Just a Bit Dirty (Straight Guys #10)(11)

Fucking hell.

“How old was he?” Miles said.

“He was a year and ten months old,” Caldwell said tonelessly. “He was a normal enough child until then. He had just started talking when it happened.”

“And you think seeing someone who looks like his mother will help him? Really?”

Caldwell shrugged. “I’ve spoken to his pediatrician. She thinks it’s worth a try. It can’t hurt, in any case. We’ve been waiting for improvement for over a year, but he isn’t getting better, no matter what we do. The doctors are afraid that Liam will be very behind his peers in development if he doesn’t start showing signs of improvement soon.”

Miles frowned. “But does he even remember his mother?” Did kids that young remember stuff?

“She was his mother,” Caldwell said in a clipped voice. “I’ve been told even small children remember their mothers better than anything. Even if he doesn’t remember her well, seeing you might destroy whatever psychological block he has after she abandoned him.”

“Or it might make it worse,” Miles said, not unkindly.

Caldwell gave a curt nod. “There’s always a risk.”

Miles sighed. “Well, when are you going to take me to see him, then?”

Blue eyes bored into him. “You will do it?”

Miles nodded. “I don’t know much about kids, but I’m not heartless. If seeing me might help the kid, of course I’ll do what I can. It’s worth a try, even if I’m not at all sure it’ll help.” He shrugged slightly. “I don’t look like your ex-wife as much as you seem to think.”

“You don’t,” Caldwell agreed, to his surprise. “But at first glance, you look startlingly like her, enough to fool the hazy memory of a small child. That’s what we want: a strong reaction from Liam, something to break him out of his shell. He showed some reaction to Regina’s pictures, so seeing you in the flesh might have the desired effect.”

“Okay,” Miles said, despite his misgivings. He got to his feet. “When are we leaving?”

As they got into the back of Caldwell’s car and Caldwell ordered his driver to drive them home, Miles looked out the window, pretending not to notice Caldwell’s intent eyes on his face.

Miles balled his hands in his lap.

Why are you still looking at me?





Chapter 5


It probably shouldn’t have surprised Miles that Caldwell lived in a mansion that made even Rutledge Manor seem like a modest house.

Miles hoped he didn’t look too wide-eyed, but he probably did.

“Do you live alone in this… house?” he said as they walked toward the front door.

“Me and my son,” Caldwell said.

“That’s a big house for one man and a toddler,” Miles said.

Caldwell gave a careless shrug, loosening his tie as he pushed the door open. “This house has been in my family for centuries.”

That Miles had been able to deduce without being told. Everything about this man screamed of old money and privileged upbringing. He carried himself with the sort of confidence and power that came naturally to one who was descended from many generations of wealth and status. Ian Caldwell might be a brilliant businessman and CEO, but he wasn’t by any means self-made.

“Don’t you have any family left?” Miles said, following his boss deeper into the enormous house.

His boss. It was still difficult for Miles to see this man as his boss. He kept completely forgetting to address him as “Mr. Caldwell.” Ironically, the fact that Caldwell was so bossy and stern made Miles feel very comfortable around him. Right at home, he thought with some amusement, thinking of his eldest brother.

Except Caldwell’s company didn’t feel brotherly at all. Miles wasn’t sure what it felt like, but ‘brother’ was the last thing he associated with the man.

“Mr. Caldwell!”

Miles’s head snapped up. An elderly woman was rushing down the grand stairs, an anxious look on her kind face. “We didn’t expect you home so early,” she said, frowning. “Is something wrong?” She finally glanced at Miles and then did a double take, her brown eyes widening.

“No, Winifred,” Caldwell said, taking his suit jacket off and handing it to the woman. “Is Liam awake?”

Winifred nodded. “He’s in his room,” she said quietly, shooting a curious look at Miles.

“This is my new assistant, Miles Hardaway,” Caldwell said, laying a hand on Miles’s shoulder. “This is my housekeeper, Winifred Danvers.” His hand moved to the middle of Miles’s back and pushed slightly. “Let’s go.”

Miles allowed himself to be steered toward the room on the third floor.

As they stopped in front of the door, Miles turned to Caldwell. “Just a small warning,” he said with a rueful smile. “I’m not very good with kids. My sister’s son calls me his least favorite uncle for a reason.”

Caldwell didn’t look fazed. “You’re not required to make friends with him. You won’t be here long enough for that anyway. You’re just something of a shock therapy.”

Miles snorted. “Yeah, let’s hope it works, because my skills with kids are non-existent.”