The Billionaire's Promise (An Heir At Any Price Book 3) by Holly Rayner Page B

reason not to believe her at that point although I knew you well enough that I should have known in my heart you wouldn’t hurt a child…”
     
    “Don’t beat yourself up. I bought the story too. Sheesh! She’s a master manipulator, isn’t she?”
     
    “Yeah, like I said, none of this negates my part of the responsibility and I’m so damned sorry. But at least you know that I wasn’t quite sleazy enough to carry on a three year affair with your wife while looking you in the eye every day.”
     
    “Honestly, it does make it all feel a little bit better,” I told him. It at least sounded like my best friend didn’t set out to screw me over behind my back.
     
    “Can I ask you another question? I’m sure after you charge her with theft and fraud and you tell the court she’s having an affair currently and the circumstances of Mark’s birth that you’ll win custody. Is there any way I can hope to keep seeing him?”
     
    “Absolutely, Aiden. I promise you that once I get custody, our boy will never be taken from you again.”
    I breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Thank you, Jake.”
     
    Jake laughed and said, “No thanks needed. It is the very least that I can do. I’ll keep you posted on things. I know Cecile being arrested will affect Mark no matter how we play it…so I’m still figuring it all out.”
     
    “Good luck and let me know if I can help,” I told him. I hung up feeling better than I had in a while. Seeing Mark with Jake involved instead of Cecile will be a whole different ballgame for all of us.
     
    I made a few more phone calls after that. I was making arrangements for Holly, Eric and I to go on a family vacation. Once I had it all arranged and the loose ends tied up at work, I would call her. I only hoped she’d be willing to listen.
     

 
    HOLLY
     
     
    I woke up the next morning to my phone buzzing. I looked at it and saw that it was Aiden. I stared at it as it buzzed, wondering if I should answer it or not. Finally, I did. I had known all along that I would.
     
    “Hello?”
     
    “Hi baby,” he sounded nervous.
     
    “Hi,” was all I said. I pushed myself up in the bed. I wished I had at least had my coffee.
     
    “I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner. I have a lot of explaining to do and I’d really love to see my wife and my son…if you’ll let me.”
     
    “I’m willing to listen,” I said. I wanted to cry. I wanted to tell him that I just wanted to come home, but he was right, he still had explaining to do.
     
    “Can I send the car for the two of you? We’ll take a walk down near the docks and have a talk.”
     
    “Okay, in an hour?”
     
    “Perfect,” he said. “Holly?”
     
    “Yes?”
     
    “I love you.”
     
    With tears in my eyes I said, “I love you too.” I hung up and had a good cry. Then, I had my coffee and my shower. Mom fed Eric his breakfast for me and by the time the car arrived we were ready. Mom hugged me and wished me luck. I thanked her for everything and hugged her back. Then, Eric and I were off to see the man we both loved the most in the whole world.
     
    The car took us to the docks, but it must have been a private dock. There was no one else around. I couldn’t even see Aiden, yet. There was a little sandy area that had been gated off for Eric to play in; it even had toys in it, beach balls and blocks. I sat the baby down in it and he squealed with delight. When I turned back around, Aiden was standing there looking at me. I wish sometimes that he wasn’t so good-looking. It would be easier to stay mad at him for a while.
     
    “Hi,” he said with a grin. God I love him, was all that I could think at that moment.
     
    “Hi, this place is nice.”
     
    “Yeah, it’s where I keep the yacht. It’s nice and quiet here most of the time.”
     
    I looked around; I didn’t see any boats at all. “So, where’s the yacht?”
     
    “He’s out there,” he pointed out near a tiny little slip of land that I could barely