“Absolutely.”
“Okay.” I turn back towards my family. TJ prattles animatedly with Aiden. Casey tries to climb over the headrests and into the backseat and AJ watches me fearfully. “Dax?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m going to take you up on that counselling offer. The twins…AJ…”
“I know. We’ve seen it too. We’ll get him,them, whatever they need.”
“Thank you. I mean it. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“So, do we have a wonderful, exhausting plan arranged to wipe out these little energy balls or what?” Aiden asks with a grin.
“You and Jules are taking them out for the day while I do all the boring paperwork. Use the personal card and make sure they get everything they need, and whatever else you think they’ll like. I’m paying Jules back for our fu—our blunder earlier.”
“Anywhere you’d like to go?” Aiden asks me.
“I’m drawing a blank. I’ll take ideas if you have any.”
“I might know a place that’ll keep everyone occupied and smiling. Come on, everyone in the car.”
I’m so out of my head that it takes a moment to realise that the mummy-mobile is for us. They strapped two booster seats and a baby seat in the back. There’s a bag that looks suspiciously like my backpack and another that resembles Casey’s diaper bag. Did Aiden grab these on the way out? No, he’d have brought mine from the hospital. God. These guys are ten steps ahead. I might as well just agree to everything if they’re going to sweet talk me into doing what they want anyway.
“What’s with the face, little gem?” Dax asks.
I point to the bags. “You must consider me a sure thing,” I grump. “You have it all planned out.”
“Think of me as a control freak. I like to be prepared for any eventuality, and Aiden is my overachieving enabler. Between the two of us, we’ll have everything covered. But I’d never consider you a sure thing, little gem. In fact, I’m looking forward to finding out how hard you’ll make me work for it.”
Aiden laughs behind me, closing the door on the already wrangled rugrats.
“I…er…I…”
“Come on, shortcake, let’s get this show on the road.” Aiden opens my door and nudges his head. I take another long look at Dax, realise I have nothing to say to his declaration, and climb into the passenger seat.
Before climbing in himself, Aiden circles to speak with Dax. I’m not sure if enhanced hearing is a natural talent I have or a trauma response to growing up with Eric Feelan as a father, but even with a closed window and the way both Aiden and Dax lower their voices, I hear their conversation clearly.
“Sneaky bastard,” Aiden whispers. “Hoping she focuses on that all day, huh?”
I lean toward the window to catch their reflections in the door mirrors. Dax’s grin belies the ease with which he shrugs off Aiden’s accusation. “Gotta make sure I’m in her head if you’re going to be playing saviour. Fair’s fair.”
Aiden snorts. “Asshole!”
“Dickwad,” Dax fires back with no real malice.
Aiden sighs and turns himself away from the car. I strain to hear him, my ear almost pressed to the cold glass, as he slips into seriousness. “You’re going to have to talk them into leaving. Do you have all the contracts ready?”
Dax nods, his expression solemn. “Yeah. I’ll meet you atCarlito’slater. I’ll call when I’m sure it’s safe to come back.” He nods to the car. “You got this?”
“Of course.”
Dax claps Aiden on the arm. “Good. Keep an eye on her.What happened upstairs was fucked up. We have a lot to discuss.”
“Call me at lunchtime. I’ll get them settled and fed, and then you can fill me in. Oh, and get Gregor working on that list.”
“I will. We’ll clean house. Go.” Dax waves and walks back to the Tower, calling out indistinct orders to his men.
