by Roxy Wilson
“Maybe we take one home?” Justin asked, his eyebrows raised, his gaze questioning.
She cleared her throat as she tried to imagine an elephant in the back yard of the huge house with attached gardens. “I don’t think an elephant would react that well to the presence of wolves.”
“Yeah, it might get scared.” Justin nodded. “Maybe we could keep another pet, like a dog.”
Every child deserved a pet. “You could ask your dad.”
“Or a real wolf, one that can’t change. That would be cool too.”
She imagined the reaction of his friends and their parents when they realized he had a pet wolf. The reality was of course far more bizarre, but she didn’t think that would go down well. “I don’t know, honey. You’ll have to talk it over with your dad.”
“You could convince him.”
“I’m sure he would appreciate if you talked directly to him.”
Justin slipped off his shirt and put it on the lounger.
She did the same with her robe.
Together, they stood at the edge of the swimming pool. He was an excellent swimmer and was already giving her quite a challenge even though she did pride herself on her swimming abilities.
“He’d agree to anything you tell him,” he said in an enigmatic voice before he dived off.
A little startled by his comment, she hesitated for a bit before she dove into the water. What did he mean? Was he already aware that there was something brewing between her and his dad?
Did he suspect something?
Should she talk to him?
Justin’s sudden statement took her off guard. Devyn wasn’t confident of the best way to approach this minefield. For now, she decided not to say anything. Justin did a lap and so did she. He rested on the side of the pool while she completed two more laps. When she came back, he was sitting on the other of the pool and was looking out. “What?”
“No, I thought I saw the shadow of an animal, maybe a dog down by those bushes.” He pointed to a row of shrubs. “Maybe they have dogs here.”
“I doubt they would allow the pets to roam free.” She swiped back her hair and glanced at him.
The sun glinted off his skin and made him glow. There was no doubt that he was a handsome child, and he would grow up to be a smart, good-looking man who would drive women crazy.
She hoped she was around to see his transition from a child to a man. Devyn couldn’t imagine not being a part of his life.
It would kill her.
And yet, she would do it for him.
Something must have shown on her face because he peered at her. “You don’t like dogs?”
“Yes, I like animals.”
“Good thing too, or else you and dad wouldn’t have gotten along.”
She could only try to contain the dazed look she knew was etched on her face. What was the child saying? He didn’t—he couldn’t—did he know? She blinked in confusion. “Yeah, well…we do get along.”
He ran a hand over the edge of the pool, looking all serious and much older than his age. “Did you really think I was too young to realize you like my dad?”
“I—uh…” Why the hell hadn’t she prepared for what she would say if he ever confronted her? Truth was, she never thought that Justin would ask her. In her mind, she’d imagined a conversation with him while she sat with his dad. She’d thought of him as a young kid, and he really was, but he was also smart and intuitive, and she didn’t give him enough credit for that.
“My dad likes you too,” he said as if this was the most natural thing in the world. “He never dates, you know. I asked him once why he didn’t, and he said it was because he didn’t find someone special. You’re special.”
She cleared her throat. “Thanks, Justin. I—guess you’re right. I should have—and your dad should have told you but after you came back, we didn’t want to say something to upset you.”
“Why would I get upset? I like you too. You can get married to my dad, and we can be one happy family. Then you’ll stay with us forever, won’t you?”
Out of the mouth of babes. “We aren’t really—thinking about marriage yet, you know.”
He studied her as if she was a curious specimen he’d picked up from the garden.
She couldn’t really tell what was going on through his head.
“Oh, that’s all right. I know grownups like to take their time about things. I’m glad you’re in my life, Devyn. It’s fun to have you around.”
She felt like an idiot. The boy was more mature than she thought. She should’ve talked to him before, or rather Keran and she should have talked to him before. Maybe she wouldn’t have felt like a fool. As she opened her mouth to say something, he grinned and seeing that smile on his face, she couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re a cheeky monster, aren’t you?”
“I try, Devyn.” He leaned forward to hug her. His wet hands patted her on the back and he planted a kiss on her cheek. “I love you.”
It was so simple, so easy. Her heart swelled with affection. “And I love you.”
He stepped into the water, saluted her, and swam away.
Wow! That was it. She’d thought about it, planned the moment, and had tiptoed around the issue—but Justin, so much like his father, took matters in his own hands and cleared things up.
The good news was that they wouldn’t have to hide their relationship from him anymore. At least, she could go out with Keran and not worry about Justin. That was the silver lining, and she was damn happy about it.
Chapter Twelve
Keran poured wine into two glasses. Then carrying them to the couch, he handed one to Devyn and joined her. They both clinked the glasses and he took a cautious sip. Wow! There was so much happening in his life, and he just didn’t know how to process things. It seemed like a dream at times, and some of things he witnessed were more like a nightmare.
What she just told him was amazing.
“I can’t believe he knew,” she said.
Keran shook his head. He should have anticipated that his son would be a step ahead. It was silly of them to think that he wouldn’t see the sparks fly between them. He was a kid, but he was a precarious one, and he’d seen far too much of reality in his short life. His mother’s death and the kidnapping horror he went through probably made him more sensitive than other kids his age. “I talked to him after what he told you. He’s a big fan of yours.”
“That part is mutual.”
Keran hesitated. Should he tell her that Justin was already planning their wedding? Way too early, he thought. She wasn’t ready for such a commitment. How could she be? From the moment she stepped into his life, she had gotten one shock after another. First, she saw his child getting kidnapped and she was injured. Then he shifted into his werewolf form in front of her. The way he shape-shifted in front of her would have scared a grown man. And then he accused her of kidnapping his child. A weaker woman would have run away at the first chance. Instead, she volunteered to go with the kidnappers when they accosted her, so that she could help save his son. There wasn’t anything else she could have done to win his heart. She had him. He was hers forever—or as long as she wanted him.
He wanted to marry her.
He desired for her to be his, but then he needed to consider her state of mind. It was possible that she wasn’t prepared to make such big changes. Slow and steady, he promised as he smiled. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever met. Her sepia toned skin glowed and her dark eyes were captivating…arresting. There was something in them, an intensity that gripped him. He wanted to lose himself in her gaze. With an effort, he glanced away.
The woman shook him more than he admitted even to himself.
“Now, that we’ve got his approval, we can do whatever we want.”
She raised an eyebrow at him.
He laughed. “Not whatever, but you know—we can be like a real couple in front of him. How about a date then? We could go out for a quiet dinner, just the two of us.”
> “I don’t know if it’s safe to leave Justin alone in the suite for long.”
How could he not be in love with a woman who was worried about his son? They could of course, hire a nanny for a few hours, but at this point, he didn’t trust any new person with his child. What if Roger was still looking for an opportunity to grab Justin? Actually, Keran was pretty sure that Roger was going to come at them again. He just wasn’t sure from which direction and he didn’t want to take any chances as far as Justin was concerned. “We could have dinner right here, now that we don’t have to keep our relationship a secret.”
Actually, knowing Justin, he would be rooting for something like that. But he couldn’t tell that to Devyn. She would run in the other direction if she knew what father and son were plotting. Keran was as impatient as Justin was to include her permanently in their family but he needed to give her an opportunity to get used to it. It took an extraordinary woman to tame a werewolf and give him a place in her heart, and she had done so effortlessly. The least he could do was give her a chance to get used to the changing dynamics of their relationship.
She smiled up at him. “I suppose we could do that.”
He lowered his head and captured her lips in a kiss. It was hot, sweet, passionate, and fiery. Their lips met and clung. It was heady to feel such overwhelming love for this person. She was a part of the fabric of his life and now, he couldn’t imagine being without her. When he raised his head, Keran rested his hand on her cheek. “I love you.”
“And I love you.”
They sat looking at each other. There was no need for words. Their eyes spoke volumes to each other. He sipped his wine as he contemplated all that lay ahead of them. They had a mountain of trouble to surmount but for now, he was willing to take his time and invest in this relationship. “So our dinner date is confirmed for tomorrow?”
If he wanted, he could take her to bed right now, but they’d already waited a while since Justin came back, it wouldn’t hurt to wait a while longer and make it a special night. He planned to do some organizing, so that they could have more than a few hours with each other.
“Yes, date confirmed.” There was a glint in her eyes. “Knowing Justin, he’s going to have a lot to say about it.”
“That boy is growing up too fast.”
“He’s eight going on eighty,” she said. “And yet, still a kid. I don’t think he’s totally over his fear about the kidnapping. When he talks about it, he tries to show that he doesn’t care anymore, but he’s having some trouble adjusting to normal life. He sees shadows and gets scared.”
“I’ve made an appointment with a therapist for him to talk to when he’s back. Although, he didn’t want to do it earlier, I didn’t push him, but now I feel that he needs to do that. The more he talks about it, the sooner he will learn to cope.”
“He has been awfully strong.”
“Yes, but he still needs to deal with it.” He sighed. How he wished he’d kept his son safer, but now that damage was done, and all he could do was make sure that Justin coped with it as best as he could. Keran finished his wine. It was late already. His heart beat with passion. He wanted to grab Devyn in his arms and make wild love to her, right here on this couch. But his son was asleep next door, and he intended to be a more discreet, at least until the date tomorrow.
Almost as if she sensed the direction of his thoughts, she stood and placed her empty glass on the counter. Then faced him. “Good night, Keran.”
“Good night. Until tomorrow.”
She grinned.
He groaned.
They both laughed at their mutual helplessness and then she sauntered into her own room.
He could join her. Yes, he could. That was an easy thing to do, but he had plans for the next night. He wanted it to be a special date. Keran pulled out his phone from his pocket and began to make the calls that would make it so. Once he was done, he checked on his son.
Justin was sprawled on the bed, his mouth slightly open.
Keran took a moment to drink the sight of his son who looked peaceful and innocent in his sleep. Knowing he was safe was one of the few things that kept Keran sane. He had no intention of Roger getting a sliver of a chance to come anywhere near his son again.
No, he would keep his family out of harm’s way—and that included Devyn.
Keran kept the room door ajar as he went into his own bedroom. Now for a cold shower, which he needed after spending time with Devyn, and then he would sleep. Damn the woman! Why did she have to be so sexy? He couldn’t wait for her to be his in every sense of the word. He planned to marry her, and there was no way he was letting her go.
Much to his relief, sleep enveloped him as soon as his head hit the pillow. The next day, he took his son to the swimming pool. They played some games together and then he dropped Justin off to the camp. His security personnel had to remain there to ensure the boy’s safety. It was terrible that he couldn’t give his son any freedom but there was no other way to do it. As long as Roger ran free, none of them were safe. He worked a little in the suite, comfortable knowing that Devyn would pick up Justin and take him to the beach.
When they came back, he’d not only finished his work but also put the finishing touches on the arrangements for the date.
“Dad, we got a whole bag of seashells,” Justin said as he held up a net. “Devyn and I have started a collection.”
“That’s great. I’ll catch up with you guys tomorrow when you go to the beach.”
“You missed out today. Must you work on a holiday?”
Keran’s gaze met Devyn’s. He glanced back at his son. It wasn’t wise to tell his son he needed to keep up with the team effort that was still taking place back home to find Roger. Until they did something about that menace, he wouldn’t ever be able to relax. It was imperative that he get rid of his enemy once and for all. Roger knew too much and could do a lot of damage if he was allowed to remain free. “I’m sorry, son. But if I don’t work, we won’t be able to afford holidays like this one.”
Justin pursed his lips as he considered those words. “That’s okay, dad.”
Both Devyn and Keran laughed. He walked forward and hugged his son. “Have I ever told you you’re a brave little man?”
Justin rolled his eyes. “Oh boy; there we go again.”
Keran laughed again. He ruffled his son’s hair as his heart burst with joy. “Devyn and I are going on a date tonight. I would appreciate if you could give us some privacy.” She cast a warning glance at him but he ignored her. Keran didn’t have any intention of hiding things from his son, especially when he was aware that the boy wanted her to be a part of their family. She didn’t get that both of them were eager that he marry her. She would find out soon enough.
He wanted to tell her.
Perhaps at the end of this holiday he would tell her.
Yeah, that sounded like a great plan.
“All right. I’m going to have dinner and then get out of your way.” Justin’s gaze met his father’s and he winked. It was obvious he was on to his father’s scheme.
If Keran gave his son any more leeway, the boy would likely propose to her on his behalf. The kid was a natural; he dreaded the day when he would start dating because he could tell the child was going to be a runaway success with the girls. “Thank you, son,” he replied in a dry voice.
Justin hopped into his room.
Devyn rolled her eyes. “Did you have to put it like that?”
“How else could I have made myself clear?” He shrugged. “In any case, now he’s going to make damned sure he doesn’t come out and disturb us. That kid…he is—I believe he really wants this to work.”
She smiled. “He loves me. I love him too. Guess that part is the easiest.”
Devyn was the only woman who’d ever affected him like this, and she was the only one who actually forged such an amazing and loving bond with his son. Even Justin’s mother was unable to bond so well with her own child. She’d never been particularly cl
ose to Justin, but when she discovered he was going to be a werewolf, she practically abandoned him. She was a mistake; the only good thing that came out of that relationship was Justin.
Now they had Devyn, and she was good at healing their wounds. They could both love her in their own way and have her return the love tenfold.
He cleared his throat. “So seven will be cool with you?”
“I’ll be ready. What have you planned?”
“Wait and see, darling.” He bent forward to kiss her on the cheek. “Just wait and see.”
Her lips curved in a smile. “Okay. I’m looking forward to this.”
“So am I.” It was his turn to wink at her.
She sashayed off to get ready.
Keran went to talk to Justin. As he sat in the boy’s room, he ordered dinner for his son while he listened to the tales of the seashells they collected and the manner in which they found them. There was an unspoken agreement between them; he would do his best to convince Devyn to marry him and Justin would give him the time to do it at his own pace.
Soon, they would be a real family.
It would be wonderful to have her as his wife and as Justin’s mother. Keran could almost see all the pieces of his life finally fitting into one coherent form. For too long, he’d wondered why he couldn’t find someone who loved him as he was. Now, he discovered that life had some strange plans for him; he had to wait for Devyn for a long, long time but it was worth the years he wasted as he looked for her. She was the perfect woman for him. She was going to be a vital part of their lives – and that was just the way it was. He wouldn’t let anyone rip them apart, and for that, Keran was willing to go to any lengths. He had the perfect plan and he was going to implement it soon.
Chapter Thirteen
Devyn inspected her reflection in the mirror. The lace gown, with the halter neck, hook-and-eye closure, and sequin detailing sat well on her. It clung to all her curves. At one time, she would have felt self-conscious wearing such a bold dress but knowing that it would make Keran’s toes curl, she felt confident and happy.