An Irish Affair (Heart of Hope 2)

“I promise.”

20

Devin

I always enjoyed Europe, but this trip I was on the edge the entire time. Serena was finally putting aside her hesitation and ready to see what this thing between us could be, but instead of getting right to it, I had to go to Paris to check on the new club. What if she changed her mind while I was gone?

What had become clear to me was that the wall she kept enacting before had to do with her son. I tried not to be offended that she thought I was an asshole or a jerk that I’d not want to be with her because of Andrew, especially since I had told her I didn’t see myself as marriage or parent material. I was recognizing that I was wrong about that. I didn’t know if Serena was the one, but I knew I wanted to see where things went with us. I understood that Andrew was part of the package, and I was looking forward to spending more time with him. I’d apparently passed the parent test too, or at least her mother.

On Sunday morning, I showed up in a limo because I wanted to give Andrew the full fun day package. It was such a joy to watch his eyes light up at seeing the car and then exploring all the cool stuff in it like the gaming device and mini-fridge.

“He’s going to think you ride like this all the time,” Serena said with the prettiest smile as she watched her son take in the car.

“Maybe I will from now on. At least with Andrew.” I took her hand and kissed it. “Maybe we can go on a date just you and me. There’s lots of adult things that can be done in here, too.”

Her cheeks flushed, and this time I leaned over and kissed her lips.

“You’re kissing my mommy.” Andrew pointed at me. “Are you her boyfriend now?”

“Are you okay with that?” I asked him.

“Yep. Will you be my new daddy then?”

My heart stalled in my chest, and I looked at Serena for guidance on how to respond. She flinched and looked almost panicked.

I sucked in a breath. “No matter what, Andrew, I’ll always be your friend. Is that okay?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

Luckily, we pulled into the airport and he was immediately distracted by the plane.

He pressed his face to the window. “Is this our airplane?”

“It is. It’s a gulf stream. Did you learn about that in your book?”

“A little bit. Is it fast?”

“Fast enough.” We piled out of the car and Andrew rushed up the steps. We caught up to him as he oo

hed and ahhed at the cockpit where my two pilots were telling him about how to fly the plane.

“Baby, maybe we should let them focus on their job,” Serena said, putting her hands on his shoulders.

“I want to watch.”

“I tell you what,” I said picking him up. “Let them get us in the air, and then you can watch.”

“”kay.” I put him down and he ran up the aisle. “Is the bedroom back here?”

I laughed. “Yes.”

“Andrew, come sit down until we’re in the air, okay?” Serena said following him up the aisle. She looked into the room.

“More adult activity can be done there,” I whispered in her ear. “Are you in the mile high club?”

Again her cheeks flushed. “No.”

I waggled my brows. “I’ll add it to my list.” It was probably perverse how much I enjoyed initiating her into sexual escapades.