The Distraction Read online

  “What are you doing here?” I asked, hearing the edge in my own voice. He knew I worked here—we’d talked about it on more than one occasion—but I’d only ever seen Trevor for sessions at the gym, and either way his appointment wasn’t supposed to be until tomorrow. My hand went automatically to the tie, and the smooth feel sent a spike of heat through my center. Immediately, I released it. That was a response I saved for Alec, no one else.

  He looked up, as if surprised that I was standing there.

  “Anna, hey.” He stood, and set the magazine down. “Since you can’t do lunch tomorrow anyway, I thought I’d grab an earlier session this afternoon. Your receptionist said you had a cancellation.”

  There he was, being all nice and friendly. No sign of the testosterone that had reared its ugly head yesterday with Alec.

  “Well actually, I was going to try to reschedule this hour,” I told him.

  He looked like a sad puppy dog. That I’d just kicked.

  “Because of what happened at the restaurant,” he surmised. “That was out of line. I can explain.”

  He glanced again at the salon side, where four stylists were working their magic.

  “Do you need a haircut or something?” I asked bluntly, crossing my arms over my chest.

  “No.” He looked back at me. “Sorry, thought I recognized someone. What was I saying?”

  My brows lifted. “You were explaining.”

  “Right.” He raked his fingers through his neat, blond hair. “I like you. And I don’t want you to get hurt. And I guess I was still thinking that maybe he’d upset you and that’s what was wrong . . . I don’t know. I get defensive over people I care about.”

  My arms fell. The mad melted in a puddle at my feet. But I still didn’t want him thinking he could just bat his long, dark eyelashes and get his way.

  “That doesn’t mean you can be an ass to my boyfriend.”

  He held up his arms in surrender. “I know. I told you it was out of line.”

  “And I told you, I was upset about my volunteering gig, which actually is the reason I was hoping to cancel this appointment.” I pulled him off to the side, and quietly explained that I had a chance to meet the judge and make a case for Jacob’s placement.

  “Sounds like you better go,” Trevor said when I was finished.

  I gave him a careful once-over. His jaw was perfectly smooth, as if he’d just shaved before he’d come, and his blond hair was perfectly styled. If Alec hadn’t been in my life, I might have seriously considered rolling in the sheets with him.

  “You’re a good friend, you know that?” I said.

  He waved me off.

  “Please,” he said. “You’re making me blush.”

  He was kidding, and I laughed, but there was a twitch in the muscles around his eyes that made me wonder if there wasn’t more than friendliness to his “I like you” comment.

  He said he’d call the gym to reschedule, and after watching him walk out the front door I went to the break room to get my things, and then hurried across town to the courthouse.

  * * *

  Less than two hours later I was running through the hallway of the courthouse after a very pissed-off ten-year-old boy. I dodged in and out of the people contesting speeding tickets and traffic fines, but still wasn’t quick enough to catch him. Before he passed the elevators, a security guard blocked his way, and the chase ended abruptly.

  “Thanks,” I told the officer.

  “This is bullshit!” Jacob spun to face me. His black hair was recently trimmed, and he’d been given new hand-me-down clothes and shoes. The foster-care special.

  “You think I don’t know that?” I asked.

  I motioned him off to the side and reluctantly he followed.

  “You said Sammy could come stay with me.”

  I waited until he threw himself down on the wooden bench before I sat beside him. I massaged one throbbing temple with my thumb.

  “I said I would talk to the judge about it.”

  He swung his legs angrily. “And she said I can go to another house if I run away.”

  I groaned. I could have strangled that judge. She hadn’t told him to run away. She’d told me, in front of him, that he didn’t show evidence of being a flight risk, as I’d claimed, and that if he was she would consider another placement. For the meantime, both Jacob and his sister were safe, fed, and had a roof over their heads. There was no need to make special accommodations when so many other children were in more critical situations.

  Translation: The state doesn’t have the money to move kids to a private home, one that accepts boys with explosive tempers, and girls who’ve been abused.

  Translation to a ten-year-old: Run away and you can live with your sister.

  “Don’t run away,” I said. A chill crept down my spine. My own mother had used those same words the day she’d died. “If you feel like you need to, call me. You still have my number, right?”

  He didn’t answer. I hoped that meant yes.

  “What the judge meant is that if you run away, they’ll move you to a place where you can’t run away again, do you get what I’m saying?”

  He kicked his skinny legs harder.

  “Jacob?” I prompted.

  “Jail, you mean,” he said. “With my dad.” The way he paled at the mention of his father made me want to bring the kid home with me.

  “Not jail,” I said. “Just a different kind of home.”

  “Bullshit,” he said again.

  “You like that word, don’t you?”

  “It’s jail,” he insisted. “I’m not stupid, you know.”

  I tried to focus on the positive, for his sake.

  “Hey, it’s not all bad,” I said. “You get to see Sammy more often. Every day after school. You get to eat dinner with her if you want. You just have to sleep at different houses.”

  He stared at the floor. “She needs me.”

  What he wasn’t saying was just as clear as if he’d spoken the words out loud. If someone hurt his sister as their father had, Jacob wouldn’t be there to protect her.

  “Let me try to fix this,” I said, strengthened by Alec’s words from last night. If he could do it, maybe I could, too. “I’m not giving up.”

  “Whatever.”

  “Until then,” I continued, “you’ve got to be strong, all right? Sammy’s going to be scared if she sees you scared.” I’d seen her in the courtroom—six years old and eyes as round as saucers. They had the same heart-shaped face and skinny build, but her skin was a couple of shades lighter than Jacob’s. It made it easier to see the bruises on her arms and neck that hadn’t yet faded.

  “Can you do that?” I asked. “She’s waiting to see you now in the kids’ room.”

  It took a while, but he finally pushed off the bench and plodded down the hall the way we’d come. He didn’t say another word to me, not even good-bye.

  Fifteen

  Dusk was just turning to dark as I stormed into the lobby of our apartment building. I didn’t have to look far for Alec; he was at the security desk with Mike. They were laughing about something, and the low, happy sound of his voice chipped away some of the ice left from my time at the courthouse.

  When Alec saw me, he stilled. The laughter died on his lips as his gaze roamed lower, to the tie that hung loosely around my neck. The warmth in his dark eyes was immediately replaced by hunger, and for a few beats of my heart I could do nothing but concentrate on my own breathing.

  His work pants showed both the swell of muscles in his thighs and the long length of his legs, and the gray thermal, scrunched up to the elbows and perfectly fitted over his tight abdomen, made him look more like a male model than someone doing manual labor. My gaze fixed on his collar, and I had the sudden urge to pull down the neck of his shirt, and lick that sexy little V at the base of
his throat.

  “Anna!” Mike closed the distance between us, an obvious attempt to reach me before Alec. Not that Alec was making any move to approach. He was only staring, and waiting, like a lion preparing to pounce.

  “Hey Mike,” I said, mouth dry as my fingertips ran absently down the length of the tie to where it ended, just below my belly button. Alec’s gaze followed my hand, and my pulse sped up another notch as his thumb began to tap against his thigh.

  I would have him. Soon. How I had survived without him for three months seemed impossible. He was as crucial as water and I was getting thirstier by the second.

  Mike reached for my hand, bringing it to his lips.

  “I wouldn’t,” Alec warned him in a low voice that made my stomach quiver.

  His friend paused, the back of my hand just inches away from the broad smile that broke across his handsome face. He had perfect teeth, I noticed. Bright white and straight, like he could have been in a commercial for toothpaste.

  In one smooth motion, Mike turned to face Alec, who was looking dangerously possessive, and tucked my hand in the crook of his elbow. Clearly, he wasn’t intimidated.

  “So you didn’t tell him.” With a sigh, Mike’s gaze rose to Alec’s. “Look, man, you were gone a long time. A woman like this has needs.”

  I elbowed him in the ribs. “What’s that supposed to mean, a woman like this?”

  Mike gave me a suggestive look that traveled down to my toes and back up. For one second, one flash of a moment, I wondered what it would feel like to be pressed between these two beautiful men. Alec facing me, his tongue in my mouth and his cock in my cunt, while Mike fondled my breasts from behind. I could almost feel the heat from his flawless dark skin as he rocked against my ass.

  Maybe it was longer than a second.

  “I’m well aware of her needs,” Alec said, stalking closer.

  I choked, and tried to hide it in a cough.

  “Then you should know that someone had to keep her satisfied,” Mike said.

  “I kept myself plenty satisfied just thinking about Alec,” I told him.

  Mike’s mouth fell slack. I smirked. Alec chuckled softly.

  “You did?” Mike asked weakly.

  I cupped one hand around my mouth and whispered, “It’s because he’s got such a huge co—”

  “Bye, Mike,” Alec said, pulling me toward him. His fingers wove through mine as he led me toward the elevator.

  “Sure,” Mike called after us. “No problem. I’ll just sit down here all by my sexy self. Think about ice-cold showers. And celery. And those nasty eyes on old potatoes.”

  “Poor guy,” I said as we entered the elevator.

  “How big are we talking?” yelled Mike as the doors closed.

  As soon as we were alone, Alec lowered his face to mine and kissed me. His lips were strong and demanding and I yielded, allowing him to take the lead. Hand wrapping around the tie, he pulled me closer, but before we could get too carried away, his mouth softened, and slowed, leaving me off balance while my heart raced onward.

  “You have to take this off,” he said gruffly. He pulled the tie over my head and stuffed it into his pocket.

  My cheeks began to glow. “You don’t like it?”

  “Fuck,” he muttered. “All I can think about is you riding my cock wearing nothing else.”

  I smiled, and walked my fingers up his chest.

  “Is that a problem?”

  He glanced at the red glowing numbers above the door. We’d only just passed the twentieth floor, and he lived on the thirty-fifth.

  “Something’s wrong,” he said. “I saw it on your face when you walked in.”

  Deflated, I slouched against the railing, feeling guilty for letting Jacob slide from my focus so quickly. Not that there was anything I could do about it right now.

  “Let’s talk about it later,” I said. “I’d much rather ride your cock wearing nothing but that tie first.”

  He grimaced. “You’re making this difficult.”

  “What?”

  “I . . .” The elevator dinged and we stepped into the empty hallway. “I want you to tell me things. However you can.”

  I felt a little embarrassed then, because I knew he was referring to last night, which was wonderful in the end, but only after some really ugly moments—moments that were a result of us avoiding certain conversations.

  “That’s fair,” I said.

  As we entered the apartment and got settled, I explained to him what had happened with the judge—how I felt Jacob’s risk of running was increasing the longer I couldn’t secure a placement with his sister.

  Alec listened closely, a scowl fixed on his face. It made me feel a little bit better that he was genuinely upset on my behalf.

  “And there’s nothing you can do?” he asked.

  “Not until a new placement opens up,” I said. “I asked his caseworker to move him to a high priority list, but I doubt anything will come of it. The system continues to thrive on its brokenness.”

  We were in the kitchen, and he lifted me by the waist and set me on the countertop. His fingertips drew circles on the backs of my calves, distracting me from everything but the heat shooting up my legs.

  “Good to hear that not much has changed,” Alec said cynically. “Things could be worse, you know.”

  Jacob could still be in his father’s care. Or he could be strapped with the prospect of losing his home and being forced to sell drugs, like Alec had.

  “I know.” I kicked my heel against the cabinet below, but stopped myself when I realized Jacob had been doing the same the last time I’d seen him.

  At least foster care was temporary. Soon we would know if Jacob’s parents had lost custody, and if so, we would look at pre-adoptive homes. It would be hard to place two children instead of one, but I would make sure the adoptive families took my concerns into consideration. Jacob and his sister deserved a second chance, just as I had been given.

  “I need to call my dad real quick,” I said.

  Alec’s brows lifted. “Sure.”

  He pushed off my knees and left the kitchen, giving me privacy. Quickly, I pulled my cell phone from my purse, and hit the second speed dial number. My dad picked up on the first ring.

  “Anna? You all right?” The worry in his tone made my insides twist.

  “I’m fine, Dad.” I took a deep breath. “I love you. I just wanted to tell you that.”

  He sighed.

  “I love you, too, honey. Anna . . .” He hesitated. “Things with me and your mom, they weren’t perfect.”

  I rubbed my thumb between my eyebrows. I wished I could take back the last thing I’d told him on the phone. Even if it was true, I’d said it out of spite.

  “You always seemed so happy,” I said.

  “Things were tough in the beginning.” There was a clicking noise on his end, like he was tapping something against a table. “Someday maybe I’ll tell you about it.”

  This surprised me; my dad had always been an open book. When I’d come to him, I’d been so full of secrets, I didn’t know what I could say and what I couldn’t. He’d made it easy: anything and everything was open for discussion. But now I wondered if there was something he’d been hiding.

  He didn’t ask about Alec, and I didn’t offer anything. But as the seconds ticked by I could sense we were both thinking about him.

  “I’m volunteering for CASA,” I blurted. My dad knew the program—he’d worked with them when he’d been a detective. “I’ve got this kid who’s in bad shape, and I’m trying to petition for a new placement but the judge has tied my hands.”

  Another hesitation.

  “Well, you could always do what I did,” he said.

  I laughed, feeling the tension in my chest ease some. “What? Adopt him?”

 
“It worked out all right for me.”

  I smiled. “I’ve got to go.”

  “Sure. Mug and I want to get back to our movie anyway.” The mention of his Great Dane—the biggest lapdog in the world—made me feel both better and worse. I loved that he wasn’t alone, but I wished he had someone who would talk back to him.

  “I’m proud of you, Anna.”

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  Alec returned to the kitchen as I hung up. He’d taken off the thermal and was wearing a tight undershirt that gave a full view of his muscular shoulders. Hard lines defined his triceps, which flexed as he reached for a glass in one of the high cabinets. My mouth instantly began to water.

  “Do you want kids?” he asked. Casual. Calm. Not even looking at me. He must have overheard my conversation with my father.

  “Now?”

  He smirked. “How’s your dad?”

  “Do you want kids?” I asked as he filled his glass with water from the sink.

  “Sure,” he said. “Some of my own. Some adopted, maybe. We’ll see.”

  “You want to adopt.”

  His face became serious. “Only the ones who had it really rough.”

  “Well, that’s all of them,” I said quietly. Adoption wasn’t something most people were comfortable with. They wanted to look down and see their own reflection, and I didn’t blame them. But that left a lot of us all alone.

  His face cracked into a smile again. “Then we’ll have to get a bigger place.”

  “How many are we talking, here?”

  He took a sip. “Twelve. Thirteen. What sounds good to you?”

  I sputtered a laugh. He was kidding. He didn’t really want twelve kids. But the thought of having any kid with Alec, especially one who was adopted like me, brought on a warm and fuzzy kind of panic. I never talked about things so far in the future, not even with Amy.

  “You know what you need?” Alec said, looking amused.

  “What’s that?”

  He turned to the refrigerator and opened the freezer door, where eight different variations of vanilla ice cream beckoned to me from the shelves.