Page 24 of Secret Baby for Mr. Grump

“Hmm.” Dr. Rowanna looked thoughtful and concerned. “And this has never happened before?”

“No, it has never happened like this,” I said. “I’ve been out before, although not necessarily that late. And Athena has watched him plenty of times without anything happening. But this time, it was like he was terrified. When I got home, he kept hugging me and wouldn’t let go.”

“And you’re sure nothing happened to him in his past to trigger all this?”

I shook my head. “Not that I know of.”

“Because his reaction to you being gone sounds like you’re his safety net. And he was scared that since you didn’t come back, it would be taken from him. That’s a typical trait of children who have been abandoned or traumatized in one way or another.”

“Abandoned?” Oh God, I had not even thought of that. “Could it be my divorce that caused all this?”

“I’m not sure, but that’s a good place to start. I would also try to find out if he had gone through any traumatic events, maybe without your knowledge.” She glanced at Caleb, who still wasn’t looking at her. “Because something must have recently triggered him.”

TEN

MARCUS

Restless energy bounced around inside me, and my hands clenched around the steering wheel to keep it at bay.

I should have been satisfied.

After I learned about the Beston’s problem, I moved quickly to snatch up the resort before the banks got tired of waiting and gave it to someone else. It had also been a stroke of genius to place the purchase under the company’s name and have Sean handle the transaction.

No bank in town would sell the resort to me if they knew I was the buyer.

It didn’t matter that I’d been cleared of all charges. In most people’s eyes, I was still a murderer.

Or, at the very least, the son of the man who stole millions of dollars from them.

It no longer phased me—this town’s attitude toward me or the fact that I could still feel their stares when I entered certain places. They still turned up their nose at me when I went to their department stores or anywhere that wasn’t the uglier part of town.

I ignored them all.

They may not want me there, but they couldn’t touch me.

None of them knew yet, but I was no longer the powerless man they drove away. I was now the owner of a billion-dollar construction company, a man who’d learned ruthlessness to garner success.

I wasn’t sure knowing would change their attitude either way. Their hatred for me and my mother went deep, and they fought against everyone who even happened to be associated with me.

Which was why I needed to get my stubborn mother to move.

I didn’t know why she was so stuck on staying in this place, so determined to hold on to the few good memories we had amidst the ugly. Left to me, I would have sold the house and never come back.

Oh really?A doubtful voice in my mind commented.Are you sure about that?

An image of Allie flashed in my head, but I brushed it aside as I slowed to a stop at the red light, releasing a breath. I’d achieved everything I set out to do today. I now owned the Beston’s resort. I ignored the voice mocking me that the only reason I got it was to have a reason to be close to Allie. It wasn’t entirely true. The place may be a dump now, but it had been one of the most profitable businesses in town. And it sat on a prime piece of land.

Most importantly, I’d confirmed what I already knew.

Allie Beston still wanted me.

Wanted?I thought humorously as I put the car into drive again. The girl had been practically burning up as I pressed her against the wall, her legs splayed open. I doubted she knew that she was subtly rubbing against me, silently asking for something that she couldn’t describe. Her eyes had been stormy with desire, her lips plump and parted for my kisses. And her scent…

God, I could still remember it. When I leaned in and sniffed her neck, the light earthy scent of her drove hunger punching in my gut, demanding that I hike her up higher and higher until her legs were around my neck and I was lapping at her center.

“Shit.” I veered around the car in front of me that braked suddenly—my dexterity the only thing that saved me from a near accident.

I needed to keep my mind on the road better and stop thinking about Allie Beston before I got myself killed.

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