Page 14 of Seeking Salvation

Rounding the corner, he pulled up in front of a small cottage on the outskirts of the village and switched off the engine. “This is us.”

Not in a million years would she have suspected this was his home. He was big and brawny and this house was small and delicate, belonging to a Jane Eyre novel.

“Not what I expected.”

“I don’t stay here often. I live at work mostly. I bought it as a project and renovated it for fun, and then, when it came time to sell it, I just couldn’t.”

“I can see why. It’s beautiful.”

“Thank you. Want to go see Tyrique?”

“Yes, please.”

Ti rounded the car before she could exit and opened her door like this was a date or something. “Wow, your mum taught you well.”

A shadow of pain flashed over his face before it was gone in the next instant but it was enough to tell her she’d hit a nerve and remind her that she really didn’t know anything about this man she was putting so much trust in.

As the door opened into the lounge, she heard the sound of laughter and children chattering, and instantly took a step back, feeling out of place. Ti could have a wife or girlfriend for all she knew and she’d thrown herself into his life, believing him to be an absent father when in fact he was none the wiser.

A tiny platinum blonde stepped through from the kitchen with Tyrique in her arms. Maya launched herself at her, taking Tyrique and holding him close to her chest as she buried her face in his neck and inhaled his sweet scent.

“I’m so sorry I left you, baby. I won’t ever do something so stupid again.”Tyrique snuffled against her ear and she laughed as his lips found her neck. She pulled away to look at him and assess him for any injury and found nothing but the happy child she adored. “You hungry, big guy?”

“I was just about to warm his bottle.”

Maya glanced at the woman who was now standing beside Ti as he threw his arm lazily over her shoulder. The woman was watching her with a wary look on her face, but no hostility. Just a watchful gaze that made her feel exposed. A frisson of jealousy ran through her at the thought that she might know him intimately. Was she his girlfriend? His lover? The ease between them showed a deep level of trust and closeness, more than that of colleagues.

“Thank you, but I can do it myself if you just show me where.” Even to her own ears, her retort sounded sharp and she bit her tongue to keep from apologising. She was already at a disadvantage here, she didn’t need to show even more weakness.

Ti looked at her with a crinkle in his eyes that proved her attitude hadn’t gone unnoticed. Embarrassment crept in because she wasn’t usually so confrontational but this entire day, no, this entire month, had been one shit show after another and she was feeling defensive and out of sorts. Her flight or fight response was definitely turned more towards fight at this point.

“Maya, I’d like you to meet my good friend, Snow. Snow, this is Maya, Tyrique’s aunt.”

“Nice to meet you.” Snow offered her a smile that held nothing but genuine pleasure, yet Maya still felt her hackles rise. Manners had made her say the words even though what she really wanted to do was demand she move away from the man she’d just met and had zero rights to. Maybe she was having an early midlife crisis.

“Liar.”

Maya snapped her head back, so shocked to be called out by this confident smiling beauty.“Excuse me?”

Snow cocked her head and grinned. “I like you. You’ll do.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Snow, are you scaring her off already? I told you to stay out of this.”

Maya’s gaze swung to the door where a gorgeous man, in a clearly custom three-piece suit, stood with a small baby in his arms and a little girl at his side.Warmth crossed his features as he addressed Snow, his body moving so he was standing beside her and gazing down at her with complete adoration on his face, but what surprised her was the way the cool beauty, so full of the ice of her name, melted a little at his gaze on her.

“And I told you, I don’t take orders.”

The man snorted. “You barely take suggestions, babe.” She watched as the man lifted his gaze to Ti and glared. “Care to unhand my wife, Titan?”

His words weren’t threatening but his tone certainly was, and she wondered if this was some kind of weird love triangle like she used to read about in her mum’s weekly magazines.

Titan grinned and lifted his arm as the woman moved into her husband and snuggled against his side before he wound his fist around her ponytail, tipped her head back and gave her a kiss that made every hair on Maya’s body stand on end.

Jesus, was it hot in here?

“Come on, man. Can you not do that here?” Titan grumbled.

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