Page 46 of Forever Mine

I woke when Angel piped up. “Yep, I understand. Thanks.”

When I moved, she turned and faced me. “Mommy, you found me.”

Scott gaze swept me from head to feet, while Angel rattled on. “When you didn't come behind me, I went to look for Joey.”

Conscious of Scott's close study of my form-fitting beige suit, I stated the opposite of what I knew to be true. “I take it you found him.”

Angel lowered her head because Joey didn't work in this office and she knew it. “Well, I found Uncle Scott first ... because the door was open.”

Scott exchanged a look with me that made me want to laugh, but I focused on Angel and kept a straight face. I opened my mouth, and Scott spoke before I did. “Hey, Angel, how about you go and find Joey while I have a word with your mother.”

She nodded and slid past me, heading in the direction of the office Joey shared with Pete and two other trainees.

“Don't disturb the whole studio,” I said.

“I won't. I promise,” she said, too loudly.

“She's something else.” Scott nodded, and the smile slid off his face. “Just like her mama.”

I didn't want to go there with him, so I asked, “What did you need to say to me?”

“I'll be away this weekend.”

His announcement surprised me, but I didn't give away my disappointment. He'd wanted us to drive to Ocho Rios and spend the day there on Saturday. Since he mentioned it, I'd been thinking about making the trip a reality. Good thing I hadn't said anything.

“How long have you known?”

Scott spun to face me. “Don't look at me like that, Vaughn.”

I tried not to sound defensive when I answered. “How?”

“As if you think I'd know about this and not say anything.”

I shrugged and slid my hands into my pockets. “It's not a big deal.”

He narrowed his eyes as he got to his feet and came toward me. When he stopped in front of me, I took a step back. He stroked my cheek with his thumb. “Don't give me that.”

Scott knew how I felt about personal interactions in my workplace and respected my position. He stepped away and shoved both hands in his pockets. “Diane. You remember her from the seminar?”

“Yessss.” I stretched the word and waited for him to tell me more.

“She called this morning and asked me to do a presentation on Monday. She lost one of her presenters, so I said yes. I'm going to use the opportunity to see my family on the weekend.”

When I didn't speak, he added, “I'll be back on the early flight on Tuesday.”

He looked so earnest, I couldn't help smiling. “You mean in the great, big U.S. of A., she couldn't find anybody else to do what you do?”

“Of course, she could have.” He stepped in closer and tapped me under the chin. “She just needed the best man for the job.”

I gave him the side-eye. “You're so full of yourself.”

He backed up and rocked on the balls of his feet. “Nothing like that. When you're good, you’re good.”

I saw that he wasn't joking, and his voice carried that undertone, one I couldn’t respond to properly, considering where we were, so I changed the subject acknowledging the slight nausea in my middle section. “When are you leaving?”

“Friday evening.”

That meant we only had tomorrow.