“It’s a promise, Archie.”
Her chest squeezed so hard that she had to take a step back before she could ruin their moment. She wanted to get mad—wanted to yell at him that he shouldn’t make promises he couldn’t keep, but the urge fell away when the two stumbled out of his room with giggling and smiles. His turned questioning when he studied her, but she brushed it off with a hug for Archie as she hoisted him on her hip.
“You look like you had some fun, honey. How about a bath, and we tuck you in bed after?”
“Will Uncle Edmund tuck me in?”
Hopeful eyes turned to the man as if waiting for him to contradict. Edmund’s initial puzzlement turned to a grin as he plucked the kid from her arms and kissed the top of his head, looking at her the whole time.
“Sure, kiddo. Come on. Your mom needs to go back to work, and we don’t want her to be late.”
The easy acceptance of her routine blew her mind, further solidified when they approached her and he kissed her openly. Archie watched on, then dutifully kissed her cheek after and leaned his head on Edmund’s shoulder.
“Goodnight, mama.”
“Goodbye, mama bear, my love,” Edmund piped in, rubbing her heated cheek. “Don’t worry about us. Charlie will be here soon, too.”
Which was, to be frank, the only thing she could ask for now. She watched them whisper to each other on their way to Archie’s bedroom and booked it out of there before Edmund could return, not ready for whatever confrontation was boiling in her system. The breeze bit her skin and reminded her that she had forgotten her coat, but Alexa kept going through the night crowd until she reached the neighborhood where the cake shop was located. She texted Charlie to tell him of her schedule, then slowed down when a customer was already waiting outside the shop without entering. Alexa opened her mouth, ready to offer a greeting.
Her body went cold when recognition flared, and she knew that dropping her guard had been a huge mistake.
Chapter 14
I might be staying longer than I expected. I know you have a meeting tomorrow so don’t let me stop you. I will see you soon. Please make sure Charlie’s there and lock up before you leave.
The polite tone held no sweetness, puzzling Edmund as much as her earlier interaction with him. That she shared her body with him in bed—and other parts of her bedroom—seemed to not matter as she slowly, excruciatingly distanced herself from him. He was helpless watching her do it and trying to hang on to patience. His fingers hovered over the screen, contemplating his response and the need to demand answers. Instead, he typed something standard but with a reminder of who she was to him.
Don’t worry, my love. Do your thing, and I will be back soon.
He slept in Archie’s bed until the kid dozed off into slumberland, then returned Charlie’s short greeting with a cheerful one.
“Don’t you have work?” the younger man asked, skeptical.
“I do. As a matter of fact, I need to pass by the office now before the sun rises and gather some materials to bring home.”
“Home?”
“My father,” Edmund clarified. “He demands an involvement despite retirement and always likes to be on top of things.”
Charlie reflected over it and nodded. “Sounds like our clan leader, Angelo.”
He didn’t have it in his heart to disillusion the boy and tell him that Isaiah Wilder was the furthest thing from their kindhearted Angelo, so he shrugged and let the boy think what he wanted. When Charlie was settled, Edmund was rushing to his office and the manor, where he stacked papers in his father’s home office and was sneaking out of that area in no time. The butler met him on his way out, blocking his way.
“Good morning, Master Edmund.”
“Good morning. I won’t be here long,” he said quickly when the butler opened his mouth, ready to offer breakfast as always.
“I understand, Master Edmund. But you have a message that I have been keeping for the past few days.”
An envelope was handed his way, his name and the address glaring in old letters on the back. Edmund snatched it, frowning, then gave the butler a nod and strolled away to open it in privacy. His frown deepened when he read the contents, short but precise.
I should have known you came from a wealthy family. You just had that look about you. I’m glad I did my research and found your address. Now I’m giving you mine. Please feel free to contact me anytime, especially if you need a muse. I’m more than willing.
A picture slipped out from the envelope with Alishondra stretched over a chair…and as naked as the day she was born. He hurriedly inserted the letter and picture back in the envelope, then stuffed them in his pocket, not about to be caught dead—
“Who is this Alishondra, and why does she keep sending you these scandalously disgraceful letters?”
Isaiah Wilder stepped into view, holding a bunch of envelopes reminiscent of the one Edmund had kept hidden. The older man’s nostrils were flaring despite his calm stature, but it wasn’t until Adela Wilder showed up, too, with a disapproving look that one thing became clear: only this one letter had not been read. He lifted his chin.