Page 28 of Tempted

“Under duress and you stayed in your room most of the visit.”

“Maybe because I didn’t have a reason to come out.”

“Are you saying your family wasn’t enough of an incentive?”

Adam didn’t answer. Instead, he flipped the radio on to some obnoxious station.

Victor turned it off again. “I’m not finished talking to you. We haven’t seen each other since November. Tell me what you’ve been up to.”

“Don’t you get the reports from school?”

“I do but I’d rather hear it from you.”

“If there was something I wanted to say it would have been said already. I don’t know why you’re even acting like you care when we both know what’s going to happen.”

Victor clutched his steering wheel until his knuckles went white as he held on to his temper by a thread. He didn’t know how much more of his son’s surliness he could take without snapping. “Since you already know, enlighten me.”

“You’re going to lock yourself up in your office or stay at your firm until all hours of the night. I know the routine.”

“Actually, your grandmother is waiting at home for you and I thought it would be nice if we all went out to dinner together. You still like Italian, don’t you?”

Another shrug met his question.

Victor sighed. “I’m trying, Adam, but you have to meet me halfway.”

Slouching down into his seat, he tilted the seat to recline and closed his eyes, making his feelings clear. The uncomfortable silence surrounding them was like a deep slash to the already festering wound on his heart. At one time, Victor would have let Adam have his way as far as keeping him at arm’s length. But the new bond he shared with his two youngest children, he had to at least attempt to repair the damage to his and Adam’s relationship.

Victor used the silence to strategize his next move. It wouldn’t be easy but he wouldn’t give up. When he pulled up to the driveway of his house, he noticed two cars that hadn’t been there when he left. One belonged to his mother, the other to Madison. While Victor could understand why his mother would be here, what in the world was Madison’s reason? He hadn’t seen her in a few weeks. In fact, during their last encounter he’d made it clear he wanted to spend more time with his children which meant he’d have less time for her.

“Adam!” Chelsea squealed when she spotted her brother. She ran forward and hurtled herself against the unsuspecting teenager. Adam caught her but not before coming dangerously close to falling over.

“Whoa, kiddo, easy.” Adam placed his sister back on her feet.

“Hey, Adam.” Tyler joined the commotion. “Guess what? Dad brought me the new Spiderman game for my PlayStation. You have to watch me play.”

Before Adam could respond, Victor’s mother stepped forward. “Oh, look at you. You’ve gotten so tall, almost as tall as your father. And just as handsome!” she gushed before planting kisses all over his face. Though Adam looked silently embarrassed, he didn’t seem to be adverse to the attention he received from his siblings and grandmother.

Victor’s jaw clenched and unclenched. He shouldn’t feel jealous of his own children and mother but he did and only heightened his guilt. Not knowing why, he sought out Jasmine who didn’t seem to be around at the moment. She’d taken the day off yesterday to visit her daughter but she should have been around today. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask where she was when a hand fell on his shoulder.

“Welcome home, Victor,” Madison whispered in his ear.

He turned to face her, silently annoyed that she’d chosen to visit during this private family moment. When he wasn’t working Victor had been spending time with his children. He’d been too busy for much else.

“Hello Madison. It’s been a while.”

She arched a dark blond brow. “Is that all you can say? I thought you’d be happier to see me.”

“It’s not that, I guess I didn’t expect you to be here. As you can see, my son has just arrived home from school.”

“Yes, I’ve noticed and I’m glad I picked today to visit, otherwise I wouldn’t have been here to welcome Adam home. He and I used to get on so well. As a matter of fact, I think I’ll go greet him now. By the way, your mother invited me to dinner with you tonight at La Bella’s. She’s such a dear to realize what a close family friend I am.” She slid her index finger down the center of his chest and batted her large blue eyes at him before turning to the rest of the small crowd gathered in the living room.

Victor didn’t know who to be more annoyed with: his mother for issuing the invitation, or Madison for accepting. Regardless, it was something he’d have to deal with later. A frown tugged the corner of his lips. Where was Jasmine?

Victor gathered Adam’s things to carry upstairs. On his way to Adam’s room, he stopped in front of Jasmine’s door and knocked. When there was no reply, he turned the knob and cautiously poked his head inside. “Jasmine?” He called out her name. Still there was no response. He walked in to see the room was empty. Even though his mother was here, the children were Jasmine’s responsibility.

Once he dropped off Adam’s items he returned to the living room. Adam sat on the couch with Chelsea on one side and Tyler on the other, both chatting at the same time. His mother sat in the recliner speaking when she could get a word in edgewise. Madison sauntered over to him, and slid her arm through the crook of his. “There you are, darling. Where did you get off to?”

“I put Adam’s suitcases in his room,” he answered absently. “Mother?”

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