“You can sleep with Daddy so you don’t get scared,” he said.
“Scared? I don’t ever get scared!” she scoffed. She rolled her eyes, remembering Vic’s excuse for Kian finding her in his father’s bed.
“You hear that, buddy? She’s a brave woman.” Vic coughed to hide a laugh.
“But…Leo said his mom and dad are always in the bed together. Sometimes even in the middle of the day,” Kian said.
Tachina’s eyes widened. She could only imagine why Leo’s parents would be in the bed during the daytime. Vic coughed again behind her, hiding more of his laughter.
“Goodnight, Kian. Mommy will be fine, okay?” she said. She was not about to make up excuses for his friend’s parents’ bedtime routine. She reached for the door handle and paused until she saw the shadow of Kian’s head go back down onto his pillows. She pulled the door shut. She leaned forward and rested her forehead on the door as laughter threatened to spill out of her. “What are we going to do with him?”
She pushed off the door and turned to Vic. He held out his hand to her. She slipped hers inside his and allowed him to guide her down to the first floor. They crept down the stairs like two teenagers dodging astrict parent.
“We need wine after this day,” he murmured.
“I’ll second that,” she said.
They walked down the hallway and went into the family room. Now that the party was over, the house was quiet, peaceful, and warm. Vic headed over to the bar in the corner and opened up the wine fridge.
She padded across the carpet and went over and picked up the tablet that connected to his hidden stereo system. She choose the family room only, not wanting music to be played throughout the mansion. She scrolled through the playlist until she found an old R&B mix. It always amazed her that Vic was so well-versed in all sorts of music. The song that came on had smooth horns and lazy drums with voices that knew how to help a person relax after a crazy day.
Vic strode over to her with two generously filled wine glasses. He handed one to her.
“Of course you found the good music,” he said.
“I’m a designer. Good taste is part of the job description,” she teased. She took the glass and briefly touched it to his before taking a small sip. She had to admit, the man had exquisite taste when it came to wine.
“No, sweetheart. It’s just you.”
Her breathing stuttered. She took another sip of the wine, her knees growing weak.
“You’re too smooth sometimes,” she noted.
“It’s hereditary.” He shrugged. He took a healthy sip ofhis wine. Those eyes of his twinkled as he held her gaze. “Maxwell men are born charming. Dangerous even.”
She snorted at that. She moved over to one of the couches and took a seat. Her body was starting to ache in certain places. Even though she’d barely had to lift a finger, she was still everywhere during the party. They had to have had at least one hundred people there. Thankfully, Vic’s house and yard could accommodate that sort of crowd.
“Well, y’all need to warn people. Put it on a website or something.” She laughed. When she thought of Vic’s father, there was no way that man was a charmer. He always had a scowl on his face whenever she saw him. He was a straightforward kind of guy. If he was charming, then she was bald headed.
“I’ll let my mother know that. She’ll get right on that.” Vic chuckled. He sat on the recliner chair that was close by to her.
She was actually disappointed that he hadn’t sat on the couch with her.
“Today was one for the books,” he said.
“That it was. We are not doing this when he turns six. We can have a little something at Chuck E. Cheese or something,” she muttered.
“God, no. Anywhere but Chuck E. Cheese.” Vic visibly shuddered.
“What’s wrong with Chuck E.?” she asked.
“That rat gives me the creeps,” Vic said. He sipped onhis wine again. “It’s like a casino for kids. We pay for all the games, they win tickets only for them to turn the tickets in for cheap toys. I’d rather just pay for whatever toys he wants.”
“But the kids love it?—”
“Hell, no. Listen, Tachina. My family is worth a shit ton of money. We do not have to have a party at that rat palace,” he said.
“But—” She was cut off again. She was trying not to laugh at his expression. The man apparently abhorred Chuck E. Cheese. Who didn’t like the Chuck?