Page 47 of Outlaw Heartstrings
Meanwhile Alba is nodding like crazy from where she’s standing behind him, which makes me chuckle. Of course she’s eager for a tour of the property.Especially a tour that won’t involve peeking over a fence and falling on that curvy ass of hers.
That curvy ass that I’ve been fantasizing about every night for the past week.That curvy ass I’m not allowed to think about, I scold myself.
I’d never admit to the things I imagine doing to Alba’s gorgeous body when I’m lying in my bed every night with my fist clenched around my cock.
Kissing Alba in the elevator really fucked with my head. Pushing her against the wall and tasting her sweet lips was my teenage wish come true. Only, in real life, it was so much better.
This is the first time we’ve seen each other since we kissed. Seeing her tonight, it’s hard to act normal, like nothing dirty happened between us not so long ago.
Alba is off-limits, for obvious reasons. I don’t want to cross the line with her and compromise this fragile relationship I’m now building with my son. Tonight is a really important night, and I don’t want to fuck it up by acting like a horny caveman.
So I usher the two of them inside and show them around the ground floor. Then we climb the stairs, and I speed things up a bit when I can tell that Jagger’s beginning to grow a little bored.
Alba, however, is in heaven. I can see her realtor brain spinning. She’s gaping in awe at the light fixtures and crown moulding and restored flooring.She’s opening cupboards and inspecting windows and asking a million questions.
“Oh my gosh! I’m in love with this place,” she gushes, spinning in a circle in the middle of one of the bathrooms.
“I can tell.” I smirk. “If I’m not careful, you might sell this house right out from under me when I’m not looking.”
“I just might.” She laughs.
We pass by a room that I’m now in the middle of redecorating, and I hurriedly close the door. But Alba spots it and her eyes fly to mine. She doesn’t say anything until we’ve gotten back to the main floor and Jagger’s busy checking out the big backyard.
“You set up an entire bedroom for Jagger?” she whispers. “How is that even possible? You only had a day!”
I shrug, noticing the tension that forms in her shoulders. “I just wanted to have a space for him. Just in case. I hope that’s okay.”
I bought a bunch of gifts for Jagger. To be honest, I probably overdid it. And now, seeing the look on Alba’s face lets me know I might need to slow down. I don’t want to overwhelm him with everything. I think I’m only going to give him a couple of the books I found for now, since I’ve heard how much he loves to read.
Alba joins me at the sliding door as I stare out into the backyard, watching Jagger doing cartwheels in the grass.
“Easton, what’s your end game here?” she asks me tentatively. “Are you going to take him away from me? Because I know you’re his father, and you have every right to make decisions for him. But Fairy Bush is the only home he’s ever known.” Her words are coming faster by the second. “Taking him away to a place where he doesn’tknow anyone, that could be brutal. And who’s going to watch him while you’re away on the road? Some nanny? A stranger? Jagger takes a long while to warm up to strang—”
“Alba. Please. Please slow down.” I hold up a hand to halt her.
Yes, the paternity test will prove that I’m Jagger’s father. Waiting for the results is just a formality at this point. But my legal team said that there’s a whole court process that will need to happen before I can make any decisions about his life. In fact, my gang of lawyers wrote out a whole three-page legal letter detailing a plan of action. Alba has a standing court order granting her guardianship rights. Until that changes, I can’t just waltz into her home and take my son away.
And honestly, I don’t want to.
I don’t know the steps forward. But whatever happens next, I want it to be as seamless as possible for Jagger. His aunt and grandmother are the only caregivers my son has ever known. It wouldn’t be in his best interests for him to see me fighting with them. I’m determined to keep things civil between all parties involved.
“What do you want, Easton?” Alba asks me again.
“We’ll figure it out,” I say, knowing full well that she deserves more than my non-committal answer.
“That’s not very specific…” Her eyebrows furrow. “I don’t want to make this situation any more difficult than it already is, but all the uncertainty is driving me crazy.”
I drag a hand through my hair, feeling the heavy unpredictability of what the future holds. “Alba, please. One step at a time. Okay? Let’s take things one step at a time.” I keep my eyes on Jagger who’s now exploring the flower garden.
The stubborn woman by my side refuses to let me off thehook. “I’m really protective of him and…I don’t like not having a plan here.”
I peer into those tired, green eyes pleading with me from behind her glasses. I see all the fear and exhaustion brimming there. She’s barely holding herself together under the weight of all this.
“You haven’t been sleeping…” I remark, fully turning toward her.
She frowns. “What?”
“You haven’t been sleeping.” My gaze traces the dark circles around her eyes.
