Page 2 of Her Jealous Valentine

I park my Bentley and jump out, rushing to the passenger’s side to open her door. I take her hand and help her out of the seat,never letting go, even as we walk toward the building. At thirty-six years old, dressed in a suit that costs more than a month’s rent in this building, I refuse to feel shame holding my mother’s hand.

And yet, as we step inside the doctor’s office, Mother’s parts from mine involuntarily as I freeze in place. I’m standing on solid ground, and yet, it feels like I’m on an unmoored boat floating in the ocean. Unsteady on my feet. My heart pounding like it’s about to escape my chest.

Mother takes a few extra steps before throwing a cheeky smile over her shoulder to see what happened to me.

Her smile grows while she watches me trying to lift my jaw off the floor at the sight of the stunning creature getting up from the receptionist’s desk to greet us.

She’s. Fucking. Perfect.

From her strawberry blonde tip to white sneaker-clad toes.

What new hell is this?

“Good morning, Mrs. Valentine.” Her soft voice is an angelic choir to my ears.

“Hello, Olivia. How are you this morning?” Mother’s greeting is accompanied by a gentle shaking of hands with the receptionist. “This is my son, Victor. My good boy took time out of his busy schedule to bring me here.” She leans in close to Olivia’s ear to say the last part.

Holy shit. Am I blushing at Mother’s attempts to embarrass me?

The heat rising from my loins to my cheeks answers a painful yes. But I can’t tell if it’s genuinely embarrassment or I’m going rosy-faced over the freckle-faced beauty smiling at me.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Valentine.” She does the cutest half-curtsy I’ve ever seen, and her face continues beaming the brightest smile I’ve ever seen.

Deep breaths, big guy. And say something while you’re at it. Otherwise, she’s gonna think it’s you who needs a doctor.

“Th—” I choke on the first word, clearing my throat before I try again. “The pleasure is mine. And please, call me Victor.”

“Victor, it is.” Olivia leads us to a waiting area opposite the reception desk, carrying a clipboard and a pen with her. She hands them to Mother when we sit, so she can fill in the necessary information for this appointment. “The doctor will be with you shortly.”

Good. The sooner Mother disappears into the backrooms, the better. Silly as it sounds, I can’t fawn over Olivia with Mother here.

Because that would be the biggest joke of the day, wouldn’t it?

Fighting tooth and nail against her wish for me to slow down and settle in the whole ride over here, only to find myself wanting to do it with the first woman I see.

This settles it.

Life has the funniest sense of humor, and for the first time, I’m loving the thought of being a punchline.

2

OLIVIA

It’s rare to see a grown woman look like a child next to anyone, let alone their own offspring. Yet, here we are, and I’m witnessing it with my own two eyes.

At nearly seventy years old, by looks alone, I could never detract from how well Veronica takes care of herself. She doesn’t have the feeble-bodied mannerisms most women her age start to develop, and in the two years I’ve worked for Dr. Sinclair, Veronica hasn’t once come in for anything other than her quarterly checkup.

The genetic apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree with her son, it seems.

Victor Valentine looks unreal sitting beside his mom. He’s a marble statue in both intensity and size. Tall enough for his hair to brush the top of a door he crosses under and wide enough that he almost has to turn sideways to get through comfortably. Every inch of him screams raw power and domination, and for the first time in a very, very long time, I want it directed at me.

“Don’t be silly, Mother.” Victor hasn’t taken his swirling hazel eyes off me since he sat. I fear he’s noticed my inability to look away from him, too. “You’re looking very deeply into something that isn’t there.”

Hearing those words after the hushed whispers he and Veronica have shared thus far piques my curiosity. What could she have whispered to cause an outburst like this?

It’s made worse with her looking over at me with a devious grin. As if they’re both holding some big secret and doing everything in their power to keep it from me.

Of course, I know it’s nonsense. They’re mother and son before all, and after, they’re business partners. Their conversation probably doesn’t involve me at all. Hell, Victor’s gaze might not even be on me. He could merely be staring into the void, and I just happen to be seated in his line of sight.

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