Every time his mansion came into view, her stomach dipped. It wasn’t just a house, it was a statement piece. A long stretch of manicured driveway wound between oversized trees that almost touched the sky. The leaves glowed like embers against the blue, and the late October sun sent warm feelings through her. His home sat ontwo acres of privately wooded land, sequestered away in one of Cleveland’s wealthiest suburbs.
This was a place where she could see herself living.
She blinked. That was a new statement. She’d always fantasized about owning a large home, where she’d have a few kids, and a dog or two running around while her husband worked out in the garage.
But that was a fantasy.
She was a single mom to one kid where they lived comfortably. She was happy with her life and the home she’d created for her and Kian. She parked her car near Vic’s SUV. She cut the engine and let her fingers linger on the steering wheel for a moment while her heart pounded. She had to get herself together. She prided herself on being composed. The kind of woman who didn’t get rattled by much. In her business, she had a lot to face. Deadlines, contractors who forgot entire loads of lumber, and she had even handled a meltdown or two from a toddler in the cereal aisle.
None of that had anything on what she was about to do.
Ask her son’s father to impregnant her again.
She stepped out of her car and smoothed her sweater. She’d gone casual today in jeans, boots, and a cream sweater. She’d gone for the comfortable mom look. It was fall, and Mother Nature was reminding them that it was such. With the sun beaming down on them, there was still a cool breeze blowing.
Typical Cleveland weather.
She jogged up the two steps and arrived at the front door, but before she could ring the doorbell, it opened. Vic stood there with Kian at his side.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Vic wore dark jeans and a fitted charcoal sweater rolled to his elbows. There was something about a man showing off his forearms that just did it for Tachina. His hair was slightly messy from probably combing his fingers through them. There was a relaxed warmth in his expression.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hi.” She put on a bright smile. She tried to beat down her nerves like she hadn’t been up all night practicing what she would say.
“Perfect timing. Lunch is ready.” He waved her inside and motioned to Kian. “And someone has about five stories to tell you.”
“Ten stories!” Kian grabbed her hand and helped her in. He began rattling off where they’d gone for dinner and how he’d had a milkshake that was super huge.
She laughed at her son’s expression as he spoke.
They walked through the spotless foyer. It had high ceilings, marble floors, a chandelier he absolutely did not need. The designer in her was assessing the house as if she were going to be the one renovating it. The home was an older one. She did love the character that was in the home. They arrived to the enclosed porch that overlooked the backyard.A glass wall let the sunlight pour in, and even though it was slightly chilly out, the interior stayed warm and comfortable. In the summer time, the windows were removable to allow this area to be open.
The yard itself was ridiculous. It was wide with a professional-grade play set for Kian, a stone patio with a fire pit, and beyond that, woods that could have come straight out of a magazine.
The table was set with simplicity. Grilled chicken thighs, seared steaks, hot dogs for Kian, and a handful of sides. The aroma hit her immediately. Her stomach growled. She hadn’t eaten this morning. She’d been too nervous to do so, but now, seeing this spread, her appetite had returned.
“You grilled all of this?” she asked and took a seat.
“I like cooking. It helps me unwind.” Vic shrugged.
“This is amazing. I thought you had a chef who worked for you?” she asked.
Kian took a seat between them. Vic started making their son’s plate automatically. She sat back and enjoyed not having to do it for once. It always amazed her how hands-on Vic was with Kian. She grabbed some juicy thighs, along with the sides Vic had prepared.
“The chef only comes twice a week to meal prep for me. The rest is on me,” Vic said.
Tachina’s eyebrows rose. So the man ran a multi-billion-dollar company then came home to cook? She doubted Sydney even knew how to boil water. That woman wasfrom old money, and she didn’t think Sydney ever needed to cook. She had always thought that Vic could do better than Sydney. The two of them just didn’t pair well together in Tachina’s opinion.
She sighed and pushed that thought out of her head. It was none of her business who Vic had dated before. He obviously had seen something in Sydney he liked.
“I didn’t know you were in to meal prepping.” She had to bring her thoughts off of his ex. At least now the woman was no longer around, and it made her tiny little favor she was going to ask Vic easier.
“Well, technically, Tony meal preps, I reheat,” Vic said.
“Must be nice,” she muttered.