Seducing the Attorney (At First Sight Book 5) (6 page)

“Lucky you. Doesn’t happen where there’s a squirt to be fed.”

“I can see that.”

Lauren continued feeding Jamie. When the last bite was in his mouth, she handed him one of his cookies. She walked to the bar.

Tony pushed a plate toward her. “Enjoy.”

She took a bite of the omelet filled with cheese, meat and vegetables. “This is wonderful.”

“Would be better if I’d had cream instead of milk and omelet pans.” He lifted his mug. “You look sexy.”

“With my uncombed hair and bulky robe?”

He finished his omelet and held out his arms. “So very sexy. See what you do to me.”

She saw the way his sweats tented. A moment of regret arose. “We can’t.”

“Why not?”

“If he cries Jamie wouldn’t understand how lost we would be in each other. When we have sex you’re all I think about.”

He scowled and nodded. “You’re right.”

* * *

Though Tony knew she was right he drew her into his arms. “Just a kiss or two,” he whispered. “Shame Jamie doesn’t take a morning nap.” He covered her mouth with his. Would he ever get enough of her?

Slowly he released her. He grasped for sanity. This sensual madness, this all-consuming desire for her had to end before he hurt her. Years ago he’d learned love was a foolish notion. His father had taught him that lesson.

A picture of Marsha, his former fiancé, and the night he’d gone to her apartment and let himself in. He’d found her in bed with his father.

“No woman can resister money and power,” the older man had said. “I have both. You don’t.”

Tony brushed Lauren’s lips with his fingers. “Another time.”

She nodded. “Watch Jamie while I shower. Then it’s your turn.”

He wanted to protest. He couldn’t. His nephew needed his company. Lauren hurried to the stairs. Tony looked for Jamie. He crawled toward the fireplace. Tony scooped the baby into his arms.

“Young man. That’s no place to explore.”

“Jamie,” Lauren said.

“I know his name but when I’m scolding him I’ll call him what comes to mind. Two minutes and he would have been in the fireplace.”

“Okay.”

Moments later he heard the shower and wished he stood beneath the spray with her.
Whoa.
The time of togetherness ended when he left for the city. With her schedule and caring for Jamie until he found a nanny she had no time to join him in fun and pleasure. When her life granted her time his craving for her would have ended. They had nothing but a nephew and great sex in common.

When she came downstairs he strode up. After showering he considered spending another night here. The word danger flashed in his thoughts.
Love had no place on his agenda.
His father’s taunting voice rolled through his head.

Why hadn’t Jim listened to the old man? Jim had friends not mere acquaintances. Tony’s friends numbered four. Jim had a wife he had adored rather than a string of lovers.

Who had been the fool? Tony wasn’t ready to answer the question. He reached the living room.

Lauren had Jamie dressed in his jacket. “We’re going for a walk. Then lunch and class.”

“I’ll go with him.”

“To class?” She grinned. “We’re working on gross motor skills today.”

He tapped her chin. “The walk.”

They took the long way around both clusters of the complex. Several times they stopped and talked while people offered sympathy and admired Jamie.

The outpouring stunned Tony. In the year plus his brother and sister-in-law knew more people in their neighborhood than he did in six years in the same apartment building. 

After lunch Lauren left for class. Tony carried the sleepy baby to the nursery.

“Cool. Cool.” Jamie patted Tony’s face.

“I’ll see you soon. Then you’ll come to live me for four days every week.”

“Tee.”

Tony shook his head. He stood beside the crib while his nephew slipped into sleep.
Hazel eyes, just like Lauren’s.
Tony’s hands clenched. He strode to the bedroom for his bags and carried them downstairs. In the garage he loaded the luggage in the trunk. As soon as Lauren returned he would leave.

Tony returned to the living room. A chuck had been ripped from the wall he’d built to keep other people at a distance. Could the breach be repaired? Maybe he should allow Lauren full custody. She could live here with Jamie and he would help with expenses.

Impossible.
He’d made a promise. Jim had named him as one of the guardians. Though in the past other promises he’d made to his brother had been broken, Tony vowed he would keep this one.

His plans had been made. He would follow them. Didn’t matter that Lauren was a sexy woman and the lover most in tune with his rhythms. He had to leave. He would call and give her a choice of days. The right nanny could work weekends with three days off instead of two.

Cries from the nursery set him dashing upstairs. Jamie clutched the crib sides. Tears ran down his fade. “Dada.”

Tony lifted his nephew. He swallowed the lunp in his throat. “Just Uncle Tony.” He rubbed the baby’s back.

When Jamie’s sobbing stopped Tony changed his diaper and carried him downstairs. He stretched on the couch and tucked the infant against his chest. He drifted to sleep and woke when a door closed. He rubbed his eyes and tried to focus.

Lauren stood behind the couch. “Carrie said she used to come home from an evening class and find Jamie and Jim asleep like that.”

He rose and handed his nephew to her. “I have to head back to the city.”

“Problems?”

He looked away. One he couldn’t explain other than he needed distance from her. “Client. I’ll call so we can discuss which days would be best for you to have Jamie. I’m thinking of Monday through Wednesday for you.” He pulled on his coat. “Oh, I won’t put the condo for sale. You can stay here with Jamie.”

“Great but I can’t afford the rent.”

“There’s none. Unit is paid for. Taxes are handled.”

“Utilities?”

“We’ll work that out.” He reached the door into the garage. Like a man fleeing a disaster Tony hit the door opener and started his car. Lauren and Jamie stood in the doorway. They waved. He backed out. Ten minutes later he was on the road leading to the George Washington Bridge.

He drew a deep breath. Slowly his panic ebbed. He chewed on the why of his recent actions like a dog gnawing a bone. What had spooked him?
The possibilities or the impossibilities?
Until he solved the grief he felt for being a distant brother he couldn’t think of why Lauren sent him rushing for the safety of his city apartment.

When he reached the building he left the car in the underground garage. He took the elevator to the penthouse. There he dropped his luggage in the bedroom and strode to the living room. He poured brandy into a snifter. The notes of Beethoven’s Fifth interrupted his soul searching. For a moment panic sent his heart galloping.
Lauren. Jamie.
He answered and heard the breathy voice of one of his playmates.

“Tony, why don’t you join me?”

“Not tonight. I’ll give you a call. Ciao.” He disconnected and sipped brandy. Why hadn’t he accepted the invitation?

* * *

With a bouncing Jamie in her arms Lauren watched Tony and his black sports car vanish from the garage. He fled the scene like a criminal racing from the scene of the crime. What had made him dash off? He’d mentioned a client but she hadn’t believed the off-hand remark. There’d been some other reason. She closed the garage door and returned to the living room.

“Uncle’s gone.”

“Cool. Cool,” Jamie shouted.

Lauren laughed. “You’re my mocking bird.”

“Bir. Bir.”

Her chuckle halted when she realized Tony hadn’t said more than a few words about Jamie’s care and the estate. There were papers to be examined and the will to be probated. Sure he was an attorney but she had as much right to make decisions as he did.

Maybe he’d run from what had happened between them. Why? She hadn’t asked for a commitment. She didn’t want one. Nor would he make one. Carrie had told her volumes about Tony’s romantic adventures and how he either couldn’t or wouldn’t settle down.

The storm of passion had been like a tornado whirling them mindlessly into a dance. There’d been passion without love. The encounter held no traces of the elements for something lasting, trust, respect and caring.

She found Jamie’s jacket, donned hers and set out for a walk. As she alternated between walking and running she thought about the past two days.
From belligerence to bed.
He had agreed to joint custody. Would she have Jamie on weekends so Tony could pursue a social life? Her class schedule would curtain her time with her nephew. Though she didn’t like the idea there was a plus. She could stay in the condo. Not having to pay rent meant she could afford to pay the sitter without dipping into the cash she’d found in a kitchen drawer.

Back at the condo as she lifted Jamie from the stroller her phone chimed. She juggled her nephew and connected. Someone spoke in fast time. “Grace, settle down.”

“The shop will be mine on Monday when I sign the lease. Sweet and Spicy Bites will open as soon as I organize. Still willing to give me a hand?”

“You know I am.”

“All I need is a place to stay until I can find an apartment. The Patons will let me park in the driveway but there’s no room for a boarder.”

“Stay with me.”

“Isn’t your apartment too small?”

Laurel sucked in a breath. There’d been no time to talk to her friend since the deaths. “Carrie and Jim were killed in a car accident. I’m at their condo.”

“Lauren, how awful. What about the baby?”

“He’s fine.”

“And you? How are you handling things?”

“The funeral was Friday so I’m coping. You can stay and help with the utilities and I’ll help in the shop.”

“Are you sure? What about Jim’s brother? Isn’t he some kind of high-price lawyer? What if he takes over and pushes you out?”

“He’s agreed to joint custody and for me to live here. He left for the city an hour or so ago.”

“And if he returns.”

“We’ll figure something.” She laughed. “He might enjoy a threesome.”

Grace gasped. “My friend, you’re evil. I’ll pass.”

“So will I but he likes women.”

“And sex?”

“That too.”

“Give me directions. I’ll come. We’ll talk and then I’ll decide for how long I’ll stay.”

Chapter Four

Lauren hung her jacket on a hook and removed Jamie’s. “Grace is coming,” she said. “Grace.”

“Gr. Gr.”

She laughed. “You’ll be a hit.” She thought about her friend, the only person she’d kept in touch with during her few weeks of incarceration in the group home so long ago.

She tucked Jamie under her arm and dashed upstairs to change the linens on the bed in the master bedroom. She wanted no silent witness to the bargaining area.

Lauren placed Jamie on the floor and closed the door to confine his exploration. She stripped the bed. One of the pillow cases held the scent of Tony’s aftershave.
Pungent spice.
A pulsing began deep in her belly.

Done that. Won’t again.

After making the bed she tossed the linens down the stairs and carried Jamie to the laundry room where she set the washer to run. She carried a basket of dried laundry to the living room and folded clothes.

The doorbell rang to announce a guest. Lauren ran to answer. Grace stepped inside. Lauren hugged her. “So good to see you. It’s been much too long.” She grabbed Jamie before he stepped outside.

Grace chuckled. “Good to see you, too.” She touched the baby’s cheek. “He’s handsome.”

“I’ll open the garage door and you can pull the van inside. Will make unpacking easier.”

“I figured you would insist I stay.” She grinned at Jamie. “He has your eyes.”

“That’s his sole heritage from Carrie. The rest if pure Carlin.”

Lauren popped Jamie in the highchair and went to help Grace. A few minutes of persuasion and she convinced her friend to stay for more than a night. They carried a twin bed and dresser plus several boxes and two suitcases inside. The supplies for the bakery were left in the van.

Lauren led her best friend to the master bedroom to unpack while she fed Jamie. She heated the remains of last night’s dinner, cooked fresh pasta and made a salad. She nuked the rest of the garlic bread and put two cannoli’s on the table.

“Smells wonderful,” Grace said. “You been taking cooking lessons?”

Lauren laughed. “I’ve progressed to sauce from a jar. Tony cooked.”

“The man’s a keeper.”