Justice Falling (Falling #3)(7)
Like me, Jin didn’t really have any family. Together, we were our own little family. Jin watched the boys during the day so I could work for Jensen Construction, and then on the nights where I had my shift down at Gems. Jin introduced me to the gentleman’s club back when we met. Now she worked four nights a week and was their most popular stripper. Men liked sexy little Asian’s, but I held my own and did okay. At least I thought so.
“Hi honey, I’m home,” I said while giving Jin’s cheek a friendly kiss.
“Perfect timing. Dinner’s just about done. Can you get the boys?” she asked while loading plates with steaming veggies and chicken over a bed of jasmine rice.
I made my way into the boys’ bedroom. My little man was sitting on the floor busily pushing his race car along the race track imprinted into the room’s area rug. His light brown hair fell in unruly waves around his head. Zachery, Jin’s son, was lying next to him coloring. His long jet black hair matched his mother’s and touched the coloring book as he drew. Even though Jin loved American culture, she didn’t cut his hair, letting it grow long and thick. I constantly teased her that he looked like a little girl when his hair was down, but she didn’t care.
My heart filled with joy as I watched the boys play. The two were inseparable. If Tanner was in the kitchen, Zach was sure to be near. If Zach was in the room, Tanner would choose to play there. They just enjoyed each other’s company, and for boys four and five years old respectively, you’d think they’d fight or have jealousy issues. These two didn’t. It gave me hope that they’d be close friends throughout their lives, just like I was with Jin.
“How’re my guys doing?”
“Mommy!” and “Auntie!” were screamed simultaneously as the boys clamored at each hip. I crouched down and hugged them both, relishing in their fresh, just-bathed scent.
“Zach, your Mommy needs you to wash up and get to the table for dinner.” He ran out of the room and to the bathroom.
I ruffled Tanner’s hair, and he grinned. His Father’s big blue eyes shining happily as he put his hands around my neck. I cherished the small moments of time I had alone with my son each day. I lived for it. “Did you like work Mommy?” he asked with his sweet little Mickey Mouse, high-pitched voice.
“Very much, baby. Thank you for asking. Did you have fun with Jin and Zach today?”
He nodded enthusiastically. “I built you something today!” He ran to his small dresser and opened his “treasure box.” No one was allowed to go in it. I respected his need to have something that was his alone. Everyone needed boundaries, and I encouraged him. He put both his hands together almost as if he was praying. Then he came to me, put them right in front of my face, and slowly opened them.
In his tiny palms was a beaded bracelet. It was all mismatched colors of red, green, yellow, blue, and purple. “It’s a rainbow for you to wear. So you can always have a rainbow. I built it for my Mommy. Do you like it?”
I pushed back the tears from spilling and hugged him tight. “I love it so much. So much, Tan Man. Thank you.”
“Will you wear it to work tomorrow?” His innocent eyes stared into mine. He bounced with excitement. I couldn’t say no even though I didn’t want to wear it to work. Someone could say something, notice it. His eyebrows knit together as he waited for my reply. “You don’t like it?”
“Baby, I do. It’s just that work is …” His lip trembled, and it broke me. “Of course I’ll wear it to work.” I slipped it on my wrist, and he looked at it happily. “Fits perfectly. My very own rainbow. I love it.”
“I love you, Mommy.”
“I’ll always love you more Tan Man. I always love you more.”
***
For the first time in what seemed like years, I was looking forward to a date. Not just a quick meal and a shag. Today was an actual, ‘get to know you’ type of outing. The last time I’d given the dating pool a shot was when I’d taken out business tycoon and billionaire Aspen Reynolds, now Aspen Jensen. I’d hounded her for a date thinking I could bed the pretty blonde with little effort, and found that in the end I was attracted to her cunning intellect, business mind, and genuine kindness. I couldn’t add her as one of the many notches on my bedpost. No, she was a classy bird, and when I’d kissed her at the end of the evening, we both laughed. She had come to the same conclusion. We were never going to be more than friends. A love connection just wasn’t there. And that was that.
Since Collier and I’d entered the States, I’d done nothing but take a woman out with the sole purpose of taking her home for a quick f*ck. It’s been my routine for the past five years, and recently I realized I’m bloody tired of it. The more I spend time around the Jensen’s and my brother and his girlfriend London, along with new friends Dean and Oliver, the more I realized how completely alone I was.
Yesterday when I met the reticent receptionist, I hadn’t planned on feeling an instant connection. It was as if the air that surrounded her was calm, cool, and inviting, like a tropical breeze on a deserted island. Being near her not only ramped up my libido to embarrassing proportions, but I felt a sense of rightness in her presence. My lifestyle had been nothing but hard and fast negotiations, quick settlements, and meeting client after client. It got worse when my brother and business partner Collier almost died a few months ago. In his absence, I’d had to take on the brunt of our caseload at Stone, Walker, & Associates. Collier was now back full-time in the office and happier than ever. He’d moved in his girlfriend, London Kelley, the sister to our client and friend Aspen Jensen. Collier being back gave me the extra time I needed to pursue my own interests. Right now, all I was focused on was a tall, brown-haired beauty.