Jade shook her head and started eating her cereal. "This is the most normal people thing I've seen you do.""Maybe you need to get to know me a little more."This felt dangerously close to the twenty questions we had attempted to play the first night we met. But it was the middle of the night, and there was no better time to make bad decisions."Were you home-schooled?"She asked with a grin. "Had different tutors flown in every day?"I laughed and shook my head. "Nope. Went to a boys preparatory school."Jade burst into laughter and pointed at me with her spoon. "You are so hopeless! And what did they 'prepare'you to be, huh? A jerk?""I'll have you know it's one of the best schools in the world. I bet Robin would love it there too."She rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out. "You might be right. Then he can be perfectly posh too, just like his daddy.""Your son plays violin;it doesn't get any posher than that," I pointed out.She laughed before asking."What were you doing when you
Jade"I need new clothes," I said with a sigh, looking at the small pile of clothes I had taken from my wardrobe."I've been telling you that for years!" Tammie exclaimed, making me laugh.We had been video chatting, and I had asked her for help picking out a cute outfit. Something that told Michael that I was open to him making another move but didn't want to seem too eager."How about this one?" I asked, holding a top against my chest."Nah, too bland."She said that about every outfit until we got to a cute floral dress that might or might not have belonged to her. She had left it on one of her visits, and I was now claiming it as mine. Once I got the stamp of approval, I hung up and got ready. Michael was coming to pick Robin up for the day, and I wanted to look my best when he came. We hadn't managed to talk much since the amazing night we had spent together, but I was hopeful that this could be the start of something new.Robin was ready and waiting impatiently in the living roo
MichaelI tightened my grip on the steering wheel and watched as Jade's boss once again walked her out. Correction, Jade'sex-boyfriend. From where I was sitting, this guy behaved a lot like an ex who wanted to be back in Jade's life, and I was starting to suspect that this whole job thing was just a ruse to win Jade back. What kind of boss walked his employee out in broad daylight?Why did I even care? Jade and I were not in a relationship. We were great together in bed, but that was just attraction, nothing more. Or was it? The little nagging voice in the back of my mind told me this was what jealousy felt like.I looked at the apron guy again as he placed a hand on Jade's arm before he left and wondered what was there to be jealous about. Jade had told me they had dated for a little while, but it hadn't worked out, and I believed her. I was starting to know Jade a little, and she hadn't given me any reason to think she might have any feelings for the cafe guy. But again, it didn't m
There was no mistaking what those were with the bank logo so visible in one of them. My jaw nearly dropped."Did you write her a check?" I asked in surprise.He raised his glass and drank calmly. "It was supposed to be for her sister's tuition.""Jadeis a part of this family, Grandfather, and you will afford her some respect," I snapped, my fingers tightening on Jade's hand."Are you playing house now? Surely you know what a terrible idea that is, trying to make her fit where she does not belong!"In all my life, I had never raised my voice to my grandfather, but I found myself very tempted to do so now. He was impossible, and I couldn't let him treat Jade this way."Does my son not belong here too? Because you can't tell me he does, then in the next breath, claim that the woman who raised him does not!""The woman you impregnated," he said as a point of correction."This has to stop, Grandfather." I couldn't believe what I was hearing."It's alright, Michael," Jade said as she placed
Jade"Thank you for the lovely weekend," I said as Michael prepared to leave.He had dropped us at home and stayed long enough to tuck Robin in. I could see the look on his face as he said goodnight that he wished he didn't have to leave. Something had shifted over the weekend, and it would be harder to separate father and son. I also enjoyed seeing a new side to Michael and having him defend me in front of his grandfather.I loved seeing Michael's new side, although that side makes him even sexier. I want him more now than I did when the attraction was physical."My mother will probably want to have Robin over every school holiday now," he replied with a smile."And he would love that too. You saw how much he enjoyed having a grandmother dote on him.""One weekend every holiday then, or we'll end up with a spoiled brat."I wasn't sure exactly how to say what was on my mind, so I just blurted it out."I know what your father was insinuating about Robin. He is unhappy because you have
MichaelI tapped my pen impatiently as I listened to the voice on the other end of the line. I was about to say a few choice words when I saw Robin's picture, his wide grin showing some missing front teeth. Jade had given it to me when they had moved in, and the frame had taken its rightful place on my desk. Looking at it reminded me to be nicer, even when dealing with ineffective people. Jade seemed to like the softer side of me.I foundmyself doing many things to see her smile lately, and it wasn't difficult to make Jade happy. She seemed to be this ball of infectious energy even when she'd had a long day, and I was now living to see those green eyes shining. I was excited to go home at the end of a work day for the first time in my life, and it was all because I had a family to go home to. I'd come here to grow my business, not knowing that I'd find myself where I was now. Even though it was not something I had envisioned, I was right where I belonged.I gotready to leave once I fi
JadeThe next morning seemed to come way too quickly. I woke up and groaned to the sound of the phone ringing. It was Jordan."Good morning," I answered gruffly.This response was very different from how I normally answered Jordan's phone calls, so he knew I was still slightly irritated about the confrontation between Jordan and Michael."Hi. I just wanted to call and apologize to you for what I said to Michael," he said.I could tell by his voice that the apology was sincere. However, I was also positive that he wasn't sorry for what he said to Michael but was sorry that he upset me."I appreciate your apology, and of course, I forgive you," I assured him.Accepting his apology and forgiving him didn't mean I wasn't still annoyed."We've been good friends for a long time," Jordan reminded me. "Even if we aren't dating, I still care about you and will always be here for you.""I appreciate that. However, I am really happy with Michael. The best way to be there for me is to avoid sayin
MichaelJade emerged from her bedroom after getting ready for her girls' night with Tammie. Her emerald green dress fit her body perfectly, as though it had been made just for her. She pulled her hair back into a braided bun, the red highlighted by the deep green of her dress, and applied her makeup perfectly. It highlighted her high cheekbones and beautiful green eyes.I could only stareat the vision that was standing in front of me. She took my breath away.A knock on the door shook me out of my reverie.Robin ranto the door and flung it open before his mother or I could stop him."Aunt Tammie,"he yelled.She pickedhim up and peppered his face with a lot of kisses."How ismy favorite man in the world?" she asked as she put him down."Awesome,"he said, leading her by the hand into the living room."Daddyand I are ordering pizza tonight and playing video games. We're having a guy's night tonight," he said.Tammie raisedher eyebrows at the word "daddy.”"I'msure you guys will have a gr