Page 13 of Off Limits (Alpha Billionaire)

“I woke up,” Max said as soon as I walked into his room. He was already out of bed, sitting on the floor looking through a picture book, his stuffed toy next to him.

“Yes, you did.”

“Can I have a snack?” he asked.

“You just woke up,” I pointed out.

“I woke up hungry. I’m a growing boy.”

I had to laugh. He was a growing boy, and every time he ate a big meal or overslept, that's what I told him. “Yes, you can have a snack.”

I made sure he used the bathroom and washed his hands. There was a chance his grandmother was still on her little walk.

“If you see Nana, you need to be good and don’t run and grab and hug her. She was taking a walk, but she’s very wobbly on her feet.”

Max nodded, and I trusted him to behave. I didn’t trust my nerves to survive if Ryan was still out there, but I would fake it for Max’s sake.

But it was like no one was in the house. Mrs. Anderson was already back in her room, and the kitchen was completelyempty. I let out a hard, long breath. Hopefully, that meant that Ryan was also gone.

I helped Max climb up on a tall chair as I looked through cupboards, asking Max what he wanted to eat. “Apples? How about a banana?”

“Cookies.”

“No cookies. You need something healthy. You can have fruit, or how about some carrots and dip?” The kid loved hummus, and the cook stocked the fridge with little mini cups of hummus that were perfect for him.

“Chips?”

I sighed and turned to face him. Would it really be so bad if I gave him chips?

The door opened and I jumped. I turned to see Dylan step inside.

“Daddy!” Max wiggled his way off the chair.

“Hey, buddy!” Dylan crouched down and swung Max up into his arms. “What are you doing?”

“Getting a snack.”

“What are you going to have?”

“Cookies!” Max said with conviction and enthusiasm.

I shook my head. “Not cookies, Max. Is your guest still here?” I asked. I tightened my gut and looked over Dylan’s shoulder. I really didn’t want to see Ryan again, but I braced just in case.

“I was just seeing him off.”

I let out my breath and dropped my shoulders, allowing my stomach muscles to relax. I didn’t have time to relax further. My phone rang with a text. I read the first line and my gut clenched.

“Is everything okay, Jessica?” Dylan asked.

I shoved the phone into my pocket. “Yeah. Why don’t you figure out what Max wants—not cookies. I’ll be right back.”

I dashed out of the kitchen before I pulled my phone back out and read the full text.

Jess, what a pleasure to see you today. You are looking well. I miss you and think about when we were together all the time. I think you need to meet me tomorrow. Monterey Hilton, lounge, after dinner drinks. Would hate to have to give your new boss a character reference letting him know about you. Text me with a time.

I thought I had blocked his number years ago. Could his number have been unblocked in my contacts when I upgraded my phone? Did it really matter? Ryan had my phone number because I hadn’t been smart enough to get a new one after everything. And now, that was clearly a threat to expose my past mistakes to Dylan.

Dylan would surely believe Ryan and think I was some kind of spy. That I was here to find out his secrets. It wasn’t a far-fetched concept. After all, I had done something similar in the past.

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