objections from Haven as long as it makes her life easier in some way and benefits Everly.
She’s spent the last decade of her life taking care of sick parents, then herself, so she’s forgotten how to let someone take care of her. That’s where I plan to step in.
It’s something I’ve been mulling over for the past few days, along with the beginnings of an idea that will set them both up for life, but I want to roll it around a little more before I say anything.
I need it to be so airtight when I give it to Haven that yes will be her only logical answer.
“Not right now. Can you just draw up the deeds for Everly, and I’ll get back to you on the rest?”
There’s a pause. “Are the two of you not in a relationship? Am I misunderstanding something?”
“No, we’re not.” Yet I want to add, but don’t.
“Then we need to discuss custody.”
I’m massaging my temples as the door opens and in walks Hendricks and Miles, who sit in the chairs across from me.
They don’t usually visit my office during the day, so they must want something.
But I welcome the interruption because I can’t think about custody right now. And I’m done speaking to Arthur.
Miles, being Miles, kicks his feet up on my desk. I push them off.
“I haven’t decided on custody yet, Arthur. Can you just do as I ask, and we’ll pick up the rest at a later date?”
“Fine. I’ll be in touch,” he snaps, and hangs up before I can say thank you.
“What are you doing?” asks Miles.
“Getting my will changed.”
“Arthur is such a crusty relic,” Hendricks adds. My sentiments exactly. “But he was excellent at dealing with all the shit when Max came along. And you do need to make sure you’re covered legally.”
Leaning back in my chair, I lace my fingers behind my head. Hendricks’s words mollify me slightly, though our situations are vastly different. For one, Max’s mother had little interest in being a mother. She only cared about money.
“What was that about custody?” he asks.
“Nothing. I haven’t thought about it yet.”
I’m not as bad at lying as Lando is, but I’m hoping my face doesn’t give me away. Aside from reminding myself on an hourly basis that Haven and I are friends and only friends, custody is all I’ve been thinking about.
Because how are we going to raise Everly together? I know it’s only been two weeks, but it’s been more than enough time for me to figure out I don’t want to be a guy she sees every couple of months. I want to be a dad in my daughter’s life every day.
Miles removes the lid on the jar of M&Ms I have on my desk, pulls out a fistful, hands the red ones to Hendricks, and tosses the rest into his mouth.
“Where is my niece today, anyway?”
“Miles, that’s not what you should be asking,” chides Hendricks, crunching down on the red ones. “The first question is obviously, have you kissed Haven yet?”
A broad, identical grin spreads across their faces.
My brows drop. This has to be a trick. “Weren’t you the one who told me that under no circumstances should I be trying to hook up with her?”
Hendricks nods. “Yes, but I didn’t think you’d stick to it.”
“So you don’t think that?”
“I do, but I also know you’re weak.”
I sit back in my chair with a huff and a halfhearted snarl because my brother has a point. I am weak. Weaker than I assumed after last night.
Fuck, it was a close call.
I almost kissed Haven. And as we’re being honest, we almost had sex because it wouldn’t have stopped at a kiss. Not the kiss I had planned anyway.
I waited until I heard the click of the latch on her bedroom door, then marched outside to the porch for fifteen minutes instead of following her. It was alarming how much I wanted to. I figured standing in the cold was the next best thing to a cold shower.
The sky was clear enough that I spotted a shooting star. Unfortunately, as I was walking back into the house, I also caught the silhouette of Haven getting into the bath. I immediately called James to have thicker blinds installed in the bathroom. Then I stayed outside for another thirty minutes.
By the time I went to bed, I’d been outside for so long my extremities were in danger of falling off.
And after breakfast this morning, when I’d tried to pretend nothing had happened by being overly cheery with Everly—but only made it so awkward it was clear something had happened—I made up a terrible excuse that I needed to run to my office.
I’ve been hiding here ever since.
“Thanks for the support,” I snap, “and for your information, nothing has happened.”
Fucking Hendricks with his sensible thinking and stupid fucking rules.
“When is she leaving?”
“Saturday,” I reply, holding my hand out for M&Ms before Miles eats them all.
The jar was full two days ago. Now there’s barely a third left, because if I’m eating M&Ms, I’m not drowning my sorrows in whiskey at the thought of Haven and Everly flying home.
I haven’t bought our tickets either because I’ve already decided we’re going back on the Burlington jet. My reasoning is that we can take all of Everly’s new things. If Lando needs to go somewhere, he’ll have to fly commercial for once.
How have two weeks gone by so quickly? I’m not ready to say goodbye.
This is why I can’t have the custody conversation yet because I don’t have an answer that doesn’t make me want to punch something. Or cry.
I might be deep in my thoughts, trying to figure out what to do, but not deep enough that I miss the way Hendricks’s eyes slide over to Miles.
“What?”
They shake their heads in sync, and their bottom lips roll out. Sometimes the twin thing is really fucking annoying.
“What?” I try again, stifling a yawn.
Miles’s cheeks puff. “Nothing, we just figured you’d ask her to stay for Christmas.”
My elbows hit the desk as I lean forward. “What?”
Hendricks shrugs. “We’re surprised she’s going back so soon, that’s all. After the past two weeks together, we thought you’d have come up with a plan to extend her stay.”
My eyes narrow. I’m staring at the twins, my gaze flicking between the pair of them even though they look exactly the same. Something’s going on here, and I’m not sure what. On the other hand, asking Haven to stay longer is an excellent idea. So good I’m surprised I haven’t already thought of it.
I mean, I’ve thought of asking, but only in one of those fantasy “imagining what my life would be like if we lived together permanently” ways. It’s not something I’ve verbalized because the custody dilemma has taken precedence in my head.
Plus, it’s Christmas, and I never stay in Valentine Nook for Christmas.