Page 26 of Stolen Fate

I knew I should probably ask him questions to get a feel of the job, or the man, or both, but I shook my head. I didn’t know what I could ask him that didn’t sound inappropriate. The questions I was most curious about were intrusive.

Like did he have a wife? A girlfriend? And how would she feel about me living with them? Would she find it heartbreaking that this man was in bed with me less than a week ago? But no, Jace didn’t seem like the kind of man to do that, and it wouldn’t do well to make those assumptions.

After all, we were nothing more than strangers.

Jace nodded and took out his phone. He texted someone, and we didn’t have to wait long before the glass door to the boardroom opened and a young woman walked in, dressed in three-inch heels and with long blonde hair. She was probably someone who worked here, and she was obviously interested in Jace by the way she was looking at him.

I looked away from her, her gaze made me a little uncomfortable and a little embarrassed for her, and instead looked to the small boy who came in with her.

I was finally able to give someone a genuine smile.

He looked so much like his dad that it was hard to look away from him. With unruly dark brown hair just a few shades darker than my own, tan skin, and the biggest blue eyes I had ever seen on any child, I was instantly in love with him.

He had a small smattering of freckles on the bridge of his nose, which told me he liked to spend his time outdoors. He was also dressed like his dad, in a miniature version of a suit and tie, and with a surly attitude to boot, if the scowl on his face was any indication.

His eyes connected with mine for a brief second, and I swore my heart stopped beating before he turned his gaze to his dad and a wide smile overtook his face.

My breath caught.

I wondered if I had ever seen him before, though I wouldn’t know from where. His smile felt familiar to me somehow—someway—and I couldn’t put my finger on it.

He was only five, but he was big for his age, and he had so much energy, I couldn’t help but laugh at the way he yanked his hand out of the woman’s and ran toward Jace on unsteady legs.

“Daddy! Where did you go?”

He didn’t wait or ask for permission. He climbed into his father's lap, so sure he wouldn’t be rejected. And he wasn’t. I thought Jace was a hard man, but with his son in his arms that wasn’t the case.

He was soft.

Soft in everything, from his words to his mannerisms that it was hard to believe it was the same man who interviewed me just moments before. It was hard to believe this was the same man who took me back to his hotel room.

“Sorry, Elliot. Daddy had to do some work.”

“Are you done? Can we go home?”

“Not yet. But soon.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

And Elliot smiled widely, showing off a row of small straight white teeth.

I smiled into my hands, and looked down at the table, not wanting anyone to catch the emotions in my eyes.

He would be five right now. He’s about Elliot’s age.

I blinked away the burning sensation in my eyes. I didn’t want to break down, now of all places, and especially not in front of Jace.

I wanted this job.

I wanted to get away so bad.

And I didn’t know Elliot, but I wanted to take care of him. It was those big blue eyes, I’d decided. They made me want to protect him and kill anything that could hurt him.

“Elliot, I want you to meet someone,” Jace said softly.

I looked up and saw both father and son were looking at me with identical blue eyes. God, they looked so much alike, no one would ever question Elliot was Jace’s son.

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