scrolling through his phone, when

greeted, walki

y at a club and after an intimate

ll she wanted was a father figure for Eli, a man who could p

he was never lucky when i

ly distant from Eli, making the litt

looked u

en he was preoccupied, but tonight, it irked her more than usual. She

t today," she said,

mured, still glu

multi-million dollar deal. A

ed up briefly, offering a half-smile before re

ened. Congrat

biggest opportunities of her career, an

ding her arms, "This could cha

phone onto the couch. "Let's not pr

ords

she reminded him, struggling to keep her

rsation was exhausting him. "Look, I'm happy for yo

"Your own stuff? What i

before casually announcing, "I'm flying out to Vegas

iffened

deal. I just found

r blood boil. He had not had an i

aking decisions without

Because I said I have

y shru

really

even accepte

ly, willing herse

east wait so we c

e raised

ht? I'll be in and out before you

the las

exactly the problem, Gregor

arkened. "Oh, he

p to be a father,

ed. The words la

s gaze. "No, you didn't. But you signed up to

hed between them that only t

k, running a hand

here. I just don't think we want the s

ad spent years trying to build something stable, trying to believe that Gregory could

e in a long time, Mir

waiting for p

ld channel all her energy and make sure

Internation

sat on the airport bench,

, and everything here felt big-the li

. But Eli, being a hyperactive child, was already bored. His mama always told him to s

e suit. The man looked important, like the kind of guy who owned fancy cars an

e said

deep green eyes flickered with amusement as he too

legs. "What'

arched h

lly friendly

ing to strangers is bad, but

od to know. My name i

. My birthday's in two months, but Mama

anger s

lmost-five is a

Yeah. But Mama still wo

on't think the world is ready for

ready. His gaze dropped to his watch, i

re ric

d his head. "What m

when she's working. And you have that wa

mpressed by the kid's observatio

en, as if struck by a sudden realization,

ou my

happening. He glanced around, half-expecting a hidden ca

d be a daddy," Eli said seriously. "And

ack of his neck. "I don't th

wned. "

... you don't just fin

y n

." the man

don't work like

y stuffed bunny once, and Mama found it at the lost

ut laughing. "Kid, y

med. "I

tic voice rang th

er eyes wide with panic as she se

ard his name, striding towards

Eli, relief crash

knees, grabbing Eli's shoulders. "Ba

!" Eli protested.

th caught.

She yelled at him, grabbing h