Chapter 2
Victor Maxwell pulled into Tachina’s driveway like he always did.
Slow, cautious, and with the familiar flicker of anticipation he pretended he didn’t feel.
Co-parenting shouldn’t make a man’s stomach flip like he was going on a first date.
But here he was, palms sweating. He rubbed his hands on his slacks.
“It’s just pickup,” he muttered.
Not complicated. It was the highlight of his week. But it was the one time he felt his carefully balanced CEO persona could be shed. He could be Vic.
Father to his son, Kian.
But also because picking up Kian meant he’d get to see her.
Tachina Winston had no business being as beautiful as she was. Earlier, she’d sounded a little off on the phone. Nervous. Breathless. The kind of nervous that had him replaying the entire conversation over in his head.
He parked in her driveway and cut the engine.
He glanced in the back seat of his luxury SUV and breathed a sigh of relief that he hadn’t forgotten Kian’s booster seat.
He combed his fingers through his hair and stepped out of the vehicle.
He undid his tie and tossed it in the back seat where his jacket lay.
He was off work, no longer in CEO mode. He was in Dad mode now.
His heart fluttered for a second. He wasn’t nervous. Maybe a little anxious.
He always was when he was around her. Not in a bad way.
For some strange reason, his body always got excited when he was in her company.
They hadn’t been intimate in years, and he could never shake this reaction he had toward her.
It wasn’t something he would admit. They’d both moved on after their short time together.
He headed toward the house. The porch light automatically clicked on. It was the beginning of fall, and the days were shorter. It wasn’t quite dark yet at five in the afternoon, but in a few weeks it would be. He lifted his hand to knock and paused.
He remembered the first time he’d seen Tachina.
Five years ago, she’d been striding across his newly renovated office lobby, clipboard in her hand, hair cut in a short style, her eyes sharp with a designer’s focus.
He’d been taken the moment he’d met her.
He hadn’t known it then, but he knew it now.
One night together had turned in to a few nights together. It had been an impulsive decision to invite her out for a drink after work. That decision led to a son who’d become his entire world.
He knocked. A few moments later the door swung open, and there she was.
Dear God.
Whatever he was going to say disappeared.
Tachina wore a draped dress the color of caramel that complement the smooth tones of her tawny-brown skin.
It flowed along her curves like it had been sewn directly onto her body by the angels above.
Her makeup was subtle except for the red lipstick, which hit him like a punch to the gut.
He’d always been weak for that color on her lips.
Her hair was perfect.
Her skin glowed.
His gaze dropped down to her house slippers shaped like brown bears.
They were giant. Fluffy. Ridiculous. And so fit her personality. He held back a laugh.
“Tachina.” He cleared his throat.
“Hey, Vic.” She smiled like she hadn’t noticed his frozen moment. “You’re early.”
“For once traffic wasn’t terrible.” He forced his eyes up from her lips. He didn’t know when he’d focused on them. He peeked at her slippers again and couldn’t help the small grin that appeared.
“Come in.” She stepped back and waved him in.
The house smelled like vanilla and whatever candle she was currently obsessed with. It was warm and sweet and made him want to bury his face in the crook of her neck to see if she smelled of the same.
Get your shit together, Maxwell.
“Big weekend plans?” she asked as they made their way into her living room.
He followed behind her and couldn’t help eyeing her curvy frame.
He swallowed hard and had to tear his eyes away from her ass.
They paused in the living room where it was decorated with neutral tones.
Everything about her place had a homey feel to it.
Her oversized couch, with accent pillows and a throw blanket tossed over the back of it.
Two candles over the fireplace were lit, which must be responsible for the pleasant aroma.
She motioned for him to have a seat, but he shook his head. He hadn’t planned to stay long.
“Yeah. Thought I would take Kian to the Monsters game on Monday since he’s off school.” He tried not to stare at her, but he couldn’t help it.
She tugged at her dress like she was self-conscious. There was nothing wrong with it.
“That sounds like fun. He’ll love that.” She smiled.
Heavy footsteps came from upstairs. Kian must be running around up there.
“I figured you wouldn’t mind if I kept him that extra day?”
“Of course not. You know I never mind. He adores his time with you.”
He relaxed slightly. Co-parenting was easy with her. Shockingly easy. People always acted like it should be hard, dramatic, or competitive.
But Tachina didn’t do drama.
She didn’t guilt him. Didn’t weaponize their history. No fights. No weirdness when he dated other women.
And she was an amazing mother. Calm but firm.
Warm but structured. She listened to Kian.
She’d nurtured him into the kind little boy he was now.
She knew when to soothe and when to stand her ground and say no.
She somehow always managed to pack Kian’s backpack exactly the way he liked—snacks on the left side in the pocket, a few of his favorite toys on the right.
Vic had seen moms at Kian’s preschool who barely remembered their kid’s lunch boxes.
Tachina remembered everything.
Which was why the odd, nervous energy she was giving off put him on alert.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“What do you mean?” She blinked. She messed with her dress again and was barely maintaining eye contact with him.
“You’re acting a little different.” He wasn’t sure what it was, but she wasn’t acting like herself. She was usually relaxed, easily made conversation with him. But today, she seemed almost closed off.
“I’m not sure what to tell you.” She shrugged and offered a small smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m fine.”
“Hmm…” He studied her and was not satisfied with her answers. He had known her for a while now, and there was something she wasn’t telling him.
“Daddy!” Kian burst into the room like a human missile. His sweatshirt was slightly crooked, his jeans unbutton as if he’d just thrown them on, and he only had one sock on. He flung himself at Vic.
“Hey, buddy.” Vic scooped him up and gave him a big hug. His heart grew soft for his boy. Kian wrapped his arms around his neck and squeezed right. Vic pretended to choke dramatically. “Wait! You’re crushing me!”
“I’m strong like the Hulk!” Kian flexed his arms once Vic placed him back down.
Vic’s chest swelled with pride at the reference. He was a huge fan of the comic book movies that had taken over the cinematic world for the last twenty-plus years. He had been ecstatic when Kian had fallen in love with the characters, too.
“You sure are.” Vic chuckled. “How was school today?”
“We had pizza, and Leo tried to eat a whole pizza, and Miss Susie got mad ’cause he threw up all over the classroom. And Mommy had the bubble guts today, so she was in the bathroom for hours after we got home—”
“Kian Michael Maxwell!” Tachina sputtered. Her eyes went wide with horror.
Vic froze, then blinked. “Bubble guts?”
“Oh my goodness.” She covered her face with her hands. “Ignore what he said.”
“But, Mom, you said your stomach was rebellanin.” Kian frowned at her. The little man scratched his head, confusion lining his face.
“Rebelling,” she corrected. She blew out a deep breath and reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear.
“That’s what I said,” Kian insisted.
“Are you all right?” Vic swallowed a laugh that was threatening to erupt.
Kian did look concerned for his mother, so he held back. He didn’t want his son thinking he was inconsiderate of his mother’s illness.
“I’m fine,” she said quickly.
“You sure? I can have Dr. Collins come see you right now. He can be here within the hour,” Vic offered.
“No. Please don’t call your private physician,” she said, mortified. She barked a sharp laugh. “I promise you I am fine.”
Kian went over and took her hand in his. “But, Mommy. You said you were dying. She even had me go get her a ginger ale to help calm her tummy down.”
“Oh my God,” she whispered. She looked like she wanted the floor to swallow her whole. She leaned down and dropped a kiss on Kian’s forehead. “Kian, go get your shoes, please.”
He nodded and spun on his heel and took off running. Vic had to fight to keep a smile from his face. He cleared his throat and folded his arms in front of his chest.
“Feeling like you’re dying doesn’t sound fine,” he said.
“I had a moment. I’m better.”
“You sure?”
“Can we please change the subject?” Her eyes were pleading as she glanced at him.
He didn’t believe that she was fine. It didn’t sound like it. If something was truly wrong, he guessed she’d tell him something. But she was still acting nervous. Before he could ask, she cleared her throat.
“I was wondering if you had plans on Sunday. I wanted to stop by so we can talk.”
“Talk?” He wasn’t sure he liked the sound of this. He frowned, unsure why they would have to wait until Sunday.
“Yes.”
“About what?”
“It’s something… Important,” she said.
His stomach tightened. Important? Then why would they need to wait until Sunday? Was she having problems? Medical issues? Was it personal news? Was it about their son?
“Do you want me to stay now? I’m here.” He moved closer to her. “We can talk now. Is it the new child support adjustment? I told you I wanted—”
“No, Vic.” She shook her head. “It’s not that.”
“Then what?”