Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“Go get ready. We’ve got this.” London’s a mom. I had no idea. How didn’t I know this?
She sighs, seems to weigh her options, then shrugs. “Okay, thanks. I won’t be long, and Miss Quinn is in the kitchen fixing a snack, so she’ll join you in just a few.”
“Don’t worry. Go.”
Caleb gestures for me to follow him and leads me into a room that is, indeed, a game room.
There’s a big couch facing a huge television, and I see he has his game console on, and Mario Kart is ready to go.
There’s a popcorn machine and a candy station that seems to be locked, and that makes me grin.
“How often do you get to raid the candy box?”
“Only when Mom and I watch movies in here. I guess the last people used this as a movie room, but I mostly play games in here. What’s your name?”
“Drew. And you’re Caleb?”
“Yeah. Caleb Rome Ambrose. I’m named after my uncle. He’s the best.”
“I’ve met him,” I inform him and sit on the edge of the couch. “He’s a really nice guy. My dad is named Caleb, too.”
“Is his middle name Rome?”
“No, it’s Andrew. Like me.”
“Do you work for the team?” I can already tell that I’m in for a bunch of questions, and that doesn’t bother me at all.
“Yep. I’m a coach.”
“But you’re not a player? You look like a player.”
“Used to be.” I smile at him. “How about you? Do you play any sports?”
“Soccer right now. Hey, you should come to my game tomorrow. It’s going to be a lot of fun. I’ll probably score a lot of goals.”
This kid doesn’t have any confidence issues.
“I might just do that.”
“Have you ever played soccer?”
“Sure, when I was about your age. I like to watch it on TV, too.”
“Me, too! Mom watches with me sometimes. It’s cool.”
“Does Miss Quinn stay with you a lot?”
“Only when Mom has to go do stuff for work.” He shrugs and picks up a controller. “I heard her tell Uncle Rome that she doesn’t want to have a nanny because we’re a team, and we do just fine by ourselves. I’m probably old enough to stay home by myself. I don’t really need a babysitter.”
“I think, according to the law, that you do.”
That makes him smile, and then he shrugs his slim shoulder once more. He’s going to be a tall kid, and he’s got his mom’s dark hair and blue eyes.
Before he can ask me more questions, we hear female voices coming down the hallway.
“He should be in bed by ten because he has a soccer game tomorrow morning.” London walks into the game room, followed by a woman, whom I’d guess was college age.
And my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
London’s in a black dress with a high neckline, but her arms are bare, and her legs… I get glimpses of her long legs through the slits in her form-fitting dress. She’s lean and toned, and I suspect she works out more than she let on in the elevator earlier today.
She’s usually in suits at work, not showing any skin.
“You’re beautiful, Mom,” Caleb announces and wiggles his eyebrows.
“Thanks, buddy. You and Miss Quinn have fun, okay?”
“I’ll let her win at least one game,” he says with a smug smile, which makes Quinn laugh.
“That’s a lie. He never lets me win. Don’t worry about us; just go have fun.”
“Ten o’clock,” London says sternly. “Don’t give her a hard time when she tells you it’s bedtime.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” Caleb replies, trying to look earnest.
“Yeah, right. Okay, I’ll see you in the morning.” London kisses his head, ruffles his hair, and turns to me. “I’m ready when you are.”
“Let’s do this.” I gesture for her to lead the way and then turn back to Caleb. “It was good to meet you, Caleb.”
“You, too!”
I follow London out to my car—I broke the Range Rover out for the winter—and open the door for her, then walk around to the driver’s side.
“I didn’t know you had a son,” I begin as I start the car. “And before you reply to that, I have to tell you, you do look beautiful.”
Her lips tip up into a smile. “Thanks. You look good in a suit yourself.”
“I try not to wear them often,” I confess as I pull away from the house.
“I don’t advertise Caleb,” London says. “He’s no secret, and at one point, it was a hot topic in the press—me being an unwed mother—but that press has died off, and I like keeping Caleb out of the spotlight altogether. I know that I can’t shelter him forever, but for now, he’s not the topic of interest, and I’m happy to keep it that way. He goes to a good private school and lives a pretty normal life.”
I raise a brow and turn to her as I slow at the security gate. “Come on.”