Joshua’s eyes were full of light, and he rolled Neil over, framing Neil’s head with his elbows. An even bigger smile spread over his face. “I’m going to show youeverything.”
Neil smirked. “Yeah, maybe you can fit that in around the day of conferences Brian’s set up for us.”
Joshua threaded his fingers into Neil’s hair and pulled a little, a physical reprimand. “I have it on good authority that we’ll be in a meeting for less than two hours today and three tomorrow. And the rest of the time is ours.”
“Paris must not be very impressive if you can show me everything in only two days.”
“Neil,” Joshua said, with one scolding eyebrow raised. “We’re going to have a good time. Don’t try to spoil it for me.”
Neil kissed Joshua’s beautiful mouth. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
The knock at the door made Joshua groan almost as loudly as Neil, who threw himself back on the pillows. He let Joshua be the one to grab a complimentary robe and answer the door.
“Just remember, you invited her,” Neil said, grinding the heels of his palms into his eye sockets and willing away the hard-on he’d been on the verge of doing something about.
“Shh,” Joshua said, glaring at Neil. He opened the hotel room door to greet Alice. “Good morning!”
She stood there wearing a lovely dress and fresh makeup applied on her face. Joshua made a move to invite her in, but Alice shook her head.
“I’m heading out for some sightseeing. I didn’t want you to worry about me if you couldn’t find me later.”
“Because I’m all about keeping tabs on you, Mom,” Neil said, trying to figure out just why his mother was wearing lipstick.
Alice rolled her eyes. “Dr. Peters has offered to take me to breakfast and then he says I simply have to see the Bouguereaus at the D’Orsay…”
Neil narrowed his eyes. He could have sworn his mother had justblushed.
“And then he said he’d take me out to lunch.” She bit her lower lip and looked positively giddy. Neil gritted his teeth and sat up.
“Dr. Peters said you and Neil had the meetings covered, Joshua?” She gazed up at Joshua with hopeful eyes, obviously dreading the possibility that Joshua might say he didn’t feel comfortable running the show, or capable of keeping Neil in check during the presentation.
“Sure,” Joshua said, putting his hand on her shoulder and squeezing. “Have fun.”
Alice smiled like a dazzling magazine cover model, and Neil sat all the way up in the bed. “Why is Brian taking you out? Can’t you go by yourself?” Joshua shot him a sideways look, but Neil went on. “You realize he’s divorced. With three kids. And he’s got a beard. On his face.”
Joshua looked like he might laugh, but he shook his head at Neil, obviously trying to shut him up.
Alice’s smile flattened into a tight line of annoyance. “His children are all grown up, Neil. They’re older than you—”
“Well, not really, but—”
Alice ignored him. “And he’s a kind man. Aniceman. He’s smart, and he makes me laugh. Not to mention, he likes my kid. You’re always telling me what a rarity that is, Neil. And it’sParis. Let your mother have a little romance in her life. Aren’t you the one always telling me to meet someone?” She clucked her tongue at him. “Someone might think you werejealousand didn’t want to share your mommy.”
Joshua laughed under his breath.
Neil started to stand up but realized he was naked. He sputtered. “That’s ridiculous, I—”
“You’re going to tell me to have a wonderful day, and that you’ll see me later,” Alice said, her arms crossed over her chest and her dark brown eyes boring into Neil like he was eight again and arguing with her about the mess of his experiments on the kitchen table.
“Have a wonderful day,” Neil said with a scowl. “But don’t tell me later about how scratchy his beard is. I don’t want to hear about it.”
Alice laughed. “And what makes you think I’d want to tell you about something like that? Seriously, Neil, you’re being a big baby.”
She turned on her heel and left the room. Joshua shut the door behind her, his expression full of barely suppressed laughter.
“What?” Neil asked. “She’s too good for him. He’s a workaholic, and not nearly smart enough for her. Besides, he’ll…slobber on her. She’s a fine woman, and—”
“You love her.”
