Ellis
Standing outside of Liam’s bedroom, I listen to Camilla speaking. Her voice is gentle as she reads him a book. At least, it sounds like she’s reading.
“Momma, my room is big,” he says.
“Geez, you really can’t listen through a whole page, can you?” she asks. “Your room is big, and thank goodness there is a lot of room since you’ve dragged out every new toy.
“It’s a mess in here. Hop up from my lap so we can clean this up before Mr. Burke comes in and we get in trouble.”
“I’m in trouble, Momma?” he asks her, sounding concerned.
“No, sweetheart. Everything is fine. Just help me pick up.”
This makes me scowl. She’s truly afraid of me, and that’s fine, but I don’t want the kid scared of me, too. I need to get this over with, and the fact I’m nervous about it frustrates me.
Clearing my throat, I step into the doorway and find Camilla’s shapely ass, snug in jeans, in my line of sight. She’s bent over, picking up books.
“Good afternoon,” I say. Whipping around, she loses her balance and falls backward, landing on a pile of toys. Oh, shit.
“Momma, you OK?” Liam asks her, his blue eyes round as they dart between the two of us. He squats next to her for protection and stares up at me.
Realizing I’m doing nothing, I scramble over to her and reach out my hand. She glowers at me before taking it, and her body soon separates from an assortment of various shaped toys.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“It’s fine.” As soon as she’s upright, she slides a hand across her lower back and rubs it.
“Are you hurt?”
“No, it’s nothing.” Her eyes are looking anywhere but at me.
“Did Chris give you a tour of the property?”
“Well, he tried, but we should’ve saved Liam’s room for last. He hasn’t wanted to leave it.” Smiling, she finally tilts her hazel eyes up at me. “Thank you for all of this; however I do worry it could spoil him.”
“Are you going to introduce me to my nephew?”
“OK, but we’re saving the uncle talk with him for later”–leaning in close, her smile vanishes–“and don’t get the wrong impression when I tell him we’re friends. It’s only to make him feel safe around you,” she whispers.
Placing my fingers under her chin, I lift it up.
“Oh, Camilla, we’re going to be close friends soon.”
“We’re not friends, and I’d slap your hand away if it wouldn’t scare Liam. Don’t ever touch me in front of him.”
Dropping my hand, I grimace.
“Introduce me so you and I can have a private discussion. We have some things to get straight.”
Sighing, she turns back to Liam. He’s staring up at us from the floor while playing with a truck in his hand.
“Liam, I want you to meet Mr. Burke.”
“Ellis,” I interject.
“We’re going to call him Ellis. He’s our new friend who bought you all these fun toys and made this nice bedroom for you.”
His eyes never stray from mine as he stands and sidles up next to her leg. Wrapping his arm around it, he hugs it for dear life.
“Tell him thank you for the presents.”
A faint smile curves from his lips as he gazes up at me and over my head like I’m the tallest man he’s ever seen.
“Thank you for my toys.”
“You’re welcome. I can’t get over how much he resembles the males in my family.”
She ruffles Liam’s hair with her hand.
“I wish he had inherited my hair or eye color, but no such luck for either one.”
“I don’t know. I see a touch of auburn in his light brown hair. He gets that from you.” I pull my phone from my pocket. “I’m going to have Irene come up to watch him while we talk, but tomorrow we’ll interview nannies and get someone hired right away.”
“Wait.” Her hand grabs my wrist, and her hot touch catches me off guard. I look down at her fingers wrapped tightly around my skin the way I’d like them to wrap around my cock.
Is it wrong I’m thinking about this in front of her kid? This is too confusing. Her hand releases me, so I meet her gaze. “I’m sorry, but could Mr. Day watch him? Liam took to him quickly.”
For some reason, it irritates me that Liam is comfortable with Christopher already, but I’m going to have to bend a little for her to do the same.
“Fine.” Hitting his number on my phone, I wait for him to answer.
“Christopher, please come to Liam’s room–now.”