I spun away from him, my palm hitting the wall by the door. The image he’d painted slowly simmered. “What’s his name?”

“Why, what are you going to do about it?”

I glanced at him over my shoulder, but before I could answer, the door opened.

Juliette whispered my name as her purse strap slipped down her shoulder and her bag hit the floor.

I grabbed the door to keep it from slamming her in the face, then knelt to pick up her purse.

Standing stock-still in light pink scrubs, her worried eyes raced back and forth between us. “What—what are you doing here?”

“We need to talk,” I explained once she was inside, and the door was shut. “I couldn’t wait until tomorrow.”

She immediately focused on her son.

She knew I knew.

Now I knew for damn sure she remembered me, too.

“Colin, um. Go to the bakery around the corner and get us our usual breakfast, will you?” She tried to take her purse from me, but I set it down and went for my wallet.

“Make it for three.” I handed him a hundred.

“Go,” she whispered.

“Are you sure?” Colin’s gaze volleyed between us.

“Please.” She nodded, and he hesitantly left, but not without shoulder-checking me on his way out.

I tossed my wallet on my suit jacket, my heartbeat flying. My nerves stringing me the fuck up.

She sidestepped me, and I gently reached for her wrist, urging her to face me. “You know who I am?” she murmured, her long lashes fluttering. Her creamy skin became a soft pink as I nodded. “I didn’t realize it was you at first. I thought I was crazy. But then you said your name began with a C. And you look like how I remembered.” She swallowed. “I’m not crazy, then?”

No, you’re not. “I told you, name or not, I wouldn’t forget you. It just took me a minute to get there.”

“Then I suppose you have a question to ask me.”

I did, but not the one she was thinking.

“He’s mine. He looks like me. And even if he didn’t, I just . . . I know.” The truth was there. No more trying to deny it. That kid was my blood.

Her lower lip trembled as she parted her mouth to speak, but no sound came out.

I let go of her wrist and cupped her face between my palms. My hands slid over her cheeks and to the sides of her head and into her hair. “I left you my number.” Pain tore through me, and chills struck my body as I kept hold of her. “Why didn’t you call me?” My voice betrayed me, a tremble there as I begged to know, “Why didn’t you let me know I had a son?”

6. Juliette

Chapter 6

Juliette

Seventeen Years Ago - That Night