Penthouse Prince(28)

His thick, dark brows draw together. “I thought . . . we talked that out. I was hoping you forgave me.”

“Forgiving and forgetting are two different things, Lexington. And I can’t just forget ten years of complete silence from you.”

I set my glassdown on the table before pushing to my feet, which carry me straight back inside without missing a step. If he has anything else to add, I don’t hear it over the blood pounding in my ears.

I’m going home. And this time, I’m the one leaving without saying good-bye.





12




* * *





LEXINGTON



I flip through the massive stack of papers. “Can you go into a little more detail about this part?” I ask the representative, pointing to a firmly worded clause. “I’m not yet as familiar as I’d like to be with this state’s laws.”

I’m currently in a title company office, closing on the first piece of real estate I’ve bought in North Carolina—a beachfront investment property I hope to rent out to tourists. Grier sits on the floor near my feet, munching animal crackers and mashing her fingers against the screen of her tablet. After Corrigan shot me down so thoroughly last week, I wasn’t exactly in a hurry to call her, and besides, this bit of business is easy and fast enough to permit splitting my attention.

“Of course,” the closing agent replies. “It just means that you—”

“Look.” Grier tugs at my sleeve. “Daddy, look-it.”

“Hang on, baby girl, Daddy’s working. I’ll only be another ten minutes.” I switch my attention back. “Please continue.”

“Daaaddyyyyy!” Grier hollers.

I shoot an apologetic glance at the closing agent, who smiles and looks down at Grier. “What is it?”

She points proudly at her tablet screen, which displays an array of bouncing shapes in various colors. “Square is red.”

“That’s right! Very good job. But next time, unless it’s an emergency, wait until Daddy says we can talk.” I turn back again. “Sorry.”

The guy chuckles. “I completely understand. I have a nephew about her age. Now, as I was saying . . .”

After I’ve finished signing paperwork and shaken all the congratulatory hands, I load Grier and her stuff back into the car. It’s been a couple of days since we visited Mom, and we make our way there now.

A new, short-haired nurse in blue scrubs opens Mom’s door, one of the three extras I’ve hired since Mom’s accident. “Lexington, right? I’m Dawn. Listen . . .” She lowers her voice to a murmur. “I’m afraid your mom isn’t doing well today. She’ll need to rest soon.”

I nod calmly like the words don’t send a little chill squirming around my gut. “Thanks for the heads-up. We’ll try to keep things short.”

Dawn heads to the corner with a book, and I appreciate the illusion of privacy. As we come in and sit down, Mom does indeed look exhausted and sick.

Grier clambers into Mom’s lap and stares into her eyes, her forehead crinkled with concern. “Gamma need a nap?”

God, even a two-year-old can tell.

“Soon, honey . . . but not quite yet. I can see my two babies for a little while.” Mom kisses Grier on both cheeks, exaggerating the smacking sounds to make Grier giggle. “So, what have you been up to, Lex?” Her voice is soft, barely above a whisper.

“I just came here from closing on a beach house. It’s a beautiful Victorian style. Great view of the water, not too hard to access from the highway, bay windows, and four bedrooms. It has great potential. I just have to hire a couple of contractors for some repairs and renovations, and it’ll be ready to rent out. I think tourists will love it.”

“Wonderful. I’m sure it’ll be a great investment. You always did have a nose for business. And how is Corrigan working out?”

“Uh . . .” As always, my mom zeroes right in on the thing I most don’t want to talk about. “Well, we had a little disagreement a few days ago, so I’ve been—”

She gives me a troubled frown. “That’s too bad. What about?”

The idea of telling Mom I tried to ask Corrigan out, let alone the reason she rejected me, ranks somewhere between eating needles and catching on fire. “Just a . . . personality conflict type of thing. I was being stupid.” That part isn’t inaccurate.

Now Mom’s frown is one that tells me she knows I’m lying, but she’s letting it go. For now, anyway. It’s highly likely I’ll be grilled again when I least expect it.

“Do you think she’ll still look after Grier for you?”

Oh hell, that possibility hadn’t even occurred to me. What if Corrigan never wants to see me again after I made her comfortable?

“I really hope so,” I say truthfully. Even if there’s zero chance of us dating again, I still want her in my life. I’ll take being “just friends” any day. I have very few of those in this town after being gone for so many years.

Mom presses her lips together. “I’ve been turning it over and over in my mind, Lex, and I think Grier needs a mother, not a nanny.”

I heave out a sigh and glance over to where Grier’s now playing with the lace doilies on the coffee table. “Mom, we’ve talked about this. I don’t have the time and energy to devote to a girlfriend right now, and I definitely don’t want to use one as free childcare. That’s just where my life is now.”