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  “Is that your nice way of asking me where in the hell I’ve been all night?” Nicholas asked, chuckling. Jack only grunted. “Well, if you must know, I had what turned out to be a great dinner with a friend of mine and his mother.” Nicholas knew he’d thrown his friend for a loop, but a look crossed his friend’s face—he’d figured it out.

  “Oh, so you had dinner with your employee and her son again, huh?” Jack asked with a grin.

  “Yes, and it was wonderful. Man, I have to tell you, I haven’t slept so well in a long time.”

  “You slept with your employee?”

  Nicholas heard the censure in his voice. “No, Jack, you know me better than that! If you must know, I slept on the couch that time. But the most important fact of that matter is that I slept all night long, and have done since.”

  “You mean you don’t have the dream now?” Jack whispered.

  “No, I don’t. Ashley and I talked. I don’t know why, but I felt compelled to tell her about Alicia. I fell asleep while holding Marcus, and when she took him out of my arms, I mumbled Alicia’s name. She asked me about her, and once I started, everything just poured out. Maybe talking about it with her helped me purge the guilt from my system. Man, we talked about everything.”

  “What about the father of her son?” Jack inquired after taking a swallow of beer.

  Nicholas frowned. “What about him?”

  “Is he still in the picture?”

  Nicholas could trust Jack, but he felt that if he told him everything, he would be betraying Ashley’s trust. “No, he was never in the picture.”

  Jack peered at him. “Are you falling for her?”

  Nicholas stared at the sky and contemplated Jack’s question. “I don’t know. All I know right now is I enjoy being with her and talking with her, and I enjoy spending time with Marcus.” He shrugged

  Jack clapped Nicholas’ shoulder. “My only advice to you, my friend, is to take it slow. Get to know more about her before you get too involved.”

  It may already be too late for that.

  “Hey! You guys are missing the game!”

  Nicholas laughed at the slurred sound of their friend, Josh’s, voice. Jack and Nicholas headed back into the entertainment room, Nicholas deciding to heed Jack’s advice and take things slowly with Ashley.

  Chapter Six

  Ashley sat at her desk working on the designs she would be showing to a client tomorrow. Her phone rang, and she checked the display. The guard’s desk downstairs. Ashley didn’t remember having an appointment today, so she wasn’t surprised the guard stated it was someone for Mr. Maxwell. She took down the name before she released the call. Ashley walked down the hall to his office and softly knocked on the door before she entered. She figured he had been on a conference call; otherwise, he would have answered the call from the guard. She went over to his desk and placed a note in front of him with the name Jack Sinclair written on it.

  Nicholas frowned and quickly pressed the mute button. “Is he downstairs?”

  “Yes, are you okay?” she asked, noticing the concerned look on his face.

  “Yeah, I’m just a little surprised that he’s here. Could you please go down and sign him in? I’m not sure how much longer this is going to take.”

  “Sure, I’ll just take him into my office until you’re done.”

  She went downstairs to the lobby and spotted a handsome black man occupying one of the chairs. After speaking to the guard, she offered her hand in greeting to him. “Hi, Mr. Sinclair? I’m Ashley Miller. Mr. Maxwell is on a conference call at the moment, but I’ll be more than happy to take you up.”

  Jack blinked at her for a moment, and Ashley wondered if he was okay.

  “That would be fine,” he finally managed.

  “Follow me,” she said. At their floor, Nicholas’ door was still closed. “It appears that he’s still on the call. Why don’t come into my office and have a cup of coffee while you wait?” She led him into her office. “Is Nick, I mean, Mr. Maxwell, building something for you?”

  He looked at her oddly before responding. “No, actually, I came to convince him to go to lunch with me.”

  “Oh, so this isn’t business?” she asked.

  “No, Nick and I have been best friends since I could remember.”

  Ashley smiled. “So you were one of the guys he watched the game with yesterday?”

  “Yes, he told you about that, huh?”

  Ashley nodded.

  “Did he happen to tell you why we always have it at his place?” Jack asked, as if to see if his friend had given away some sort of well-guarded secret.

  “No, but I assume it would have to do with alcohol consumption!” Ashley joked.

  “You’re a very smart young woman,” he congratulated her with a friendly wink.

  “Why, thank you.”

  “May I ask exactly what you do here?” Jack inquired.

  “I do designs for whatever the client wants us to build.”

  “How does it work if the client has a design already in mind?”

  “Then I take a look at it and see if it’s structurally possible; if not, I’ll explain the whys and why nots and then do a little enhancement. Usually when I’m done with the plans they’re happy.”

  Jack smiled at the enthusiastic way she talked about her job. “I know my buddy can be a very demanding boss; I’m sure that having to deal with him makes dealing with a stubborn client seem like a cakewalk!”

  “He isn’t that bad at all.” Ashley walked over to her drawing table where Jack stood. “Here, let me show you some of my plans. One day I want to design my own restaurant.” She glanced at Mr. Sinclair. “How long have the two of you known each other?”

  “We’ve known each other since kindergarten. There are four of us in all, but I think Nick and I are the closest. I was the first one of the bunch that his mom took in first.”

  Ashley frowned. “What do you mean ‘took in’? What happened to your family?” Contrite, she shook her head and looked at him. “I’m sorry, that’s none of my business—”

  “You don’t have to apologize; I don’t mind telling you.” Jack leaned against the wall near the drawing table. “I know most people consider a kid with both parents to be luckier than a child with just one, but I disagree with that. Even though I had both my mother and father in our household, they were both so busy. Hell, they were too busy to care about what I did when they weren’t around. Well, one day I had come home with Nick, and we were playing outside. When it started getting dark, Nick’s mother called him in and said that she was sure my parents were worrying about me. I just kind of looked at her and smiled. When Nick went inside, she must have waited to see if I’d leave.”

  “What did you do?” Ashley prompted.

  “I just kept playing catch. After a few minutes, Nick’s mom came outside and sat me down on the steps. Man, you just don’t know how scared I was, but I played the tough role,” Jack said with a smile.

  “What did she say to you?”

  “She asked if I’d eaten, and when I told her no, she took me inside and fed me. I guess you could say that was the beginning. Because from that day forward, I’d come home with Nick, she’d feed me, and then take me home.”

  “What did your parents have to say?” Ashley knew she was being nosy, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. His story had her deeply enthralled.

  “Nothing. When I got up in the mornings, my mom was on her way out the door, and my dad was coming in to go to bed. This went on for a while, until early one morning Nick’s mom came to my house. She tried talking to my parents but didn’t get anywhere. My mother complained about being late to work, and my dad complained about needing his sleep. I caught the look of surprise my parents’ attitudes caused her, and she said something about it. Boy, did that set my mother off. She yelled, saying that if Nick’s mom wanted me she could take me. And without a moment’s hesitation, Moms told me to pack my things and come on. I have to tell you, it was one of t
he happiest days of my life.” He laughed. “Nick helped me pack my things, and we ran out to the car. I don’t know what else was said after that, but I didn’t care.”

  Ashley couldn’t help the tears that came into her eyes. She quickly turned her face away before Mr. Sinclair saw them. “I don’t know if I should ask this, but I have to. Did they ever come for you?”

  “Nope, never heard from them again. Look, don’t feel bad, I have to tell you that I was raised by the best. This woman worked hard to put us through college. Hell, I can understand Nick—he’s hers—but I was just a kid whose parents were screwed up. And if she ever heard that I’d said that, she’d kick my butt. Now, then, that’s enough about my history; show me your work.”

  Nicholas stopped just inside the doorway of her office. A twinge of jealousy tweaked him upon seeing Ashley’s and Jack’s heads bent together. He wasn’t sure from where the feelings came. Nick cleared his throat to get their attention. Jack looked up at him, and Nicholas knew his jealousy was unfounded. Shaking his head, he walked over to the drawing table.

  “What are you doing here, you slacker?” Nick asked jokingly.

  “I came to see if you’d like to go to lunch. But I decided to ask Ms. Miller if she’d accompany me to lunch.”

  Nicholas stared at his friend just before they both burst into laughter.

  Ashley looked from one to the other. “Did I miss something?” she asked.

  “I’ll explain it to you one day in the future,” Jack said cryptically. “Would you like to join us for lunch?”

  “No, thank you. I have mine right here; besides, I have some things to catch up on before Maggie brings Marcus.”

  “Does she have another hot date?” Nicholas asked, chuckling.

  “I’m not sure,” Ashley responded with a light laugh.

  Jack arched an eyebrow. “Man, don’t you pay her enough where she doesn’t have to bring a bag lunch?”

  Nicholas gave his friend a dark look, and Ashley intervened. “I just wanted to bring my lunch.”

  “You don’t have to cover for him; he won’t harm me. Moms would tan his hide!” Jack said between laughs.

  “Come on, you freeloader, I guess I’ll buy you lunch. I’ll be back in an hour,” Nicholas called out to her as they left the office.

  Nicholas and Jack reached the lobby. Maggie stood with Marcus at the guard’s desk. As Nicholas approached, Marcus spotted him and cooed loudly.

  “Hey, Maggie,” Nicholas called out, smiling at the way Marcus reached out for him. “Hi, Marcus, are you giving Maggie a fit?” He took the baby into his arms. Marcus immediately let out a peal of laughter. “Hey, Jack, I want you to meet Marcus,” Nick said and faced his friend. Jack looked perplexed. “What’s ailing you?”

  Jack cleared his throat. He couldn’t seem to make his voice work. He tried to speak again. “Sorry, got a little parched there,” he explained absently. “So, this is Marcus?”

  “Yep, this is the man I had dinner with Saturday night.” Nicholas faced Maggie and the guard. “George, I’ll sign her in; she knows her way up to the office.”

  “Sure thing, Mr. Maxwell,” George responded.

  After giving Marcus a quick kiss and handing him back to Maggie, Nicholas and Jack headed out to lunch. Nicholas almost hated to leave, but knew that Jack wouldn’t hear of him not having lunch.

  The two men went to a deli not far from the office. Jack seemed preoccupied.

  “Hey, Earth to Jack. What’s going on with you, man? You haven’t heard a word I’ve said. Care to enlighten me?”

  Jack didn’t answer immediately. “I was just wondering whatever happened to Marcus’ father.”

  Nicholas shrugged. “Ashley only told me about the night Marcus was conceived. She seemed intent on not revealing the name of the father. I think when she went to confront him about it, he questioned whether or not it was his. And when she told her parents, her brother talked them into sending her away for fear of scandal.”

  Jack appeared shocked. “Her brother did what?”

  “I don’t know, but from what she told me, it wasn’t pleasant.”

  Jack nodded, his gaze like a laser. “Nicholas, do you remember yesterday when I asked you if you were falling for her?”

  Nicholas looked up at Jack. His friend only called him Nicholas when extremely serious. “Yeah, why?”

  “I think I know the answer to that question now.” Jack’s eyes gleamed.

  “Oh, really?”

  Jack gave a curt nod in answer.

  “Well, what’s the answer?”

  “I don’t think you’re falling for her, I think you’ve already fallen.”

  He glared at Jack, about to deny it, then admitted to himself there was no use. No one knew him better than Jack. “Is it that obvious?” he asked and shook his head.

  “Yes, it is, and that’s the reason that I feel the need for us to find out the whereabouts of the father.” Before Nick could say anything else, Jack continued. “The reason I want to do it now is because I don’t want anyone busting in at the wedding ceremony causing a commotion.”

  Nick could read Jack like a book—Jack was holding something back. “What else?”

  Jack squirmed in his seat and averted his eyes, but Nick would wait him out. Jack couldn’t lie and couldn’t keep secrets from him for very long.

  “Do you know that when I saw you holding Marcus, I thought to myself that if I didn’t know you and knew he wasn’t your son, I would have sworn you were the father of that child?”

  “What do you mean?” Nick asked, puzzled.

  “Haven’t you ever noticed the resemblances between you and Marcus? Hell, if it wasn’t for the fact his skin color is darker than yours, I know Moms would swear he was yours and that you’ve been keeping secrets from her if she saw him.” Jack paused a moment before continuing. “Look, you need to talk to her first and foremost about the baby’s father. Let her know how you feel, see if she’s feeling the same, which I think she is.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “I saw the way her eyes lit up when you walked into her office, and also the way she felt she had to take up for you when I made the comment about her having to bring in her lunch. Look, you find out what you can on your own, and I’ll do what I do best.”

  Thirty minutes later, Nicholas arrived back at his office. He couldn’t get his mind off of his conversation with Jack and wondered how Marcus could resemble him. Nicholas was an only child and was sure his father had been faithful to his mother. There was no way he could ask his mother until he knew exactly what was going on. He had to get to the bottom of this without bringing his mother into it. First thing he needed was the name of Marcus’ father. The only person who could tell him was Ashley. But right on the heels of that thought was the revelation he’d need more than that from her.

  He also needed and wanted her love.

  Ashley tried to wait until Nicholas returned from lunch so he could see Marcus. She knew how much Marcus enjoyed it, and she enjoyed seeing them together. Ashley berated herself—it wasn’t good for her to be falling for her boss; then again, it was too late. She was already in love with Nicholas Maxwell, and there was nothing she could do about it.

  Ashley checked her watch again. “Well, I guess we’d better go on home, Marcus. It looks like you’ll have to see him another time,” she whispered to her dozing little boy. She scooped him up and grabbed his bag. Checking to make sure she had everything, she headed for the door. Just as she was about to reach for the handle, it turned. She stepped back as the door opened, and there on the other side stood a smiling Nicholas.

  “I was hoping you’d still be here so I’d get a chance to see Marcus.” It seemed as soon as Nicholas spoke, Marcus popped wide awake.

  “We were waiting for you to return, but he starting dozing off, but not anymore! Look at him! He’s trying to jump into your arms!” Ashley laughed.

  “Well, let’s not make him wait.” As soon as Nicholas took Marcus, t
he baby cooed. It warmed her heart to see her son so happy, and Nicholas spoke to her son as if he understood everything being said.

  “Hey, why don’t you two come over to my house and I’ll make you dinner?”

  Ashley would like nothing better, but wasn’t sure it would be a good idea.

  Nicholas saw her hesitation. “Look, there’s no pressure; I just thought I could repay you. Hell, that’s not true; I want to spend some time with you and Marcus.”

  Ashley placed her hand on his arm. “I’d love to, but Nicole’s coming over tonight to work on her Spanish; besides, I’d rather not have Marcus out too late at night.”

  “Well, how about on Friday, then? If the weather’s too bad, you guys can stay the weekend. I have plenty of room.”

  He was trying to put her at ease, and it warmed her heart. She knew if anything happened between them, it would be because she wanted it, not like how it happened…before. “Okay, I’ll have Nicole bring me in. That way we can just ride home with you.”

  “Great! And I promise you that I do know how to cook.”

  “We’ll see!” she said, laughing.

  Chapter Seven

  The rest of the week seemed to have flown by. Nicholas felt as if his eyes hadn’t closed at all last night. Granted, he’d not had the nightmares since telling everything to Ashley, but just the excitement of her and Marcus coming home with him tonight had prevented him from going to sleep. After showering and grabbing a cup of coffee, he headed for the office. Nicholas hoped Ashley wouldn’t be angry with him for all the toys he’d picked up for him and Marcus to play with. Hell, he’d gone so far as to buy a crib for Marcus to sleep in.

  In an effort to stop thinking about Ashley, Nicholas went over a project for one of his most lucrative clients. He became so deep into the plans he didn’t even look up when his door opened.

  “Good morning!”

  Nicholas’ head came up, and Ashley and her niece stood just inside the doorway. His attempt at work now forgotten, he said, “Hey, how are you doing this morning?”