“Where do you live?” she asked. “I have a place in Malibu.”
“Right now I have my parents’ mansion in Beverly Hills, but I usually stay on my yacht at the marina.”
“I’m not sure—”
“I know a yacht isn’t the right home for a baby. I’m meeting a Realtor after work to look at condos.”
He was already changing, she thought. But having a baby wasn’t always going to be like this. There were times when DJ started crying and nothing would soothe him. How would Dec react to that?
“We’ll just play that part by ear,” she said.
“Fine. But I’m letting you know that I want to have him at my place eventually.”
She nodded. When he was thirty, DJ could go wherever he wanted.
“Now, about dating,” he said matter-of-factly. “I don’t want this to be a fake thing.”
“Do you have a checklist?” she asked.
He scowled at her. “As a matter of fact I do. I’ve… This is the first time I’ve been around an actual blood relative,” he said. “I don’t want to screw it up.”
She felt her heart melt. She wanted to be careful and tried to picture him as the Tin Man again, but it was hard when he was earnest like this.
“Okay, what’s next on your list?”
“I want to get to know you.”
“I want that, too,” she admitted.
“Good. There’s more… I still want you.” He reached out and touched the side of her face and she felt a shiver go through her.
“I had already figured that part out for myself,” she said. It hadn’t taken a brain surgeon to realize that the lust that originally brought them together was still sparking between them. “I want you, too, but I’m not sure if that’s just because you’re forbidden fruit.”
“Forbidden?”
“Well, you are my family’s enemy.”
“Was that part of why you went out with me initially?” he asked.
“Uh, no. I didn’t realize who you were until we were partway through dinner.”
“What? How did you not know what I looked like? We grew up with flash cards of you guys,” he said.
“Please tell me you are kidding,” she said. “I’m picturing something akin to America’s War on Terror cards.”
“I am joking. But how did you not recognize me?”
“I just always pictured Thomas Montrose when I thought of your family. We have that portrait in our building.”
“So after you realized it was me—your ‘mortal enemy’—what did you think then?”
“Don’t let this go to your head, but you can be very charming when you want something,” she said.
“I know,” he said with that arrogant grin of his. “So we’ll date now and see where our relationship goes?”
“What if it doesn’t work out?” she asked. “Will you still see DJ?”
“Yes,” Dec said. “I’m not sure what kind of father I can be, but I want to try to be the best I can for him. He deserves to grow up knowing his dad wanted him.”
“Being wanted is important to you?” she asked.
“You know I’m adopted, right?” he asked.
She nodded. They’d never talked about it and she wondered if he felt awkward about it.
“Well, I always knew my biological parents didn’t want me.”
“But your adoptive parents picked you,” she said. She had a friend who’d adopted last year and Gail was always sure to let her toddler know that she loved her even more because she’d been chosen.
“I guess. But there is always that doubt that I’m good enough because my biological parents didn’t want me.”
She nodded; it explained a lot about how hard Dec worked and how he was always moving on to the next goal. She even thought that he might be a really good dad if it meant that he could keep DJ from feeling that way. But knowing that was what he wanted wasn’t enough. He was going to have to prove himself with his actions before she’d really trust him.
“Okay. So this dating thing, how is it going to work?” she asked.
“As you know, this is a busy week at work for us. I believe you have a game that is supposed to be delivered,” he said.
“Yes,” she said. “Maybe we should wait until next week?”
“No, we can have a late dinner tonight. I’ll stop by when I’m done for the day and see how your day is going,” he said.
That he was willing to accommodate her schedule made her feel pretty good. “That would be nice.”
“Where does DJ go during the day?”