Read Online Evolution by L.L. Bartlett - Free Book Online Page B

she asked, her voice filled with reproach.
    Richard found his sweater and donned it. “Yeah, I’m his guardian. I’m responsible for him, and—” It was all too complicated to explain to someone he really didn’t care about, to someone who was just a warm body, a willing partner who—
    Shame coursed through him. He had offered the woman a ride home from the hospital. Sex with her had been an unexpected bonus. But he hadn’t meant to fall asleep afterwards—not when he’d already disappointed the kid. But he’d been close to exhaustion after a thirty-six plus hour shift. He must have slept for nine hours and now—
    “I’m sorry, Christina, but I really should have gone home last night.” He glanced at her over his shoulder. Instead of a frown, he found her smiling. “What?” he asked.
    “It’s so cute that you care about your baby brother.”
    He stared at her for a moment, taking in her words. Jeff would be anything but cute when he confronted the boy.
    “I’ve gotta go.” He moved to her side once more, leaned down, and kissed her. Her tongue darted between his lips once again, teasing him, making him wish he didn’t have to rush out the door. She pulled him down to the bed, melting her now-warm naked body against him, her breath warm against his cheek. “Stay. For just another little while.”
    Selfish need overcame sense and Richard spent another hour in unproductive bliss.
    #
    Richard hit the Porsche’s brakes as he approached the mock-Tudor house, taking in the eight-foot Christmas tree on the curb in front. Next to it was the box for the TV set he’d bought Jeff. Up the street he saw the lumbering garbage truck make a stop. He turned into the drive, still thinking about the TV box.
    Well, since he’d disappointed the kid by changing their plans, he couldn’t blame Jeff for not waiting for him to appear before opening his gifts. He hadn’t thought of it before, but Richard had been looking forward to watching the kid tear open his presents. Didn’t every parent—pseudo or otherwise—enjoy the same thing?
    Inside, he found the house had been totally stripped of all seasonal decorations. All that remained was a small pile of gifts bearing his  name sitting on the bottom step of the stairs. He scooped them up and headed upstairs to shower and change clothes, and afterwards ducked his head into Jeff’s bedroom. The bed was neatly made. He didn’t see the TV, nor a sign of the kid’s other gifts, not that he knew exactly what they were.
    Back downstairs, he entered the living room where he found Mary, the young housekeeper, collecting the last of the Christmas ornaments. She averted her eyes, busying herself with the boxes.
    “Hello, Mary, have you seen my brother?”
    “No, sir. He wasn’t here when we arrived this morning.”
    Something in Richard’s gut twisted. “What time was that?”
    “About seven-thirty. I’m not sure, but I don’t think his bed had been slept in.”
    Dear God, could Jeff have been so disappointed by a crappy Christmas that he’d run away? But no—there’d been the empty TV box ready for the trash men. Jeff was moody, yes, but otherwise a well-behaved kid who rarely acted up. Richard wouldn’t panic about the boy’s absence just yet.
    “Where’s Curtis? I saw his car in the garage.”
    “He drove Mr. and Mrs. Alpert to visit their friends in Canada, sir.”
    Richard frowned. “I thought they were going by limo.”
    “They had a change of plans, sir. Helen told me. I’m sorry, I don’t know the details.”
    Richard nodded toward the box of ornaments. “Who told you to take down the tree and all the decorations?”
    “Helen, sir. She said Mrs. Alpert called and gave her instructions to have everything taken down and packed away before they arrived home.”
    “They aren’t due back until next weekend.”
    “Helen told me to do it today, sir.”
    Richard glanced at another pile of gifts—more of his own. “What happened to Jeff’s