Ellis
Yawning, I open my eyes and see Camilla’s body blanketing me. It’s funny how she’s sprawled out across me, sleeping peacefully.
Her body’s sizzling atop mine, and I can’t resist fingering her soft hair. Feeling my cock harden, I sigh and slide out from under her.
Shit, it’s eight-thirty in the morning. I glance to the video baby monitor on her dresser, and surprisingly, Liam is still asleep.
He stayed in his bed last night after our agreement that I’d read him a story each time he succeeded. Since he’s three, I’m shocked he’s held up his end of the deal.
I smile. Like his mom, the kid’s cute. Quietly, I shut Camilla’s door behind me. I turn and spot Christopher coming down the hallway, but he freezes about twenty feet away. He looks to her bedroom, then at me. Fuck.
At first, he glowers, but then he clears his throat and walks the remainder of distance toward me.
“Good morning,” he says crisply.
“You’re usually here at nine. Why are you early? Actually, where were you headed, seeing how my office is the other direction?”
“I thought I should get an early start since it will be hectic around here today. I, uh, was going to make sure Camilla was awake since Emma will be here at nine.”
“Camilla and I will be down soon. You can go back to your office.”
“Of course.”
He marches away, his irritation evident in his quick stride. I forgot all about Emma starting today, so I go back inside Camilla’s room to wake her.
***
“Thank you for lunch, Irene,” Camilla says after she, Emma and Liam walk into the kitchen from the dining room. I’m pouring myself a third cup of coffee at the counter. Having a lot of work to catch up on, I ate lunch in my office.
“Yes, thank you. It was delicious,” Emma adds. I look over as she pushes her black glasses up her nose, her short hair matching them.
The doorbell rings, and since Irene’s hands are in a soapy sink of water, I tell her I’ll get it.
I stride to the door and open it, and shit, it’s my cousin Greyson.
“Hi,” I say. “What are you doing here?”
“What do you mean what am I doing here? We have racquetball in thirty minutes.”
“Oh, right. I forgot. If you want to wait in your car, I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
He smirks. “You’re not going to let me inside?” There’s a tug on my pant leg, so I look down.
“Boss, who’s that?” Liam asks. “Shit,” I mutter before I lift my gaze to meet Greyson’s.
His eyes widen, and his smirk morphs into a grin.
“Now, I’m coming in for sure. Who’s the kid?”
Puffing out a breath, I step aside and let him in.
“Liam, come with me,” Emma says before she takes his hand and leads him away.
“Uh, it’s a long story.”
“And the woman?”
Camilla steps into the foyer now, looking for Liam.
“Holy shit, two women. This keeps getting better.”
Camilla is stock-still, staring at him as Emma walks Liam up the stairs. It’s obvious Camilla doesn’t know whether she should leave or introduce herself.
“Greyson, this is Camilla. Camilla, this is my cousin Greyson. I forgot we had racquetball, so we’ll be leaving soon.”
Stepping closer, Camilla stretches her hand out for him to shake.
“Nice to meet you,” she says.
“It’s my pleasure, and how do you know Ellis?” he asks her, being his nosy self.
“Oh, I’m Liam’s mother. Ellis is his—”
“Father,” I blurt out. “I’m Liam’s father.” Their eyes widen in shock.
“Ellis,” Camilla utters.
“He might as well know now. He’s family, and we have to tell them at some point. Why don’t you go up to Liam’s room? We should keep an eye on Emma since it’s only her first day.”
She stares at me, frozen in her spot. “Camilla, go. We’ll talk later,” I say assertively.
She struggles to slide her gaze back to Greyson.
“Again, it was nice meeting you.” Turning on her heels, she stomps toward the stairs. Damn, I’ll have to explain this, and it couldn’t be on a worse day since I’m introducing her to the guest house tonight.
Looking back at my cousin, I watch him swallow and scratch at the back of his blond hair. He’s still wearing his grin like it’s superglued to his smug face.
“You have a child?”
“It’s a long story. One I’ll tell you in the car. Let me go change.”