The Playboy and the Single Mum (Vintage Love Book 2) (14 page)

“I made a fort. Come inside,” she said before disappearing.

He kicked off his shoes and jacket and crawled under a blanket. “Where’s Max?” Surely she’d made the tent for him.

“I got him and Genevieve their own room for the night. I told Max you would be sad your car got broken and you’d need some quiet time.”

“And you built me a sofa fort?”

“I built you an amazing sofa fort. Come on, this is the best fort you’ve seen in a long time, isn’t it? And you were the one who told me that men are just boys with bigger toys. When Max is sad, a fort always cheers him up. I thought I’d give it a try.”

It was kind of working. A small smile twitched at the side of his mouth. “What do we do in this amazing sofa fort? You obviously have more experience than I do.”

“Well, I’ve got a few refreshments.” She pulled a room service tray out from under the coffee table. She’d ordered chocolate chip cookies, potato chips, popcorn, and some mini pizzas, all things he normally denied himself during the race season. But beside the kids’ assortment of foods was a bottle of whiskey and two glasses. “And I picked up that book you wanted to read.” She slid him a copy of Harper Lee’s last novel.

“So we eat junk food and read?” He grabbed a handful of popcorn then put a few kernels into her mouth when she opened to answer.

“That’s what I do with Max. But the one thing about sofa forts is that they get kind of warm. So in this adult version, clothing is optional.”

She unbuttoned her blouse and slid it off her shoulders. He could see the outline of her nipples against the white lace of her bra. Next she shimmied out of her trousers, revealing the matching boy shorts.

He swallowed. “I really like your fort.” He traced a finger along the lace top of her bra. She drew in a shuddering breath, pushing her chest closer to him. He leaned over and sucked her nipples through the fabric. Threading her fingers through his hair, she held his head to her chest. Crashing had its compensations.

He slid off her underwear, and she unhooked her bra and tossed it with the rest of her clothes. She sat naked beside him, no longer ashamed of her body. He was going to make this last as long as the race should have. He poured a glass of whiskey, dipped his finger into it, and drew the outline of the track on Lexy’s body. He then licked it off, spending a long time on the curves that encompassed her breasts.

“Daniel, please,” she begged after the third lap. “Take your clothes off. I want to play, too.” He slid a finger into her, massaging her from the inside.

“Not yet. You went to a lot of effort to build this fort. I’m going to reward you for it.”

He took his time doing justice to her hot, wet heat. Her head was thrown back on the sofa base, her arms spread wide—all his to do with what he wanted. It didn’t get much better than this. As he continued to lick and caress, her head thrashed from side to side, her hair in wild abandon around her. And when she orgasmed, she yelled his name. He may have lost the race, but he’d won the prize.

“My turn,” she said when her body stopped vibrating.

“What?”

But she was already unbuttoning his shirt, her tongue flicking across his nipples as she unfastened his belt and slid down his zipper. He raised his hips to help remove his clothes. Before he could position her, her lips closed around him. “
Mon Dieu
, Lexy…”

It wasn’t the first time she’d done this to him, but it still pulled him inside out. She was alternating between sucking and licking, her fingers caressing the inside of his thighs and higher when his phone went off. It took three rings before he recognized the distinctive tone he’d assigned to his brother, Jacques.

“I have to get that.” He could barely get the words out of his throat—how could he talk to his brother?

He managed to locate his phone in his trouser pocket and pull it out. As he slid the icon to answer, Lexy resumed her torture. She kept her eyes on his as she slid her mouth up and down on him. If he wanted her to stop, he just had to say so.

He didn’t.

“Hello?” he croaked out. This was going to be the shortest conversation ever.

“Daniel, I have great news. The crime boss Maya testified against is dead. We can come out of hiding now,” Jacques said.

“That’s fantastic.” It was really great, but not as wonderful as what Lexy was doing to him now.

“Are you okay? You sound a bit odd.”

“Fine. Just can’t talk now. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”

“Sure. We’ll come to your race in Rio.”

“Great. Bye.”

He flicked the phone off, closed his eyes, and let the woman who meant as much to him as racing rock his world.

***

“Lexy?”

“Hmmm?” She didn’t open her eyes. Didn’t want to acknowledge that another day was starting. She just wanted to lay here next to Daniel and never move again. They were still in the sofa fort, blissfully naked and satiated after a night of lovemaking.

“I need your advice,” Daniel said. He stroked a lazy hand up and down her back.

She opened one eye. “About what?” At his concerned expression she sat up and put a hand on his face, caressing his cheek.

“I’ll start at the beginning.”

“It’s a very good place to start.”

He smiled and she managed to pull in a deeper breath. “Earlier this year I received an email from a Santiago Alvarez, claiming he was my half brother and that our father wanted to meet me. Evidently, my alleged father has cancer and isn’t expected to live long. His dying wish is to see me before he passes.”

“How did you respond?”

“I ignored it at first. As a quasi-celebrity I get a lot of these requests to meet, even claims of being family. They all end in asking for money. I thought this was one of the same.”

“But now you think it might be legit?”

“He’s been emailing me regularly, so I finally looked him up. If he’s the Santiago Alvarez I researched then he’s rich in his own right. He doesn’t need my money. Finally, two weeks ago he sent me details of a DNA test from himself and my father and asked me to also submit a sample. I did it while in Texas and, according to the results, it’s not a scam.”

“Oh my God, you’ve found your father. Haven’t you ever wondered what he’s like?”

“A bit, when I was a kid. But I was happy with Jacques and his grandfather. I don’t need more family.”

“So, what advice do you want?”

“Until I met you, I had no interest in meeting him. But now, after your reunion with your dad and seeing how happy it’s made you all, especially Gian-Franco… Should I go? Santiago wants me to fly to their estate in Mendoza, Argentina, after the race in Rio. Just for two days to meet my father.”

“What are you worried about?”

“He’s dying. Do I want to meet him only to lose him right away? What’s to be gained by that?”

“For you, probably nothing, but can you imagine his relief? He’ll be able to go to his grave at peace. You are an incredible man; your father will be so proud of you. I can understand him wanting to see you just once.”

He paused. “Okay, I’ll go as long as you’ll come with me.”

“I’m not sure I’m included in the invite. Plus, I can’t leave Max and Genevieve.”

“It’s a package deal; I go with my entourage, or I don’t go. Dude has come this far, I think he’d be crushed not to get to go to Argentina. Speaking of fathers, have you heard anything from weaselly Wesley?”

She swallowed. “Not yet. I’m hoping his advisors have told him that a nasty custody fight will ruin his father’s chance of making it to the White House. No way will Wesley cross his parents.”

“I think you’re right.”

“What about your other brother, Jacques? Weren’t you speaking with him last night?”

“He and Maya are coming to the race in Rio as well. I’ll let them decide if they want to come to Argentina or not. Damn, I hope Jacques doesn’t want his plane back. For a guy who started this journey alone, I seem to have accumulated quite a posse.”

“How do you feel about that?”

His hand cupped her breast and he lowered his head. “Right now? Amazing,” he said against her skin.

Don’t fall for a good-looking man, because you’ll never hold onto him.

Lexy paced. They’d arrived in Rio early that morning and gone on a quick sightseeing tour, but neither Max nor Genevieve had felt great so they’d returned to the hotel. Daniel had gone off to a meeting with his team. He was on edge as well. Eleven points behind in the championship meant he had to win both of the next races. Papa wasn’t coming to the Brazil race, as he had commitments back in Italy. She was rather relieved because the last time she’d been in Rio with her father, it had been memorable for all the wrong reasons.

But what had her pacing the hotel room was the imminent arrival of Daniel’s brother Jacques and his wife, Maya. It was stupid to be nervous, but somehow meeting people Daniel loved and respected was much more daunting than integrating with his entire F1 team.

Would they judge Lexy because she was a single mum, dragging her child around the world after a man she had no hope of holding onto? Because as great a time as she was having with Daniel, she was very aware that he hadn’t mentioned the “L” word at all. The old song advising her that “it was in his kiss” was complete pants. Unless he said it out loud, she wouldn’t believe it, via exchange of saliva or not.

So, what was holding her back from admitting her feelings? She’d known she was in trouble when he’d walked out her flat door weeks ago carrying Dude like he was the coronation crown. When Jacqueline had accused her of being in love with Daniel she hadn’t denied it. But was she? She certainly went through the wringer while he was on track. And when he walked into the room it was like all the air was sucked out of her lungs. Her body came instantly alive, and for the first time in her life she was excited to start each day. Especially when it began with Daniel snuggled up next to her.

They had seventeen days left in their stipulated road trip. Thankfully, Destin Designs had been excited to capitalize on the increased sales her affair with Daniel had afforded them, and had latched on to the suggested campaign. They’d even sent her several new outfits to wear when in public with Daniel. Their relationship had been devalued to an advertisement.

Daniel had hinted he still wanted her with him after Abu Dhabi. But what about her job? Her studies? And could she really drag Max around the world because she had the hots for an F1 driver?

Said man walked into the room, and the questions dulled to an uncomfortable niggle. It was hard to think of negatives when he was near.

“Jacques just texted me. They’ve landed and will be here within thirty minutes or so, depending on traffic,” Daniel said as he pulled her into his arms for a kiss.

When he eventually released her lips, she asked the questions that had been bugging her since she heard his brother and sister-in-law were coming, “What if we don’t get on? What if they don’t like me or think I’m not good enough for you?”

He laughed and kissed her again. “Not a problem. We tell them to get lost. I don’t need Jacques. I’ve got a spare brother now.”

He dipped his head to kiss her again when the bedroom door flung open and Genevieve raced out. “Lexy, Max can’t breathe. I’ve given him his asthma inhaler three times and it isn’t helping.”

She ran into the room, Daniel right on her heels. Max sat on his bed, incredibly pale. “It’s going to be okay, honey. We’re going to get you some help to breathe, okay?” She sat on the bed and pulled him onto her lap, stroking his hair.

What kind of mother was she? Kissing a man while her son in the next room was dying.

“I’ll call for an ambulance,” Daniel said, picking up the hotel phone on the bedside table.

Max’s lips had a bluish tint to them. She had to do something. Sitting here waiting was agonizing. “Let’s go down to the lobby so the ambulance attendants can get to him quicker.”

She bundled Max in a blanket, grabbed his favorite stuffie, and started toward the door. Except she had so many tears in her eyes, she stumbled over the bag she’d left in the hallway earlier.

“Here, let me,” Daniel said. Reluctantly she handed her son to her lover. He rubbed a hand up and down Max’s back as he walked, soothing him. Lexy pressed her fist to her mouth, trying to hold back the sobs. Max needed her to stay calm. If he saw how upset she was, it would make it worse for him.

“I’m coming, too,” Genevieve said. “I can’t wait here…” Her face was deathly pale, and Lexy didn’t have the heart or the time to argue with her. It would be cruel to tell her she had to stay.

When they arrived in the lobby, a well-dressed man strode over to them. He looked so much like Daniel that Lexy did a double take. Which brother was this?

“Good evening, I’m Santiago Alvarez…” He took one look at Max and then at her face and asked, “How can I help?”

“We’re waiting for an ambulance,” Daniel said. “My son needs to get to the hospital.” His face was fierce, his jaw set, his eyes daring anyone to get in his way, as though it really were his child in distress in his arms. If she weren’t so worried about Max, she’d have kissed Daniel right there.

“Your son … I wasn’t aware.” Santiago stared at Max again then gestured toward the door. “There has been a big accident on the highway; many of the ambulances will be tied up there. It will be quicker if I take you to the hospital in my car. Come this way.”

He was obviously a man used to being in charge. But Daniel didn’t move. “Thanks all the same, but we don’t know you.”

“We are family. Do you think I would allow something to happen to my father’s grandson?”

Daniel glanced at her and she said, “I don’t care how we get there. Let’s just go.”

They followed a swiftly-moving Santiago through the door. He was barking orders into his phone in Portuguese. “Here’s my car,” he said and flung open the back doors to a limo.

As Lexy was about to step in, the car behind began to honk its horn furiously. Daniel glanced back and then handed Max to her. “One second,” he said, and then true to his word he was back before she could even get her seatbelt on. Santiago knocked on the driver’s partition.

“That was Jacques and Maya in the car behind. They’re going to follow us. Looks like we’ll have our family reunion in the hospital,” Daniel said.

“I—” Lexy began.

“Don’t even think of apologizing. This is what family does. And you’re family now.” He put his arm around her and with his other hand stroked Max’s hair. He still struggled to draw a breath, but his lips hadn’t turned any bluer and he was alert.

At the hospital, Santiago jumped out of the car first, calling out orders as he went. Two orderlies rushed out with a gurney and took Max from her. He cried and held out his arms, afraid she would leave him. She held on to his chubby hand and ran alongside. They were whisked into a private room immediately.

“Step aside, Lexy. Let them work,” Daniel said as he gently pulled her away so the doctor could do his examination.

“I’m right here, Max, honey. I’m not going anywhere,” she said as she let his hand go. She pulled in a shuddering breath and Daniel wrapped his arms around her. Santiago translated the doctor’s questions and Lexy had to push past the lump in her throat to make her voice work. This wasn’t the first time Max had been rushed to the hospital with an asthma attack. At least before, she’d been in her home country. What if they were somewhere where neither she nor Daniel spoke the language and he didn’t have a handy half brother to assist?

They gave Max a nebulizer and within seconds his lips returned to a healthy pink. As the nurse hooked him up to the monitoring machines, Santiago explained to Max in a soft, gentle voice what they were doing and saying.

Max’s blue eyes were huge as he watched all the adults in the room, but he didn’t cry or complain when the nurse drew a vial of blood. Lexy was so proud of his courage, and struggled to keep her own tears inside.

“He’s going to be fine,” Santiago translated for the doctor. “They want to keep him here for a few hours to make sure. They’ll give him some medicine but suggest that maybe Rio is not the best place for him. Their air quality is not good at the moment. It would be better for him to stay somewhere else.”

“Maybe we can go with Jacques to where he’s been living,” Daniel suggested. He ran his hand up and down her arm and she leaned into his strength.

“I have a place in the countryside, near the mountains,” Santiago said. “The air is pure and you will be most welcome to stay until your son recovers. I came to invite you to come there after the race to meet our father. I have a private plane and can have it ready to go as soon as they discharge Max.”

Daniel looked his brother up and down. Lexy had to admit, as far as first meetings went, this had been a doozy.

At the moment, she just wanted Max safe. “I don’t mind where. Daniel, I trust you to decide.” She was turning over control of her son’s welfare to him. It was a big step for her. And another sign she was losing part of herself to this man.

***

Daniel sucked in a deep breath. Max was going to be okay. That was the main thing. He’d been terrified when he’d seen the little boy’s blue lips and the panic in Lexy’s eyes. How had she coped all those months after Max’s birth when they weren’t sure if he was going to live or not? He’d gone through forty-five minutes of anxiety and he was a wreck.

Could he do this on a permanent basis? Because there was no Lexy without Max. And he wouldn’t want there to be. But was he ready to be a father? Calling Max his son had just slipped out in the heat of the moment. Obviously the idea had been growing in his heart for a while now. Was it too late to let go? Could he?

“Lexy, I’m going to discuss this with my … brothers. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Dieu
, this was weird suddenly having family he never expected. But Santiago had been extremely helpful. It would have been more stressful without him there.

Santiago followed him out of the treatment room and they found Jacques and Maya with Genevieve in the waiting area. As soon as he was two meters away, Maya launched herself at him, hugging him like he’d disappear if she didn’t hold on.

“I’m so happy to see you, I’m not even going to question why you have two women and a child with you,” Maya said.

Jacques was next in line to embrace him. “I’m happy to see you, too. Shame you’ve gotten even uglier. But I will ask, what the hell? I leave you alone for one year and you go all sister wives?”

“That’s a long speech for an old married man. Sure you don’t want to sit down now?” Daniel replied.

“Seriously, Daniel,” Jacques said, his arm still around his shoulders. “Some introductions would be helpful.”

Daniel hauled in a deep breath. “You know Genevieve. The little boy having the asthma attack is Max and his mother is Lexy, with whom I’m … involved.” Lame term but “having a torrid love affair that I want to spin into a more permanent relationship but she insists is only a temporary fling” seemed too involved for the current discussion. “Genevieve has been Max’s nanny while Lexy has been working. It’s a long story and one I’ll tell you over a bottle of wine, or two. And this,” Daniel gestured Santiago forward, “apparently is my brother by another mother. We share a father, according to a DNA test.”

“Who needs DNA? One look and anyone can see you’re brothers,” Maya said. She stepped forward and kissed a startled-looking Santiago on the cheek as well. “I’m Maya. Welcome to the family. Or are we invading yours?” She shrugged and looked like she was going to kiss him again when Jacques grabbed her hand and pulled her back into his arms.

Jacques held out his hand and Santiago shook it. They both took the measure of the other and seemed satisfied with what they saw, although Jacques’s arm tightened possessively around his wife. Daniel took a good look at his new brother for the first time. Santiago was tall, halfway between himself and ginormous Jacques. They had the same dark brown hair, but Santiago’s eyes were more on the hazel side than green. But their nose and jawline were duplicates. It would be hard to deny they were brothers.

“Thank you. I look forward to getting to know you all.” Santiago’s eyes lingered a moment longer on Genevieve than anyone else.

“The doctors say Max is going to be fine but that he shouldn’t stay in Rio because of the pollution. Jacques, is your place nearby? Can he and Lexy go there?”

“It’s in Chile. Not too far, but it took us four hours by air. Then again, I had to hire a plane because you’ve got mine.”

“Hey, you disappeared and left the keys.”

“Jacques, I know you’re excited to see your brother, but let’s concentrate on the little boy. How would you feel if it were your child?” Maya rubbed her belly. Was she? From the rapturous look on his brother’s face and the softening in Maya’s eyes, Daniel was going to be an uncle soon.

“My country place is closer and I, too, have a private plane that could accommodate everyone,” Santiago offered.

“I don’t want to start off on the wrong foot,” Daniel said. “But we’ve just met. I’m not comfortable trusting two of the most important people in my life to you until I know you better. Unfortunately, I can’t leave Rio.” After the last two races, he would crawl around the track on his knees if he needed to in order to win.

“May I make a suggestion?” Maya asked but then carried on as if everyone agreed. “You trust Jacques with your girlfriend and her son, don’t you, Daniel?” He nodded. “If it’s okay with Santiago, why don’t all of us go to his place and wait for Daniel to join us after his race? That’ll give Max time to recover, and Jacques can make sure your harem is safe.”