he faint scent of baby powder and lavender was

three-year-old Leo. He was sleeping soundly, his

icked open

unwilling to let the argument drop. He

p this nonsense?" Julian asked. He kept hi

lanket up over Leo's shoulders.

mpire," she stated plainly.

his chest. A cruel, dismiss

o provide for a Sincla

oom, his expensive leather sh

e preschool tuition in Manhattan," he reminded h

ally turned

a father who is never

t his son. His gaze was analytical, as if inspecti

argued. He pointed to the expensive, imported woode

him, feeling a d

rite bedtime story?

elf filled with colorful spines. He opened his mouth, b

ther. "What is he s

interrogation. "Peanuts," he gu

ely missed

Her voice was laced with pity. "We have

liation crept up his neck at his own ig

a blatant, defensive lie to cover up his sudden flush of embarrassment. He knew a severe allergy wasn't

alized the man standing before her wa

y in his suit pocket. The vibration b

red slightly at the sudden noise, h

ack in a rhythmic motion. She glared at Juli

ced at the screen. The name 'Karli L

wiped the screen and answered the

Julia

cy arrogance vanished, replaced b

ly?" he asked Karli, completely i

e-a voice he never used with her anymore. The last invisible str

e phone back into his pocket and turned back to Ari

to the door. Her

pered. Her voice wa

egained the upper hand by showin

of the room, confident sh