“You encouraged this, no doubt?” William’s tone darkened. “Don’t you think this family has been subjected to enough gossip of lately?”
“For fuck’s sake, Dad,” Adam cut in. “Leave Grayson and Josie out of this.”
“Well, you never strayed off the path before.”
“Whose path?!”
Caroline sighed. “Adam…don’t be like this.”
“Look…whatever is happening between us…it’s new, and I don’t even know if it exists beyond these walls.”
“Well, that’s something,” William murmured. “I’ll speak to our lawyer and make sure her NDA covers this. I can’t imagine this going any further.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because of your track record with women.”
My heart dipped. William Harlow was right. From what I’d read, Adam had never been in a long-term relationship. Not wanting to hear another word, I raced up the stairs and into my bedroom, where my reason for living was waiting.
After Finn’s bath, he wandered to bed in his pajamas, where I lay reading. I lifted the blanket and he crawled under the covers as a soft knock sounded at the door.
Shuffling over in my slippers, I endeavored to slow my racing heart as I opened the door but failed miserably. Adam’s handsome face never lost its effect on me.
“Someone requested a tucking-in service?” he asked, peeking over my shoulder.
I opened the door wider and stood to one side. “I thought you’d forgotten.”
“No, I just got caught up with something.”
With a small smile, I motioned for him to come inside. “I’ll be in the bathroom.”
“Hey, buddy,” Adam said as I eased the bathroom door slightly ajar. “Did you enjoy dinner?”
“It was delicious. Not as good as my mom’s lasagna though.”
“I didn’t know your mom could cook.”
Finn laughed. “She can’t…except for lasagna.”
“Well, that’s one more dish than I can cook.”
“But you have your own chef.”
“Well, I’m sure your mom’s lasagna is better than theirs.”
I peeked through the door to find Adam sitting beside Finn.
“Are you mad at your parents?” Finn asked, snuggling deeper under the covers.
Adam rubbed his stubbled jaw. “We don’t exactly see eye to eye right now.”
“But it’s Christmas.”
“You’re right.” He forced a small smile. “It’s a time to be jolly.”
“Mom gets sad at this time of year, too.”
“She misses your dad?”