Lace (Just This Once 4)

I grab her shoulder and squeeze it. “He loves that kid more than anything.”

Her eyes mist once she opens them. “I need him here, Alex. Dammi

t, I wish he could be here all the time.”

I pull her into me for a hug. “You’re both doing the best you can. Alvin’s a lucky kid to have two parents who love him as much as you and Monte do.”

She nods through a sniffle. “He has you too. You’re staying in New York for a few more weeks, aren’t you?”

I haven’t laid out my long terms plan for her yet, because nothing is written in stone. I have a meeting this afternoon that will put more of the pieces of my future in place.

“I’m not going anywhere.” I glance over her shoulder to the sight of Alvin waving both hands in our direction. He’s standing next to the hospital bed where he spent the night. “It looks like your son is ready to hit the road.”

She turns back, waving a hand in the air. “We’ll be right there, sweetheart.”

“Mom,” Alvin groans. “I’m ten-years-old. I’m not your sweetheart.”

I laugh. “He’s feeling better.”

“Let’s get him home.” She reaches up to adjust the lapels of my suit jacket. “It didn’t slip past me that you’re wearing the same clothes you were wearing last night.”

I cock a brow. “You always did have an eagle eye.”

She smiles and grabs my hand. “You smell like my favorite body wash. Monte got me a bottle from Matiz Cosmetics for my birthday.”

“You wanted to be a police detective when you were a kid. You should have gone with that. Your investigation skills are impressive.”

“I like Olivia.” She squeezes my hand. “Alvin likes her. Be good to her, Alex.”

“I’m starving,” Alvin calls from behind us. “Can we please go home already?”

I look at Phoebe. “You heard the little man. It’s time to get out of here.”

She gives me a curt nod and a wide smile. “I couldn’t agree with you more.”

***

“Fancy meeting you here.”

I feel a tap on my shoulder with those words.

I’d know the seductive tone of that voice anywhere. I turn around eager to kiss her, but that’s washed away when I realize she’s not alone.

Olivia is standing on a sidewalk in Midtown Manhattan next to a guy in a three-piece suit. He can’t keep his eyes off of her.

Who the fuck is this?

“Alexander Donato.” I shove a hand at the dark-haired, blue-eyed schmuck.

He glances at Olivia before his hand lands in mine. “Derek Tocher.”

I wait for someone to explain how the hell these two know each other.

“How’s Alvin?” Olivia steps nearer to Tocher when a group of tourists pushes past her.

I take a step closer to her to even the distance. “Good. I dropped him and Phoebe off at home earlier.”

Her eyes scan my face. “I’m glad he’s doing better.”