Chapter Thirty-Two #2
I hear her sweet sigh near my ear and step back, cupping her face in my hands.
Her eyes flare with heat looking at me, her genuine smile waking up something primal from within.
I lean forward and press my mouth against hers, tendrils of warmth lighting up my insides as I capture her lips in a soft kiss.
“Mmmm,” she moans. “I missed your kisses.”
I kiss her again and again, the sparks and chemistry between us reconnecting again in real time. I lean my forehead against hers and let my fingers trace her full lower lip. Desire washes over me so powerfully, I sway in the entryway.
“Are you okay?” she whispers, sliding her fingers tenderly through my hair, her wide, innocent eyes locked on mine.
“I am now that you’re here.”
We walk hand in hand into the living room, and she squeals with delight. “Oh, Ridge! Your Christmas tree is beautiful.” She lets go of me to get a closer look.
I’m proud of my tree with its classic decorations.
Usually, I’d have my home decorator prep my home for the holidays.
This year, I did it myself. I added white lights at the base of the tree and evenly strung them throughout the thick branches.
I draped white and gold garland, starting at the top and working my way down.
Going through a large box of hand-blown ornaments from my travels, I only picked the ones that meant something to me, the sentimentality important.
When I stepped back to look at the finished product, I realized I needed a tree topper.
I didn’t want anything fancy; just a classic star lit up to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem.
I’ve discovered that the only drawback to having a live tree in my house are the thousands of pine needles littering my floor.
It doesn’t help that I forget to water the thing.
“It’s nothing fancy, but it looks pretty at night.”
“It’s gorgeous,” she replies, wrapping her arm around my waist. “I’m proud of you.”
I help bring her luggage upstairs to the guestroom, where she pauses in the doorway. Right away, she notices the crib in the corner. Surprised, she asks, “Has Roman been staying here with you?”
I set her suitcase on the cedar chest and sit on the bed, patting the vacant space beside me.
She lowers herself onto the mattress, and I decide now is as good a time as any to tell her an abbreviated version of what transpired over Christmas morning.
Might as well get it out of the way so we can enjoy what’s left of the holidays, right?
She quietly gasps and grips my hand, her posture tense as she listens to every sordid word. I’m still stunned by Whitney’s brazen behavior, my move to get full custody of my son already in motion.
“If things go as planned, I could have Roman by the end of next month.”
“Wow,” Beverly exhales. “I can’t believe she would do something like this. I mean, trapping you into fatherhood and believing you’d marry her just so she could get movie roles?”
I stroke the inside of her wrist and nod. “I know. It’s shocking. But I have a plan in place, and I know she’ll take the bait. I’ve already drawn up the papers with my lawyer. They’re going to deliver them on New Year’s Eve.”
“Did you threaten her with a lawsuit?” She anxiously palms her chest. “Oh gosh, this isn’t something that will turn into entertainment and social media fodder, is it? Knowing Whitney, she’ll probably counter-sue for the publicity.”
I try to soothe Beverly with my words. “It’s important for you to know that I never chose this. It happened without my consent. And now I have a son, who needs stability and a safe environment in which to grow and learn.”
“He needs you. He needs his father,” she whispers in earnest.
“Yes. And I need to defend my truth. I’m pretty sure there’s a way to give Whitney what she ultimately wants in exchange for custody of my son. And without having us dragged through the mud.”
“How?”
“I’ve called in a favor from my close director friend, Clint Conroy.”
“You mean the famous director of all those superhero movies?”
“Yup. He’s the one. We go way back to those early days when we were both trying to find our way in this business.
He’s told me over the years that if I ever needed a favor, anything at all, to give him a call.
I did just that the day after Christmas.
He’s got a movie role that’s perfect for Whitney.
They’ll start filming this April in Costa Rica. ”
“Wait a minute. You weren’t kidding. You really do think Whitney will do anything for a movie role, including handing over the rights to her son.” Her face twists with confusion and disgust.
“I do. But there’s a catch. Clint and I agreed that if she doesn’t consent to three months in rehab before filming starts, the movie role is off the table.
She’s not gonna want to do risk losing this part because it’s a potential recurring character.
She could end up in several more of these movies. ”
“Oh.” Beverly nods with understanding.
“It’s a win for both of us. I get my son, and she gets sober and top billing in a film. It’s all she’s ever wanted. It’s why she picked me. I’m her in, don’t you see?”
“So even in the end, she wins. She gets what she’s always wanted.” Her words come out in a disappointed tone.
I can feel the heat rising in my face, and I shake my head.
“No, sweetheart. It’s Roman who wins. And love.
Love always wins. He won’t have to be raised by a nanny.
He can be with me… and you.” I stare at her.
“I mean, would you want to be an important person in his life?” I hold my breath, wondering if I might’ve jumped the gun buying Beverly her dream home and assuming she’d want to co-parent my son.
“Of course I do. I’d be honored to be a part of Roman’s life.”
I exhale a relieved sigh. “Whitney never wanted to have a baby. She only wanted to ride on my coattails and benefit from my popularity and influence. She’d be a fool to pass up this opportunity.
And let’s not forget, if she refuses, I could have her blackballed in Hollywood in an instant if I wanted to. ”
“Oh, please don’t do that,” she says in a rush of compassionate words. “You’re right about Whitney needing help, but to ruin her career would only make her spiral more.”
My lips curve into a smile as my eyes scroll Beverly’s face. I love her empathy and consideration for others. The world would be a much kinder place if there were more people like her around. I grip her hand and bring it close to my mouth, placing a chaste kiss on her knuckles.
“Don’t worry. I’m not a cruel a-hole. But I will always advocate my perspective with confidence.
I believe handing her a substantial movie role is the way to go.
She won’t have time to be a mother, nor does she want to be.
She admitted it. An offer like this will make her realize she’s still viable in this industry.
Believe it or not, the woman does have talent. ”
“I know; I saw her in that movie with you. Y’all were incredible.”
I nod. “Thank you. She just needs to stop acting impulsively and think about the consequences of her decisions.”
“This all sounds too perfect. I hope she’ll agree to all of it.”
“Me too. This is the way to do it without my having to go through a nasty custody battle before a judge and the entire world. This is the way to get her sober and onto the path to stardom.”