Something Real (Whiskey Men, #2)(3)

He nods his head, but he doesn’t seem excited like I hoped he’d be. “Yeah, sure, Dad. Sounds good.”

I put my foot on the gas and move a little farther in the line. I had hoped that would have cheered him up, but it didn’t. The kid has been through so much, first with his mom leaving after our divorce and never coming to see him. It’s not like he knew her; she never spent any time with him before that, but still I know not having a mom bothers him sometimes. And then his Granny, the most important woman in his life, died, and it’s a lot for me to deal with. I can just imagine how it affects a five-year-old.

We get to the very front of the line, and Ollie’s unbuckling his belt. I need to see him smile before he gets out of this car. I need to know he’s going to be okay, and I know this might not be the answer, but I’ll try anything. “Besides the classroom party, how about we have a real party too? We can invite your friends, have pizza, presents… you love the trampoline park. We can do it there!”

I hold my breath when I think about what the soccer coach is going to have to say about the team going to the trampoline park. It’s a broken ankle just waiting to happen, but I’m not going to worry about that now because my son’s whole face is lighting up. “Really? Really, Dad? Can we?”

I nod enthusiastically. “Of course we can, buddy.”

He lets out a “Whooo!” and dives to the front seat, wrapping his arms around my neck. “Thank you, Dad! I can’t wait to tell my friends.”

He releases me and he is back in his seat and opening his door before I can say anything but “I love you” to him. He’s waving at me as he runs to the school. I’m not really sure what all has happened here. I’m already regretting it because I know I’m going to have to deal with his friends' moms that are getting more and more brazen.

At the honk of a horn, I throw my hand up in a wave and pull away from the curb. I can’t take it back now, nor do I want to. I can deal with a few women flirting with me if it makes my kid happy. With that settled, I make a list in my head of everything I need to do for the party as I drive to work.

As I pull into Blaze Whiskey, the company I own with my brothers, I pull out my phone to call the trampoline park. The screen is locked, and I can’t get it to do anything. I nod my head at a few people as I walk in, and when I get to my assistant's desk, I hand her my phone. She laughs. “What did you do this time?”

Her blond hair is curling around her face. She doesn’t even have to stand up for me to know that she’s wearing the black pencil skirt that makes grown men drool and her black high heels that show off her toned legs. Nope, any time she has on the blue button-down blouse that is a perfect match to her sky-blue eyes, that’s what she wears with it. And usually by the end of the day, I have a bad case of blue balls, and I’m completely out of patience.

She’s looking up at me expectantly, and I try to rein in my thoughts. “Uh, yeah, I’m not sure. It’s just frozen.”

She pushes some buttons on the side of the phone. “Did you try shutting it off and turning it back on again?”

I drag my eyes off the hint of cleavage before meeting her eyes. “Nope.”

She does a few other things and hands back the phone. “There you go. Good as new.”

“Thanks, Lilian. Do you think you can book the trampoline park for Ollie’s party the weekend after his birthday? I imagine weekends book up pretty fast, so just see what you can do.”

“Sure thing. I can’t believe he’s going to be six already. They sure do grow up fast.”

I tap a hand on her desk, and for the first time, I notice her tired eyes. “How did the wedding go?”

She smiles. “It was beautiful. Everything went off without a hitch. Carrie was so happy.”

Before I can ask her anything more, Victor from Accounting cuts the corner. He seems like a man on a mission until he sees me standing here. His steps slow, and he looks between Lilian and me. I should probably go on into my office, but I stand here, watching it all unfold.

“Hello, Mr. Blaze…uh, Ford.”

“Hey there, Victor,” I say to him easily.

The man gulps and looks at Lilian. “I really enjoyed going to the wedding with you… I mean, I had a really good time. I know.” He pauses and looks at me, probably wishing for me to leave, but I’m not leaving because from what I just heard, he’s making it sound like he went on a date with Lilian. But that can’t be. Lilian doesn’t date.

Victor pauses so long that Lilian waves her hand in front of his face. “Victor… you were saying?”

He tucks his arms across his chest. “Right. Uh, I had a good time. I know you said we are better off as friends, but I just thought I’d tell you that if you ever need a date for another family function, I’m your man.”

Lilian smiles at Victor, and I’m not going to lie, it makes me angry. Her voice is super sweet when she answers him, which pisses me off more. “Thanks, Victor. I really appreciate that, but I don’t have any more family to have functions… I mean, there’s not any more parties in the foreseeable future.”

I take a deep breath and try to keep the menacing tone out of my voice. “Lilian, can I see you in my office please?”

I don’t wait for her answer, and with a dismissive stare toward Victor, I go into my office. I pace back and forth across the room before settling heavily behind my desk. What the actual fuck? She went on a date with Victor?