Page 7 of Grand Love

“You’re going to be late.” He scoffs, pulling out into traffic.

The sun is just coming up, peeking through the skyscrapers and beaming in through the windscreen, temporarily blinding me.

I flip down my visor. “You wouldn’t let me be late,” I tell him.

“Put your belt on, love,” he says, a small smile tugging at his top lip. “How is the little man this morning? He seemed fussy on Sunday. His teeth seem to be bothering him.”

“He slept right through. But I think you’re right, his bottom two are cutting through. I just hope they don’t take too much longer. For his sake.”

“Me too. I was hoping to take him out for the day on Thursday; you’re working, and Mason has a meeting. He said it was fine, but I thought I’d ask first.”

“You never need to ask permission to spend time with my son, Vinny,” I tell him, watching as his features warm at my words.

“Well, that’s settled then.” He jigs in his seat, almost as if he’s excited, and I turn to look out the window to save him the embarrassment of catching him.

* * *

Work is slow.We are so high-end that everyone moves at a snail’s pace. You wouldn’t catch someone bolting around the corridors at The Earl Marks. Nope. It’s caviar and suit jackets at breakfast. Well, maybe not caviar for breakfast, but it’s all very well-to-do business people here on conferences or work trips. That being said, I am paid extremely well here. Especially as my CV didn’t have a lot going for me. The pay and the extravagant tips make it worth my while. I learned to smile extra wide when I got my first fifty-pound tip for holding open a door.

Ridiculous.

Ashley, my work colleague, is processing a guest’s invoice and I am sitting waiting to call the valet for the guest. It’s a talent to get it here right on time, and so far, I have failed miserably. My hands sweat as I grip the phone tight, my eyes glued on his credit card in his hand, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

He pauses on the way to the card machine, and I lift my eyes to meet his. His dark brows are pulled in as he watches me watch him.

I plaster a smile on my face and relax the phone in my hand. “Hi.”

“Nina, could you check the delivery in the back office for me?” Ashley asks me, looking at me with a smirk.

“Sure.” I roll back my chair and smooth down my skirt, then make my way to the office, glad to be off the front desk. I can’t make a fool of myself back here.

Ashley strolls in a few minutes later.

“Why do you have to be such a creeper?” She chuckles, looking over at me from the door. “Leave that. I just needed you away from the guests.”

“I’m not that bad!”

“You were staring all wide-eyed at him.” She laughs. “He asked if you were okay when you left.”

“Great, they think I’m crazy.”

“Come on, we have a shit ton of emails to get through this morning.”

* * *

By choice,I made my shifts long. I work twenty-four hours over two days. It’s hard work and I miss my boy so much, but I know he will appreciate it one day and it gives me adult conversation. I need it for my sanity just as much as the money.

Elliot is fast asleep on my sofa when I push through my apartment door. Toys surround his feet and Mr Tumble is on the TV.

“El? El.” I place a hand on his shoulder, and he jolts awake, snorting.

“Huh.”

I smile down at him. “Sorry, you were asleep.”

He sits up, running his hand through his blond hair. “Shit, I was going to clean all this up. Sorry.”

He begins tidying up the toys, but I stop him with my hand on his arm. “It’s fine, I’ll do it. Did he go down okay?”

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