Page 10 of Laying His Claim
She needed to think; needed to talk this through. How would she know if she was making the right decision? “Could you guys leave me and Justin alone for a bit?” she asked.
Quietly, Kaiya and Tyler got up and placed the baby in Justin’s arms before leaving the room. Once they were alone, Justin and Jalissa faced each other. For several long moments, all she could do was stare at the picture they made, father and son. The baby looked about to fall asleep and was nuzzling the space between Justin’s shoulder and jaw. Then he lifted his long, silky eyelashes and looked at her. In that very instant, her decision was made.
“This is all true?” she asked, although she needed no confirmation.
“It is,” he replied simply.
“Then… then I think I should come home—I mean, to your place—for a little while.”
A smile lit up his handsome features. “I’m so happy to hear that. Do you want to go get your things?”
She shook her head. In her fatigue, her body was beginning to feel like a weighty load she had to carry around, something independent from herself. “No, not tonight. I’m exhausted.”
He nodded, looking concerned. “It’s okay, Babe. I understand. Tomorrow, then?”
“Tomorrow,” she promised. And prayed she was doing the right thing.
Chapter 4
Jalissa stared around herself in amazement. While she’d packed her belongings, Kaiya had informed her that Justin lived inthemost affluent neighborhood in Montreal–Westmount. On the ride here, she began to understand the emphasis. All the houses were mansions. Most of the homes had more than two-car garages, and she saw glimpses of children playing in their backyard pools. She saw women in training bras and tights jogging with strollers. Justin’s house was just as grand and beautiful as the ones they passed.
He followed her appreciative gaze as they toured the house, and said proudly, “You should have seen it when I bought it. This place needed so much work but, thanks to Tyler, we were able to fully and quickly renovate it.”
Turning slowly, Jalissa thought to herself,This house is perfect.Its understated elegance felt so much like Justin, it was as if his spirit had infused the building. The home contained three floors and a four-car garage. On the first floor, right next to Justin’s home office, was her son’s playroom. Justin joked that many people commented on the fact that it looked like Toy R Us. A large eat-in kitchen, formal dining room, living area and powder room were also situated on the first floor. The second floor of the house had five bedrooms and four and a half baths. The third floor apparently was used as his gym. Although they didn’t go down to the basement, Justin told her that the basement was fully renovated and used as a media room.
The walls were filled with what she assumed to be African art. The entire home had a modern feel. White walls and large floor to ceiling windows that allowed for plenty of summer’s sunshine to seep through. Pictures of Seb at different months lined the walls, and she leaned closer to have a look. The large furniture, artwork and style of the house felt like it was all him. Although she couldn’t know that for sure since she barely knew him. Having expected to be tense and anxious, she instead felt soothed by the colors and the fresh, free-flowing air. It was almost like a homecoming.
“There you are!” came a chirpy voice. A pretty, curvaceous young woman came hurrying in, arms outstretched toward Justin in a silent request for him to hand Sebastian over.
Before doing so, Justin made the introductions. “Jalissa, this is Seb’s nanny, Lorena. Lorena, this is Sebastian’s mom, Jalissa. She’s back from the hospital.”
The woman gave Jalissa little more than a curt nod, and then immediately, her eyes were on Justin and Seb again.
Rude,Jalissa thought.
The baby was half asleep, but as he was passed over, he fidgeted and became fussy.
“Oh, hush now, my dear, sweet boy,” the woman cooed.
Jalissa felt a tiny prickle under her skin.Whosedear, sweet boy? She reached out to pat the fussy baby on the head, but the younger woman deftly skirted her with a quick, sharp look, swooping away possessively.
“Just change his diaper, please. Then bring him to us,” Justin instructed.
The woman nodded, still throwing looks at Jalissa as she walked away.
Seems a bit possessive for just a nanny,Jalissa thought, but before she could say anything, Justin took her by the arm gently. “This way.”
With one final glance at Lorena, who was disappearing down the hallway, still cooing at Sebastian, Jalissa allowed herself to be led farther into the house. They came to a large, well-lit room, which was filled with exercise equipment. Quickly, she spotted a treadmill, a stationary bike, two types of workout benches and some light weights. “What is this?” she gasped.
Justin held her in his somber gray gaze. “This is your therapy room. I had it set up for you as soon as you woke up. What’s more, I’ve arranged for a physiotherapist to come in and work with you three times a week.”
“Oh my,”she breathed in disbelief. “You did all this for me?”
“Of course.” There it was again, that intense look that she couldn’t tear her eyes from. “I’d do anything to make sure you’re safe and happy. I want nothing more than for you to be fully recovered and mobile again.”
Justin had done this for her. Jalissa was so grateful she wanted to hug him—but didn’t dare. Then he was moving again.
They finally went upstairs and came into a beautiful bedroom with a queen-sized bed, a large armoire, and a dressing table on which several unopened packages of makeup and toiletries were arranged. She guessed that the door on the far end led to an en-suite bathroom. Justin had thought of everything. For a moment, she felt ashamed for having initially refused to come with him when he’d obviously spent so much time thinking things through.
