Uncovering His SECRET (7 page)

“You’re rich. I
know you have servants,” Ethan tells him.

“I am, and I did. But
I was always expected to clean up after myself and not give anyone
else extra work just because I was being lazy.”

I force myself to bite
my tongue and not defend Ethan. Caleb’s right. I’ve taught our
son a lot of great things, but his life is easier than either one of
ours ever was. It
should
be easier, but cleaning up his own room isn’t too much to ask of
him.

“I’m not lazy. Tell
him I’m not lazy,” he demands, looking at me.

“You aren’t lazy,
but your dad is right. You are more than capable of cleaning your own
room.”

“My
father
is making my life miserable.”

I see the look of hurt
on Caleb’s face and speak up immediately. “Ethan Caleb Hall, I
did not raise you to be a liar. We’ve already talked about how
happy you are to have your
dad
here. Don’t you dare try and make him feel bad for being a good
parent. Just because he and I are not getting along does not mean it
is okay for you to be rude. You’re not too old for me to put you
over my knee.”

“You’ve never
spanked me before.”

“Well now’s looking
like a good time to start.”

“I’m going to shut
up now.”

“Good call.”

“You can spank me
anytime, Teeg. Just saying.”

“Gross, Dad. I’m
getting ready to eat here.”

Caleb’s eyes meet
mine, and we both smile. It’s a small thing, and yet it’s really
not. That one word tells us both that Ethan’s letting him even
further in. And that makes me happier than I’ve been in a very long
time.

Although I put on a
brave face for dinner, I’m still not ready to forgive and forget so
quickly, which is why I tell them I’m heading up to my room right
after dinner. Ethan’s definitely not happy about it.

“You’re going to go
cry because of
him
.”

“I’m going to go
take a nice, hot bath, and try to relax a little. That’s all, E.”

“You never lie to me,
but you’re doing it now. Because he’s here. You don’t have to
be tough all the time, Mama. I can be strong for you.”

“It’s not your job
to take care of me, baby. And I’m going to be fine. I promise. I
just need a little time for me tonight, okay? How about you and me go
to Drago Sisters after school tomorrow and get some treats?”

“Can we have dinner
out, too? Just us?”

I look over at Caleb,
wanting to punch him myself for putting us in this situation. For
hurting not just me, but our son, too. I won’t, though. Someone has
to try and be the bigger person at the moment, and it looks like it’s
going to be me. While there is no excuse for the names he called me,
he is still the man I kept from his son for ten years. I need to give
him as much of Ethan as I can.

“How about a small
after-school meal at Corrigan with me? You can do your homework in my
office while I finish some work, and then we’ll pick up treats to
bring home for all of us. You and your dad can have dinner while I go
out with the girls.”

“You’re going out?
Seriously?” Cal asks me, his eyes wide.

“Yes. I had to cancel
tonight when you had your little tantrum, but I need to have some
fun. If you have a problem with that, then I really don’t know what
to tell you. You’re not my husband, my man, or really anything to
me except for my baby’s daddy. The only thing you have a say in is
our son.”

His jaw clenches, and
his nostrils flare, but he nods. “You’re right. Have fun.”

“I will.”

I hug and kiss Ethan
and then head up to my bath. I don’t cry because I didn’t really
lose anything today. Yes, I had hoped that things would be different
for Caleb and me this time around, but his behavior is nothing new.
Which means that we won’t be either. We’re the same old kids,
just with killers and a kid to keep the focus off of how much we’re
trying to hurt each other. Love truly is a battlefield.

Tegan

I was stuck on a call
with one of my contacts in Texas, so Nate went to get Ethan for me. I
look around as I wait for them, wondering what Cal would think if he
saw my office. He already made those comments about my apartment. My
office isn’t a blend of modern and country. It’s all old-school
country, complete with George Strait and Randy Travis on the walls. I
also have Luke Bryan up there, and my girl Taylor Swift, but it’s
country all the way. Leather and cowhide, a map of Texas on the
floor, and I even have my favorite saddle over by the window. It’s
my own little piece of home, a nod to where my heart has always been
and probably always will be, even if things never work out with me
and Caleb.

“Hi, Mama,” Ethan
says, running in.

“Hi, baby. How was
school?”

“It was fun. I’ll
tell you all about it while we eat. Come on, I need a quesadilla,”
he says, practically pulling me from my chair as I laugh.

It takes a little while
to make it to the cafeteria since everyone has to stop us for hugs
and high fives. Everyone here at Corrigan & Co. loves Ethan. Not
just us Foundation girls, but the regular staff who have no idea what
we really do, have all grown to love my son. In fact, we get no less
than five requests to join people at their tables once we walk into
the cafeteria.

We politely decline and
head for the food. This place is like a giant food court with every
type of food you could possibly want being offered. I grab some crab
stuffed shrimp while E gets his quesadilla, and then we meet at a
little table for two by the windows.

“So now do I get a
recap of your awesome day at school?”

“How do you know it
was awesome?”

“Today is science
day. That’s your favorite,” I tell him with a smile. Like father,
like son.

“It is,” he says,
biting his lip and looking nervous.

“What’s up?”

He looks around before
his gaze finally lands back on me. “I was wondering if…he…would
help me with my science fair project.”

“He?” I ask,
knowing he means Cal, but wanting him to acknowledge his father.

“You know, my
da-father. My father.”

“I’m sure your
dad
would love to help you. You can call him that, Ethan. It won’t
upset me.”

“He was mean to you
last night.”

“Yes. He was. I’m
not going to argue about that, or try to defend him. We both know
that no one should use those words he said to me. But no matter what
happens with us, you deserve your dad. And he deserves you. Period.
No questions asked. Let him in, E.”

He looks away again,
and I see tears start to form in his eyes. “I think I love him,
Mama.”

“That makes me
happy,” I tell him as I reach over to squeeze his hand.

There’s no more
serious talk as we finish our lunch and go back to our work. I still
haven’t been able to track down who’s after Cal—Dee’s not
talking, and we know she’s not the ringleader—but I’m hoping
we’ll get a break soon. Besides wanting to keep him safe, I also
need him to be able to leave the apartments. I know I’ll still see
him every day since he doesn’t want to be away from Ethan, but
knowing he’s down the hall from me is making it hard to sleep. I’d
have a better shot at convincing him to move if he could take E
outside.

Once I’ve done all I
can for the day, we pack up and drive over to Drago Sisters. It’s
out of our way, but definitely worth it. I buy an assortment of
things and chat with Eliza and Doreen for a few minutes. Ethan
practically flies out of the elevator once we’re home, and I can’t
help but smile at how excited he is to see Cal.

I hang back a couple of
minutes, to let them greet each other and also to psych myself up to
see the man I love. I really need this night out tonight. No, what I
really need is to get laid. I’ve never had a problem being asked
into someone’s bed, so by early morning, I should be feeling more
relaxed and able to be in Caleb’s presence without wanting to ride
him back into being a cowboy.

When I walk inside,
they’re already discussing the science project, and I have to
smile. They’re both so excited, and I’m able to just give a quick
wave before running up to my room. I throw on a nude colored dress
that has an overlay dotted with pink flowers. It’s short, and
sexier than it sounds. Paired with hot pink heels and just a hint of
make-up, this dress is a definite winner.

“Wow Mama, you look
beautiful,” Ethan tells me. I raise an eyebrow, so he continues. “I
mean, you always look beautiful. I mean…darn…this girl stuff is
hard.”

“Tell me about it,
buddy.”

“First lesson, Caleb.
Remove those words you’re so fond of from your vocabulary,” I
tell him with more than a little bite in my voice.

“Have fun,” Ethan
tells me, coming over to hug me. I know he’s diffusing what could
be another ugly situation, and I’m truly sorry that I put him in
the position he’s in.

“I will. I’m
sorry.”

“For what?”

“For making you play
peacemaker. That’s not your job. You’re supposed to just be a
kid.”

“I
am
just a kid.
Your
kid,
and his. I’m not going to dream about some happy ending where we’ll
all be a family. I just want you to be happy. Both of you,” he
says, turning to look at Caleb, who’s gotten to his feet and is
walking over to us.

“I’ll walk your
mama to the elevator and be right back, okay?”

Ethan looks at me, and
I nod. I’m not sure that I’m ready for whatever Cal has to say,
but it’s better if it happens when we’re alone. He holds the door
for me and follows me into the hall.

“Go ahead and say
what you need to.”

“I just want to say
that I hope you have fun, and I’m wondering if you’re coming home
tonight.” I start to speak, but he holds up a hand. “I’m not
accusing you of anything, I just need to know whether to make Ethan
breakfast in the morning, or if you’ll be here to do it.”

Saturdays are a big
breakfast day for us. I’m guessing Ethan’s told him that I make
him a big country breakfast every week. “I’ll be home before
breakfast. That’s all I can promise you.”

“See you then.”

“Bye.”

* * *

Caleb

When Tegan came
downstairs in that dress, I wanted to kiss her so bad that it hurt. I
value my life a little too much, so I didn’t. But I wanted to.
Instead, I told her to have fun after she basically confirmed that
she’s going to fuck someone else. Then I came back inside and have
been putting on a good front for my son. Or at least I thought I was
doing a good job.

“It’s your own
fault if she kisses another guy tonight.”

“I know.”

“No, you don’t. I
mean, yeah, you screwed up yesterday, but you could’ve invited Mama
on a date, and I think she would’ve said yes.”

“I hate to insult
your intelligence, buddy, but I’m stuck in this building. Where
exactly would I take your mom on a date?”

“The bowling alley,
the theatre, the ice rink, the game room, the indoor beach. Heck, you
could even take her to the batting cages.”

“Excuse me?”

“I know Mama gave you
access to the whole building. Haven’t you looked around?”

“A little, but not
much. I figured it was all just a normal apartment building.”

“You know what my mom
and her friends do, and you still thought they would live in some
boring, normal apartment building?”

When he puts it that
way, I’m the one who looks dumb. “Yeah,” I say, weakly.

He just shakes his
head, and we both laugh as we hear the front door open. Tegan walks
in, barefoot with her shoes dangling from her fingers. I stand up and
take a few steps before I can stop myself.

“Oh, um hi. I thought
you guys would be hanging out downstairs or something,” she tells
us, her eyes wide.

“Dad didn’t even
know about the downstairs. He hasn’t looked around there at all.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I already know
I’m pretty dumb, so you can save your comments.”

“No, I really can’t.
I mean, you’re Mr. Super Scientist, and yet you weren’t even a
little curious about our building?”

“I thought I’d find
a weight room and maybe a pool.”

The side of her mouth
quirks up into a smile. “It’s so much better than that.”

“So I’ve been
told.”

“Let me change, and
then we can go play in the game room.”

“I thought I couldn’t
play video games,” Ethan tells her with a smirk.

“You can’t,” she
tells him, hands on her hips. “You can play skee-ball or any of the
other non-video game, though. Or you can just stay here by yourself.”

He looks between us,
and smiles again. “I’ll stay here.”

The smile falls from
Tegan’s face as the one on mine grows. Oh yeah, the kid’s on my
side now. Score one for dad.

“Are you sick, E? You
never turn down the game room.”

“He’s not sick,
he’s just being a good little wingman.”

There’s that arched
eyebrow that somehow manages to make me harder than I’ve been since
I was sixteen. “Wingman? Are you trying to get a girl, Cal?”

“No. I’m trying to
get a woman. The only woman I’ve ever really wanted.”

“What are you trying
to get at exactly?”

“I was hoping that my
beautiful baby mama would let me hold her hand.”

“You want to hold my
hand?”

“Yeah. I was thinking
we could see if we like it for like, maybe, a few hours. Then, we
could try something else.”

“Cal,” she says,
holding back a sob because that’s almost exactly what I said to her
when we were thirteen.

“I know I’m
supposed to ask for a week, but I can’t wait that long for the
rest. What do you say, Teeg?” I ask, holding my hand out to her,
palm up.