For the Sake of Their Son by Catherine Mann Read Free Book Online Page B

life separate. She’d known as a friend and as a personal assistant that Elliot’s old headmaster later recruited previous students as freelancers for Interpol. She’d kept thoughts about that segmented away, since it did not pertain to her job or their life on the race circuit.
    But now, there was no denying that her life was tied to Elliot’s in a much deeper way.
    “I love Troy, the man he is. The man he’s always been,” Hillary said. “We grow, we mature, but our basic natures stay the same. And I love who that man is.”
    Lucy Ann could almost—almost—grasp the promise in that, except she knew Hillary helped her husband on some of those missions, doing a bit of freelance work of her own.
    Lucy Ann stared down into the amber swirl of her juice glass. “Is it so wrong to want an ordinary life? I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but normal, boring, well, I’ve never had that. I crave it for myself and my child, but it feels so unattainable.”
    “That’s a tough one, isn’t it? These men are many things, but normal—delightfully boring—doesn’t show up anywhere on that list.”
    Where did that leave her? In search of what she couldn’t have? Or a hypocrite for not accepting Elliot the way he had accepted her all her life? She ran from him. As much as she swore that he pushed her away, she knew. She’d run just as fast and hard as he’d pushed.
    “Thank you for the advice, Hillary.”
    Her friend sighed. “I’m not sure how much help I’ve been. But if you need to talk more, I’m here for you. I won’t betray your confidences.”
    “I appreciate that,” Lucy Ann said, and meant it, only just realizing how few female friends she’d ever had. Elliot had been her best friend and she’d allowed that to close her off to other avenues of support.
    “Good, very good. We women need to stick together, make a sisterhood pact of our own.” She winked before ducking toward the stroller. “Little Eli is adorable, and I’m glad you’re here.”
    Lucy Ann appreciated the gesture, and she wanted to trust. She wanted to believe there could be a sisterhood of support in dealing with these men—even though she wouldn’t be married to Elliot. Still, their lives were entwined because of their child.
    A part of her still wondered, doubted. The wives of Elliot’s friends had reached out initially after she left, but eventually they’d stopped. Could she really be a part of their sisterhood?
    “Thank you, Hillary,” she said simply, her eyes sliding back to Elliot standing with his friends.
    Her hand moved protectively over to the handle of her son’s stroller, her throat constricting as she took in the gleaming good looks of her baby’s father. Even his laugh seemed to make the stars shimmer brighter.
    And how frivolous a thought was that?
    She definitely needed to keep her head on straight and her heart locked away. She refused to be anyone’s obligation or burden ever again.
    * * *
    Elliot hoped Rowan and Mariama’s marriage ceremony would soften Lucy Ann’s mood. After all, weren’t weddings supposed to make women sentimental? He’d watched her chatting with his friends’ wives and tried to gauge her reaction. She knew them all from her time working as his assistant, and seeing this big extended family connected by friendship rather than blood should appeal to her. They’d talked about leaving their pasts behind countless times as kids.
    They could fit right in here with their son. A practical decision. A fun life.
    So why wasn’t she smiling as the bride and groom drove away in a BMW convertible, the bride’s veil trailing in the wind?
    Shouldering free of the crowd, Elliot made his way toward Lucy Ann, who stood on the periphery, their son in a stroller beside her. Even though he’d arranged for a nanny who’d once worked for a British duke, Lucy Ann said she couldn’t let her son stay with a total stranger. She would need to conduct her own interview tomorrow. If the woman met her