Chapter 3 #2
“Like you always do,” she whispered. She hated to tell him that she always remembered what he smelled like. From that first night they were together, she’d remembered. It had been intoxicating.
His eyes darkened as he watched her.
It reminded her of their first night. She closed her eyes and couldn’t help remembering the first night they had slept together.
The night where Kian had been conceived.
It had been late, nearly midnight, and she was still in the renovated office building. She stared at an accent wall and was trying to figure out how to make it seem less like a bank vault. Mr. Maxwell—Vic— had came down the hallway in his business suit looking too expensive and too damn handsome.
“Hey, Tachina. You’re still here?” he asked.
She had been given the job of renovating the lobby. His company, Maxwell & Sons Development Group, was one of the distinguished real estate groups in the city. Her bosses had been thrilled they had won the contract of designing for the Maxwell group. With her talents, they had assigned her to lead.
“I am.” She smiled at him.
“You hungry?” He came to stand by her in front of the wall she’d been staring at.
She wasn’t, but she nodded.
They walked down to a pub that was located a block away.
It was a dive with sticky floors and greasy bar food.
She’d been shocked that he would want to go to a place such as this.
But Vic was strangely comfortable and relaxed there.
He removed his jacket, rolled his sleeves up, had his drink in his hand while he listened to her vent about suppliers and impossible deadlines.
Two drinks became three.
Three became laughter.
Laughter led to touching.
Touching led to her in his arms.
“Come home with me,” Vic whispered in her ear.
Even though the bar had become crowded, it might as well only been the two of them.
She shouldn’t have. Her company was hired to work for his, but that hadn’t stopped her from going home with him.
They had arrived at his place. It was a beautiful home. He backed her up against the wall right inside the foyer with his hands braced on either side of her head.
Then his lips were on hers.
His hand slid into her hair while the other gripped her hips. They had barely made it into the bedroom.
He lifted her onto the bed, his lips burning a trail up her neck while he peeled her out of her clothing. By the time he sank inside her, she’d forgotten her name. Their night had been one for the books.
One night turned into two.
Two into three.
Three into five.
Tachina blinked, bringing herself back to the present. The memory had hit her so hard her breath stuttered. Victor swallowed hard. Clearly, he was remembering that night as well.
They stared at each other. The porch was quiet except for the faint thump of Kian kicking the ball.
“Tachina,” Vic broke the silence. He blew out a deep breath. “This isn’t a small favor. You’re asking for a lot. Another kid. More responsibility. A connection that is forever.”
“We already have forever,” she whispered. “He’s in the backyard right now.”
Vic closed his eyes briefly. He ran a hand over his jawline.
When he opened his eyes, there was something simmering in them that hadn’t been there before.
Her core clenched. The man was so damn sexy, and she shouldn’t be thinking like this.
They had agreed a long time ago that they would remain platonic after she’d found out she was pregnant.
“I’m not saying no,” he said slowly. He cleared his throat. “But I’m not saying yes either.”
Her heart practically leaped up into her throat. She blinked a few times and nodded. She didn’t want get her hopes up too high. He was right. This was a lot of her to ask from him. They’d already done it once. Would he even want to do it again?
“I need to think about it,” he continued. “It’s a lot to consider. What would this mean for us? For him?”
“I understand,” she said. She truly did.
She had thought of how it would affect her and Kian, but she hadn’t taken into consideration how it would affect him.
Her shoulders slumped slightly. Not in disappointment, but with relief.
She hadn’t scared him off. At least not completely.
“I’m not asking for us to move in together.
Or a relationship. I’m just asking for a baby. One more.”
“You don’t think this would change anything?”
Of course it would. But she also desperately wanted another child.
“I think whatever we decide, we’re good enough to handle it.”
A quiet moment passed between them. It was thick with tension. His gaze dropped down to her mouth. She unconsciously licked her lips. His gaze darkened and came back up to her eyes.
Before either of them could say any more, Kian came blowing back onto the porch.
“Dad! Come kick the ball with me,” he shouted as he hopped in one place. “Pleeeeease!”
“Sure, bud. Here I come.” Vic stood and glanced back at her once more.
His look was unreadable, and she bit her lip to keep from saying anything else.
“I’ll think about it. I promise,” he said.
She nodded, a lump in her throat.
He stepped around the table, ruffled Kian’s curls, and headed out into the yard.
She watched them. Father and son, laughing and playing together, had her pressing a hand to her chest.
Her breath was shallow as Vic ran around with Kian. This might have been the biggest risk of her entire life.
And now, all she could do was wait.