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He looks at me. "You don't have to worry; I'll keep Serene with me at all times. I’ll see you in an hour, Mom.” He nods at Summer. Then walks off spine erect, with Serene holding his hand.
"He can be a little eccentric." Summer chuckles. "Give him time. He’ll warm up to you once he gets used to you."
"He has such good manners." I watch the two kids head down the steps at the far side of the reception area and toward a smaller building off to the side. It's brightly painted and looks like exactly the kind of place any kid would want to go.
“You're being polite.” Sinclair rubs his neck. "I’m afraid I’m getting a dose of my own medicine. I was a bit of a wanker before Summer came along. I fear little Matty is a chip off the ol’ block." He looks both proud and disapproving.
"Is it safe for them to walk around on their own?" I nod in the direction of the kids.
"The entire area is a walled complex, and Matty has a sense of direction that never fails. Plus, he’s very responsible. Not to mention, we’ll be sitting there." She points to a bar on the other side of a lawn which separates it from the one-story building the kids entered.
“We’ll keep an eye on them and bring Serene by soon as they’re done playing. I'm sure they'll be joining some activities, and that'll take a few hours. It’ll keep them busy until dinner time, at least."
"But—"
"Serene already had her nap. They’ll be fine." Tyler pulls me close again. "There’s security around this resort. And a very limited number of villas. If there’s any place we can relax, it’s here."
"Are you sure—" I study him, trying to read his reaction. "I would love to spend time with Serene."
"And I want to spend time with my new wife.Alone."
My face warms. Under his burning gaze, I feel all of my arguments dry up. My brain cells, once again, melt into a mass of quivering jelly; I lose the connection between my brain and my mouth.
"We’re in villa number thirteen." He nods in Summer and Sinclair’s direction. "See you in a bit."
42
Tyler
"That was rude," my wife whispers as we head in the direction of our villa.
"Sinclair and Summer won’t be offended." I twine my fingers with hers, and it feels natural. We step onto the path that winds through the gardens and toward our temporary home for the next week.
"It’s wonderful that Serene trusts them so much."
"When I realized I wouldn’t be able to manage on my own and that Serene doesn't do well with strangers, Summer and Sinclair stepped in, as did the rest of the Seven."
"The Seven?"
I chuckle. "That’s what they call themselves—friends of mine who met in elementary school and went through some significant challenges that bonded them for life. Edward is one of them. They're at the heart of our community in Primrose Hill. It’s why I moved there. I now have a support network in place."
Her forehead is furrowed. “A part of me will always wonder why you didn’t ask me to take on the role of Serene’s nanny the day she arrived on your doorstep. It might have meant that you didn’t have to expose her to so many strangers in her short life.”
I slow my steps and turn to her. "Meeting you, then Serene, within the same day overwhelmed me. First, this intense attraction to you, which was a surprise. I was falling for someone I just met, which was totally out of character. I knew we had something special. I knew I had feelings for you, even though you were virtually a stranger. I knew the connection I felt for you was powerful. I was trying to accept it, but before I could come to grips with it, we found Serene on my doorstep.”
I shift my weight from foot to foot.
“Saying my mind was blown doesn’t even come close. It hit me—back-to-back emotional punches. I didn’t stand a chance. I was gutted. Spinning.” I let out a breath and try to smile, but it comes out crooked.
“One day, I was a playboy with nothing more to worry about than how to make my next million and possibly, some easy sex on an upcoming date. In less than twenty-four hours, I met someone who I knew was significantandfound out that I was, possibly, a father.”
I roll my shoulders.
“My instinct told me that, even though I didn’t remember who Serene’s mother was, chances were good, the baby was going to be part of my life. I would have to devote myself to being a father. It felt like, in an instant, all the familiar goalposts in my life had collapsed. I felt unmoored. Detached. Incapable of thinking clearly. I needed to do something—anything—to regain a sense of control, some measure of sanity. I couldn’t exactly ask the child to leave and?—”
“So instead, you asked me to?” She lowers her chin, hurt flickering in her eyes.
“I knew I had to focus on Serene first. And I wanted you to have the kind of attention you deserved, which I couldn’t give while I tried to make sense of everything else.” I glance off to the side, jaw working. “Even in that confusion, I knew that if you stayed, I would have gladly handed Serene’s care over to you and passed up the chance to be a real father to her.” I drag my fingers through my hair, trying to organize my thoughts. “And I was afraid the connection between us would turn into a situation where I ended up trapping you.”