Read Online Strollers & Stilettos: A Sexy Contemporary Romance (In Stilettos Book 4) by Nana Malone - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Nana Malone
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make note of.”
Caleb shook his head. “It looks like she probably used a voucher or several. Because there were no cash payments during her stay. Either that, or someone else checked her in and paid, but she’s never seen on camera with anyone.”
Alec leaned back in his chair. He didn’t have time to deal with this shit. He had a mountain of work waiting for him. He had another trip to Vancouver planned at the end of the week. He wanted to spend some quality time with Jaya. He didn’t have time for bullshit allegations and a baby. “This is a set up.”
Caleb scoffed. “Yeah, you think I don’t know that? The real question to ask yourself is why? And how? And what kind of person are we dealing with?”
“Seriously, Caleb, is there any other reason than this person is crazy?”
“You’d be amazed at what a person wronged will think up. I need to determine if she’s disgruntled and wants to get back at you or is crazy and actually thinks she’s your girlfriend or something. You see the fine line I’m dealing with?”
Mentally unstable? Fuck . What the hell had he brought into their lives? “This is fucked.”
“I agree. And I hate to say this again, but I’m on it. I’ll get you something to work with. In the meantime, run your empire. Kiss your wife. Deal with your new roommate.” Caleb grinned at him. “How is the kid holding up?”
Alec frowned. How was he supposed to know? She was a baby. A completely helpless baby who needed her mother. He cleared his throat. “Okay, I think. Jaya has the poor little thing on a schedule already.”
Caleb smirked. “I would expect nothing less.” His friend studied him. “Micha’s even in love at this point, and Beckett says it’s hard to get Ricca to come home from your house now.”
“Yeah, the girls have been great.” And he was grateful for their help. Because you certainly have been useless . “Micha weirdly has a way with the baby.”
Caleb grinned. “I heard. I keep teasing her that soon she’ll be ready to open a daycare center.”
Alec chuckled. “Yeah? How does she take that joke?”
“Have you met Micha?” Caleb rubbed his belly. “She delivers a mean gut shot.”
“Good point.” Micha wasn’t exactly known for her warm and fuzzy demeanor, but she was an incredibly loyal friend and the first person he’d call if he ever needed backup.
“And how are you doing with the kid?” Caleb asked quietly
You mean the kid I won’t touch? “Fine. I mean, it’s hard having a baby around. And remembering to be quiet, but I’m home so little right now it doesn’t matter too much, I guess.”
Caleb’s gaze narrowed. “You slipping into the uncle role easily enough?”
Alec adjusted his collar, the heat making him sweat. “You know.”
Caleb leaned against the wall like he had all the time in the world. “So you’ve been helping Jaya out. With diaper changes and stuff?”
His skin prickled with the heat of shame. “Like I said, I haven’t really been around much, and I’m not good with kids. Terrible, in fact. Not like Micha or Ricca will let me anywhere near the baby anyway.” Except, the other night when he’d spent the better part of an hour staring at Alexa in her crib. The fierce need to protect that baby had terrified him then and it terrified him now. He sure as hell wasn’t examining that shit with Caleb. “It’s fine.”
“You’re sure about that?”
“Leave it alone, Caleb.”
“You’re really going to make me say it?”
Alec’s stomach flipped. He knew what was coming. But knowing it was coming and hearing the actual words were two different things. “Mind your own business, Caleb.”
“I hate to break it to you, Alec, but our little unit, we’re a family, like it or not. When I see bullshit, I’m gonna call you on it.”
“Fine, say it. You’re gonna say I’m acting like my old man. You’re right. I’m just like him.”
“Alec,” Caleb’s voice was low and barely audible.
Alec
Caleb shook his head. “It looks like she probably used a voucher or several. Because there were no cash payments during her stay. Either that, or someone else checked her in and paid, but she’s never seen on camera with anyone.”
Alec leaned back in his chair. He didn’t have time to deal with this shit. He had a mountain of work waiting for him. He had another trip to Vancouver planned at the end of the week. He wanted to spend some quality time with Jaya. He didn’t have time for bullshit allegations and a baby. “This is a set up.”
Caleb scoffed. “Yeah, you think I don’t know that? The real question to ask yourself is why? And how? And what kind of person are we dealing with?”
“Seriously, Caleb, is there any other reason than this person is crazy?”
“You’d be amazed at what a person wronged will think up. I need to determine if she’s disgruntled and wants to get back at you or is crazy and actually thinks she’s your girlfriend or something. You see the fine line I’m dealing with?”
Mentally unstable? Fuck . What the hell had he brought into their lives? “This is fucked.”
“I agree. And I hate to say this again, but I’m on it. I’ll get you something to work with. In the meantime, run your empire. Kiss your wife. Deal with your new roommate.” Caleb grinned at him. “How is the kid holding up?”
Alec frowned. How was he supposed to know? She was a baby. A completely helpless baby who needed her mother. He cleared his throat. “Okay, I think. Jaya has the poor little thing on a schedule already.”
Caleb smirked. “I would expect nothing less.” His friend studied him. “Micha’s even in love at this point, and Beckett says it’s hard to get Ricca to come home from your house now.”
“Yeah, the girls have been great.” And he was grateful for their help. Because you certainly have been useless . “Micha weirdly has a way with the baby.”
Caleb grinned. “I heard. I keep teasing her that soon she’ll be ready to open a daycare center.”
Alec chuckled. “Yeah? How does she take that joke?”
“Have you met Micha?” Caleb rubbed his belly. “She delivers a mean gut shot.”
“Good point.” Micha wasn’t exactly known for her warm and fuzzy demeanor, but she was an incredibly loyal friend and the first person he’d call if he ever needed backup.
“And how are you doing with the kid?” Caleb asked quietly
You mean the kid I won’t touch? “Fine. I mean, it’s hard having a baby around. And remembering to be quiet, but I’m home so little right now it doesn’t matter too much, I guess.”
Caleb’s gaze narrowed. “You slipping into the uncle role easily enough?”
Alec adjusted his collar, the heat making him sweat. “You know.”
Caleb leaned against the wall like he had all the time in the world. “So you’ve been helping Jaya out. With diaper changes and stuff?”
His skin prickled with the heat of shame. “Like I said, I haven’t really been around much, and I’m not good with kids. Terrible, in fact. Not like Micha or Ricca will let me anywhere near the baby anyway.” Except, the other night when he’d spent the better part of an hour staring at Alexa in her crib. The fierce need to protect that baby had terrified him then and it terrified him now. He sure as hell wasn’t examining that shit with Caleb. “It’s fine.”
“You’re sure about that?”
“Leave it alone, Caleb.”
“You’re really going to make me say it?”
Alec’s stomach flipped. He knew what was coming. But knowing it was coming and hearing the actual words were two different things. “Mind your own business, Caleb.”
“I hate to break it to you, Alec, but our little unit, we’re a family, like it or not. When I see bullshit, I’m gonna call you on it.”
“Fine, say it. You’re gonna say I’m acting like my old man. You’re right. I’m just like him.”
“Alec,” Caleb’s voice was low and barely audible.
Alec
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