I know that isn’t going to happen anytime soon, and it kills me, but I can live with it. What about you, though? Could I buy you dinner and at least you can get to know me? Maybe then, you’ll see that I’m not such a bad guy.”
“Walker, I never thought you were a bad guy…”
“Whatever you think, then, let me show you who I really am. If you decide that I’m a monster and never want to see me again, I will respect it. If you don’t have a miserable time, maybe we can do it again, and then again.”
“Dinner?” Her eyes flickered.
My lips parted into a slight grin despite how much I tried to stop it. I wanted more than just dinner, but I wasn’t going to push it. Stacy felt the passion between us, of that much I was sure. It was too much for me to hope that we could be more than just friends. Even co-parenting was off the table until she realized that I wasn’t like she thought. I didn’t want to lock either of them up in a life sentence.
“I won’t pressure you at all. Not to meet me again or to see Harrison. I don’t think you’ll want that though, when you see who I really am.”
“You seem to be awful sure of yourself. You’re already showing me what a Wheeler you are.”
“I’m only sure of myself because I know who I am, and that’s a man who loves to travel, appreciates art, and is loyal to those around him. Eventually, you are going to see that, and I can’t wait for that moment.”
Stacy took a step closer to me, her gorgeous eyes pouring into my soul as a smile danced on her lips. She looked me up and down before taking a step back again. I didn’t want her to move away from me.
“We’ll see about that, Mr. Wheeler. Tomorrow night I’m free. That’s the only shot you’ve got. Then you leave us alone?”
“I give you my word.”
She snorted. “No offense, but that doesn’t mean much to me. I don’t know you.”
This time I moved closer, her back pressed against the glass as her mouth fell open. I wanted to take that pouting lip between my teeth and feel the shudder of desire as it rocked through her body.
“I might be a lot of things. I may have loved a lot of women, and I know my way around a bottle of scotch. There is no doubt that I’ve stirred up my fair share of trouble and broken a few hearts along the way. I’ve made deals I’m not proud of and deals I brag about. I’m proud of who I am, and that man keeps his word.”
A thumping noise broke the sexual tension building between us. A messy little hand ran across the glass, electing giggles from the boy as a chocolate streak appeared. His momentary distraction by seeing his mother was replaced by the creation in front of him. My heart melted just like the chocolate on his round little fingers.
“He’s an artist, like his mother,” I said.
Stacy laughed. “He’s a pain in the butt, like his father. You can pick me up here at seven. Don’t be late, I won’t wait around.”
Stacy turned and went back into the gallery, scooping up the messy little artist as she disappeared behind a large portrait. My heart was still soaring, and I had no plans of letting it or Stacy down.
11
Chapter Ten (Stacy)
“Oh, this was a bad idea,” I whispered. “This wasn’t well thought out whatsoever. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Stop it,” Matty said. “You know that this is the best thing that could have happened. At least he is being reasonable. At the very least, you are going to get the answers that you want, right?”
"I guess so, I just wish that I could settle my stomach."
"That's just your nerves. This is a big deal. You've been worrying about Harrison's father showing up forever. You can now put that mystery to bed."
"It wasn't a mystery. I knew who he was and worse, what he was from the second I met him. I know the only reason he's doing this to keep Harrison in his life."
"I wouldn't be so sure; you aren't the only one who saw the way he looked at you."
My cheeks flushed. The moment between us hadn't gone unnoticed by me either. It had been enough to keep me up for most of the night. There