She gives me another investigative look."So this woman...will she be there this Sunday?I'd love to meet her too."
The muscles in my jaw clench.My mother won't rest until she gets what she wants—she never has."I'll ask if she's got time."
My mother's mouth opens and closes several times before words emerge."How did they find you?"
"Samantha remembered her mom mentioning that her father was from Boston.Jessica had put my name on the birth certificate."
My mom sinks back in her chair, and for a moment, I see past her perfect facade to the woman beneath."You've been keeping my granddaughter from me.Why?"
I pinch the bridge of my nose, fighting a familiar headache."Yes, I did.With excellent reason.We both needed time to adjust.Samantha lost her mother and had to leave her entire life in Los Angeles behind to come live with me."
"How on earth are you going to take care of a fifteen-year-old?You're a busy businessman.You don't have time to raise a child."
"I have my office at home now."I shrug, though the adjustment hasn't been easy."I work from there when she's home and schedule appointments during school hours.It's challenging, but we're making it work."
My mom blinks, processing this information.Then her eyes light up in a way that makes my stomach drop."When can I meet her?"
I sigh, already seeing where this is heading."What about next Sunday?"
She nods, a familiar calculating look crossing her face."But, you know this means you need a suitable woman at your side as soon as possible?The girl needs female support in her life."Her eyes dart to the list on the table."What about Amy, the daughter of my friend Tracy?She's amazing."
"No.I'm already dating someone," I blurt out, desperate to head off another matchmaking attempt.
Her face transforms with astonishment."W...what?Who are you seeing?What is her name?What does she do?"
The emerging headache pounds harder."Cole, if this is another one of your games, I—"
"No, Mom, I'm serious."I run my hand through my hair."The woman I'm seeing is helping me with Samantha."It's not exactly a lie, but my gut twists anyway.
She gives me another investigative look."So this woman...will she be there this Sunday?I'd love to meet her too."
The muscles in my jaw clench.My mother won't rest until she gets what she wants—she never has."I'll ask if she's got time."
I swallow the last bit of espresso when my phone beeps.A smirk adorns my lips as I read the text."Mom, I gotta go.I have a meeting.I'll see you Sunday afternoon?"
When she stops before me, something softens in her expression as she touches my cheek."I love you."
I wrap my arms around her, the familiar scent of her Chanel perfume bringing back memories of rare tender moments."Yeah, I love you too, Mom."
The headache that emerged at my mom's house evaporates the second I step out of the elevator.The sight of Alisha waiting at my door sends an entirely different kind of tension through my body.Those pink stilettos make her legs look endless, and the form-fitting black dress beneath her leather jacket has my mouth going dry.Even angry, she's the most beautiful thing I've seen all day.
"What took you so long, Grumpy?You said twenty minutes."She glances up from her phone, fire dancing in her eyes."It's been twenty-five."
"Sorry, but I'm here now.So, tell me—"
"What the hell is wrong with you, Cole Walker?Have you studied Christian Grey in your free time?Because this fucking contract," she spits out, waving the envelope in the air, "is ridiculous."
She doesn't break eye contact as I approach, and the spark in her irises only intensifies.My cock hardens instantly, remembering how those eyes looked when she came apart in my office.
"Let's talk inside."I brush past her to open the door, catching another whiff of her intoxicating scent.She slips past me, all confident stride and tilted chin, giving me her best stare-down.Her confidence is sexy as hell.
"So, what's the problem?"
Her heels hit the floor with delicious force as she follows me."Where are you going?"
"My office."I grin, hearing those clicking sounds trailing behind me.Once inside, I lean against my desk, watching as she closes the door with a bang that would make my mother proud.
She stalks over, pressing a well-manicured finger into my chest.The simple touch sends electricity through my system, and I fight the urge to grab her and show her exactly what that contract promises.
