Harbour of Refuge (13 page)

“Puzzle.”

When Enzo opened the sliding door, Halyn was already mentally shopping for Liev’s birthday present.

Chapter Nine

Enzo blew out a breath as he watched Halyn talk to his son. More than that, he watched as Liev talked to her. The child still hadn’t said boo to him. Okay, so Liev wasn’t chatting her head off, but he at least he answered her. A yearning to be there on the couch filled him. He wanted to know what they were talking about. He wanted to be part of the conversation.

He’d just stepped in when his phone rang again. Checking the caller ID, he blew out another breath and backed back out onto the patio. “
Ciao,
Mama.”

“How could you not tell me you had a son!” She was livid, her tone conveyed that beautifully.

“I knew only yesterday, Mama.”

“Bring him here, we need to meet him. Or I’m coming to you.”

Not an idle threat coming from the woman who had carried him for nine months. “I’m leaving to race down in California, Mama. No need for…” He paused. “I would love to see you there.”

“What’s his name?”

“His name?”

“Yes, I need to know my grandson’s name.”

“Liev.”

“I’ll be there tomorrow.” She hung up. He didn’t need to tell her where to go, she knew all the places they stayed when racing. This way, at least his son would be well cared for while he raced. Then he could find a more permanent situation.

When Halyn had said no, he’d been mad. He’d wanted her to say ‘of course’ and take in his child with open arms so he could go. Now that he had given it more thought, he realised he’d been foolish to think that would have worked.

She was a woman with her own career and he’d just begun dating her. It had to be all wrong in her mind for him to try such a thing. He rested his hand on the siding near the door and watched them interact.

Placing another call, he waited for it to pick up.

“Don’t yell at me,” Gio said by way of greeting. “It wasn’t intentional.”

“Really?” He shook his head. “Are you sure? Not like some perverse payback for showing up at Jaydee’s while you were gone?”

“Man, I’ve got triplets. Do you really think I have time to plan a payback like that? I’m up to my elbows in diapers.”

“You could have asked that wife of yours. I’ve no doubt she could have planned it.”

“Well, that’s true.” Smugness rang in his tone. “She’s fuckin’ brilliant. But no. It was my fault and I’m sorry. I was on the phone with her when Jaydee asked me about something you left. I told her it was Liev’s and Mama asked. I just answered.”

“It’s okay. I told her to come out. She can get to know him while I finish the California race, then I’m taking a bit of a break for a while to get to know my son.”

“Proud of you, bro.”

“I want more.”

“I know the feeling. You know we’re here if you need us.”

“Actually, I do need something.”

“What?”

Enzo filled his brother in and ended the call, heading back inside. Halyn and Liev sat side by side on the sofa, eyes on the television. Well, upon closer inspection it was just Halyn who watched. Liev had fallen asleep.

When she looked at Enzo, she got to her feet, laid Liev down and walked towards him. “Get it all figured out?”

Tugging her by the hand, Enzo brought her into her bedroom, backed her against the wall and kissed her until she squirmed against him. He stared into her eyes and couldn’t resist another kiss.

“Stop, Enzo.”

“He’s sleeping.”

“He may wake up.”

“I’m taking him with me to California, Halyn. We’re leaving this afternoon. Are we still okay?”

She smiled up at him. “I’m so glad you’re taking him. We were always okay, Enzo.”

“So my having a son doesn’t make you not want to be my girlfriend?”

She looped her arms around him. “Not in the slightest. Can I make a suggestion, however?”

He nibbled on her ear. “What’s that?”

“Take him shopping for clothing. Get him a bag for
his
things so he doesn’t think he’s not worthy of having them. If he’s going with you, he needs more stuff. He’s in the clothes he wore yesterday.”

Shame filled him. He’d not even thought about that. “Want to come shopping with us?”

“I don’t think so. You can’t always have a buffer between you two. You’re going to have to talk to him eventually.”

“I do talk to him. He just stares at, or through, me.”

“Go on, take him shopping. I’m not sure what time you’re leaving but I’ll be home all day. I have to finish cleaning and get some other things done, so stop by if you want.”

He stared into her brown eyes. They were amazing and inviting, he would willingly drown in them. Brushing his knuckles along her cheekbone, he kissed her lightly. “I wish we could, but we’ll have to get going.”

“I understand.”

Holding her tight to him, he whispered, “Not how I expected to spend the past day with you, sweetheart. I had many plans for the two of us and none of them included clothing.”

“I was kind of looking forward to that as well. Go on then, and good luck in California.”

They returned to the living room where Liev still slept. He still mustn’t be used to the time zone. Crouching beside him, Enzo lightly shook his son.

“Liev. Come on, wake up.”

Eyes identical to his own stared back at him before the child sat up. His gaze darted around the room before settling once again on him.

“We’re leaving. Going to take you shopping, grab some lunch and get on a plane to California.”

No change in expression as Liev got off the couch and headed for the door. The boy didn’t look left or right, just went to it as if expecting something horrible to happen. Distraught, Enzo glanced to Halyn, who gave him an encouraging smile and jerked her head towards his son. Pushing to his feet, he blew her a kiss and opened the door for them to depart.

* * * *

Five hours later, he walked through the hotel lobby, a bag over his shoulder, two in his hands and his son pacing him, carrying his own backpack. He peered down at the boy and grinned. He’d changed into shorts and a T-shirt and a racing cap sat on his head.

They made it to the elevator and stepped inside. The music was soft and had him trying to stay awake. Who knew shopping could be so tiring.

“Are you excited?” he asked Liev. “To be here in California and race?”

Nothing. In fact, the child had yet to speak to him. Instead he communicated with head shakes or nods.

“Have you ever been to a boat race?”

Shake.

“We’ll go see the boat after we put things in our room. Then tonight for dinner, you’ll get to meet your grandmother. I know she’s going to love you.”

He used the key card to the room and nodded in approval. Normally he got rooms with a single king but this time he’d got one with two queens.

“Pick whichever bed you want. I’ll take the other one.”

He expected Liev to take the one more in direct line with the television, but he didn’t. The child took the one closer to the window. All in all, it worked better that way for him, he’d prefer to be nearer to the door.

They put their things down and he held out his hand. “Ready?”

There was nothing like a small hand slipping into his. He smiled at the silent child beside him and they headed back down. They spent some time on the boat and Liev met his crew before they returned to the hotel.

“Enzo!”

He paused at the call. His mother was on her way towards them. Lowering his head, he squeezed Liev’s hand. “This is your grandmother.”

“Oh, is this him?” She kissed him briefly before focusing on Liev. “He’s the spitting image of you.”

His mother was a force to be reckoned with, so he just let her get it all out, well aware he would be answering questions later on. She knelt in front of her grandson and held out her hand.

“I’m your grandma. You can call me Nonna.”

Liev didn’t speak. Nor did he shake her hand.

His mother wasn’t fazed in the least. She leaned in and kissed the child on the cheek then stood back up. “Let’s go get some supper.” She took Liev’s other hand. “We need to get some meat on your bones.”

They all climbed in a taxi and went to a beachside Italian restaurant. As Liev glanced over his menu, Enzo’s mother looked at him.

“Does he speak English?” she asked in Italian.

“So they tell me.” He, too, spoke his native language. “He doesn’t talk to me.”

“Who’s his mother?” She moved his glass back from the edge without pause.

“Ekaterina.”

“Russian. You don’t speak Russian.”

Nope, he didn’t. “Jaydee does.”

“How old is he?”

“Almost nine.”

The waiter arrived and she switched to English before they ordered. Through the meal, his mother continually spoke to Liev as if he talked back to her. The child really didn’t talk much. And he’d thought Jaydee was quiet.

After Liev was down for the night, he looked over the race course for the following day. He’d meet with Luke come morning and they’d go over it one more time. Then the race, and Liev would stay with his grandmother on the sidelines.

* * * *

The next morning, he walked down with Liev between him and his mother. The closer they got, the more into his racing mindset he fell, focusing on what was coming. So much so that when a reporter stuck a microphone in his face, he barely acknowledged him. Near the powerboat, he knelt down and stared his son in the face.

“You stay close to Nonna. I’ll be back.”

Nothing in response, but he pushed it to the side and got to his feet. Brushing a kiss along his mother’s cheek, he tucked his helmet under one arm and strode off to get in his seat. Buckled in, he glanced at the man beside him. They fist-bumped and nodded. Each ready to do what they were paid to do.

* * * *

“What are you smiling about, trouble?”

Halyn glanced up to see Mila standing there. “Am I? I didn’t even notice. What are you doing here?”

“You invited me to dinner.” She frowned. “Did you forget?”

She blew a puff of air, lifting her hair from where it hung over one eye for a brief second. “I did.” She grinned sheepishly. “I’m sorry, I got lost in my gardening.”

Instead of being upset, Mila merely snorted and rolled her eyes before plunking down beside her. “What can I do? We can go out later.”

After giving direction, the two friends were soon hands-deep in the nutrient-rich soil.

“How are things with you and your new beau?” Mila asked as she weeded around the roses.

“He’s in California right now.”

“I know that, but I need to ask you something.”

Halyn continued to work. “Yes, I know about his son.”

“Oh my God, girl. Did you not, like, totally freak out when that came to light?”

Well, yes but she wasn’t going to share that. “Why would I? Many men have children.”

“Okay, but he didn’t seem the least bit like someone who had a child when we saw in him Monte Carlo.”

“He’s a single dad, is he supposed to act like one when he doesn’t have his child with him?”

“I wasn’t judging him, Halyn. Just making an observation.”

“Yes, you were, but it’s okay. You’re entitled to your opinion.”

“Wait a second. You’re not at all surprised by this, did he tell you he had a child?”

In a matter of speaking. Halyn nodded and kept her head down. Mila had always been good about ferreting out the truth. Especially when Halyn didn’t want her to know it.

“Look at me,” Mila ordered.

“Can we move onto something else, Mila? He just didn’t want a lot of people to know about this.”

She muttered something in Greek but thankfully let it drop. They worked for another hour or so before getting up and heading inside. They showered and Mila put on some other clothing she kept there—they both had clothing at each other’s place as they often stayed over with one another—before the friends climbed into Halyn’s convertible and headed off into town for dinner.

* * * *

Twirling her linguine on her fork, Halyn shook her head at her friend. “Why are you and Joe fighting now?” She didn’t quite understand the parameters of their relationship all the time.

“He decided to be an ass and got jealous over the fact that I had met Enzo in Monte Carlo.”

“I don’t understand. You brought him to the house for dinner.”

“Beats me.” Mila took a sip of her wine. “There are some days I wonder why I’m even with him.”

“Thought it was because you loved him.” She ate the bite that had been on her fork for a short time now and washed it down with her own zinfandel.

“You don’t get it, we’ve been together for so long, I see you with Enzo and I’m jealous. It’s new, exciting.”

“Don’t go down that road, Mila. Don’t use me as a reason to break it off with Joe, or whatever you’re thinking.”

“I know, I was just talking. I’m sure we’ll be fine tomorrow.”

“Not seeing him until then?”

“Can I stay?” Mila batted her eyes then gave her a puppy-dog look.

“Of course you can.” Her friend occasionally stayed over and she enjoyed having her there.

They shared a dessert and took their time finishing the meal. Back at her house, they played some games and just caught up. It’d been a while—things had been hectic when Enzo had been in town and she’d not got to spend as much time with her friend as she would’ve liked. Aside from that dinner at her place, which in all truth had been more of a chaotic endeavour than anything else.

After saying goodnight, she went to her room and got ready for bed. Stretching out, she smiled as she recalled the image of Enzo and Liev in the paper. Huge news in the powerboat racing world, the appearance of Enzo Cassano’s son.

She was so proud of him for acknowledging his son, she couldn’t even begin to tell him how much so. To have seen him trying to find a way to dump him somewhere, to actually announcing that yes, Liev was his son. Okay, so she had a gooey moment. Seeing him as a father was so sexy.