Page 131 of Cruelest Contract
Tye knocks the hat off his face and busts up laughing.
Alice’s hazel eyes turn turbulent. “The only thing I’d care to inflict on you, Gaetano, is a less odious personality and a crumb of fashion sense.”
He’s unimpressed, walking his eyes all over her with a detached expression. “Not interested in a collar and leash, princess. Wouldn’t match my boots. Try the nearest office park if you’re hunting for a passive pussy in a suit.”
“Go play with your knife,” she snaps.
He chuckles. “So that’s what turns you on. What else do you want to watch me do?”
“Walk in in the opposite direction and stay gone.”
He tips his hat up. “Whatever your pleasure.” He’s whistling while he takes a stroll toward the house.
Alice simmers for a few seconds and then turns her head to watch him. A flush creeps up her neck and her eyes skim over the back of his tall, powerful body.
“I really hope that’s not a drop of drool at the corner of your mouth,” I say.
She jerks her eyes away from Getty’s ass. “I’m just hungry.”
“We ate lunch half an hour ago.”
“Which means it’s time for dessert.” Alice springs to her feet and reaches out a hand to help me up. Between my growing belly and my bad knee, this turns into a project. Tye quickly jumps up to assist. At this rate, I’ll need to be moved via crane by the third trimester.
However, once I’m upright I have no trouble walking. Alice pounces on my suggestion to take a drive to Vigilance, where I promise she can find both art suppliesanddessert.
When we run into Fort, he decides to go with us. My brief hope that we can avoid traveling with an entourage of Mafia goons is dashed but at least they follow in a separate car. Alice turns around a few times to observe the gleaming black SUV persistently following at a respectable distance.
After cookies and fudge at Sugar Jean’s, we visit the Vigilance Drugstore for Alice’s sketchbook. Behind the register is a familiar blonde woman. I’ve learned her name is Katie and she graduated from high school a couple of years before Julian. She greets us with eagerness but all she gets from me is a cool nod. I haven’t forgotten that she’s the one who gossiped about the purchase of my pregnancy tests.
While we’re in town we also buy some flower bouquets to leave at Teresa’s grave. All the wildflowers died out when summer ended. It’s late afternoon when we return to the ranch.
Alice is deeply moved by Teresa’s gravesite. Her eyes fill with tears when she observes the solemn conduct of Tye and Fort while they pay their respects to their mother. She stands beside the stone angel and gazes up at the tranquil face.
“For you, Teresa,” she says with a quaver in her voice. She lovingly sets her bouquet of vibrant daisies down and rubs her arms as she backs away.
“How old were they at the time?” she asks me in a near whisper.
“Julian is the oldest and he was five. Fort was just barely a year. Tye was four.”
There’s a pinch of distress between her brows. “And Getty?”
“Getty was three. He was home that day. He doesn’t talk about it.”
She nods and swallows hard. “Oh.”
As we leave, I glance over my shoulder one last time at the stone angel. This might be my last walk over here for quite a while. Lately I’m feeling tired and my knee is sore. But I’ll miss these visits. I’ve made it a point to come here once a week. While the angel is still within sight, I blow her a kiss goodbye.
Alice grows concerned by my slow pace as we walk to the stables. I keep yawning the whole time we’re hanging out Luna. I’ve been getting sleepy in the afternoon and I’ll often take a nap on the sofa in my office. This week I gave myself time off bookkeeping chores in honor of Alice’s visit. Now I feel guilty about yearning for naptime.
“Go rest,” she urges. “You are growing entire people inside you. It looks exhausting.”
“It is.” I stifle a yawn. “What will you do?”
Tye throws a heavy arm over her shoulders. “I’ll keep her busy. Let’s go for a ride, Alice.”
She makes a face and ducks to escape his grip. “Find something else to mount, Tiberius.”
He attempts to look hurt. “I meant a horseback ride. Why is your mind always in the gutter?”
