Deadly Embrace by Jackie Collins (ebook reader for manga TXT) 📕

at Vincent and immediately began to nudge one another and giggle self-consciously.

‘I can see it’s family night,’ Michael said, wishing Madison were there with him, so that she could enjoy it too.

‘Hey, Vinny,’ Harry yelled, ‘get over here an’ play ball.’

‘I’ve never heard him called Vinny before,’ Dani remarked, watching her son as he joined Harry and his friends.

‘You did know it was my father’s name?’ Michael said, wondering if it was his imagination or were her eyes even more startlingly blue than he remembered?

‘No.’

‘My name too,’ he said, pursuing the subject.

‘Your name’s Michael,’ she stated.

‘Vincenzio Michael Castellino,’ he announced. ‘That’s what’s on my birth certificate.’

‘Really?’

‘You named him Vincent and you didn’t know that?’ he said quizzically, not believing her for a second.

‘Maybe I did,’ she said offhandedly. ‘I think you might’ve told me once.’

‘Yeah, but isn’t Vincent kinda formal?’

‘He doesn’t like it when people shorten it.’

‘Well, well, well, this is just like old times,’ Max said, strolling over. ‘Anyone want a beer?’

‘Sounds good,’ Michael said, as Tina joined them.

‘Why don’t you two go sit over there?’ Tina said, pointing to a large picnic table set up next to her three prized rosebushes and a large patch of grass.

Michael took Dani’s arm and steered her to the table. It felt so good being with him, she thought, and yet she knew this could lead nowhere.

‘He’s a great kid, Dani,’ Michael said, sitting down. ‘You’ve done quite a job.’

‘Thanks,’ she answered coolly, adding quickly, ‘Have you told your wife yet?’

‘Not a good idea,’ he said. ‘It’s better she doesn’t find out about Vincent.’

‘Why?’

‘Y’see, Dani, I really want him in my life, only I gotta keep him separate from what I got going on here. Can you understand that?’

‘If Vincent understands, then I suppose I can.’

‘I’ll be there for him. That’s a promise.’

‘It’s definitely what he needs,’ she said, relieved that things seemed to be working out.

‘No,’ Michael said firmly. ‘What he needs is some freedom.’

‘Excuse me?’

‘He tells me you’re always on his case–making him study and work hard.’

‘That’s what he’s supposed to do, Michael.’

‘He was telling me about his friend Nando–the one he wants to visit in Colombia. Says you’re against it.’

‘I am,’ she said, not liking the direction this conversation was heading.

‘Why?’

‘Nando’s a bad influence.’

‘What’s a bad influence?’ he said restlessly. ‘The kid hasn’t even got laid yet.’

‘Michael!’

‘He’s seventeen. You and me got together when you were sixteen. Don’t make him into a mommy’s boy.’

‘I’m not,’ she said stubbornly.

‘You are.’

‘I have to protect him.’

‘From what?’

‘Life.’

‘Dani, you can’t protect anyone from living. I’d think you’d understand that better than anyone.’

She looked away, thinking about everything she’d gone through. She realized he was right, of course, but could she let Vincent go so easily?

‘Anyway,’ he added, leaning towards her, ‘I’m sorry about giving you a hard time the other night. It can’t have been easy for you.’

‘It wasn’t.’

‘So,’ he said, grinning suddenly, ‘here we are, sitting around like an old married couple arguing about our son. That’s something, huh?’

‘You’re the old married one,’ she pointed out. ‘I’m still single.’

‘You are, huh?’

‘Yes,’ she said casually, and threw in provocatively, ‘even though Dean is always begging me to marry him.’

‘Who’s Dean?’ he asked, frowning slightly.

‘Oh, didn’t I tell you about him? Dean is a very special friend.’

‘How special?’

‘We’ve known each other a long time.’

‘You sleeping with him?’

‘I really don’t think that’s any of your business.’

‘Is he the one who told you about Beth?’

‘As a matter of fact, yes. How did you know that?’

‘Just a hunch,’ Michael said, deciding that whoever Dean was, he was a prick.

Max ambled over with several bottles of beer and dumped them on the table. ‘Who’s gonna help me with the barbecue?’ he asked.

Michael stood up. ‘I will.’

‘You’d better be good at it, ’cause I make the best damn barbecue sauce known to man. So if you screw up the steaks, you’re in big trouble.’

After the barbecue, Harry asked if he could take Vincent off to a party.

‘I don’t think so,’ Dani said.

‘I think so,’ Michael said, taking Dani’s arm and walking over to the side. They looked at each other and Michael burst out laughing. ‘You told me you wanted him to have a father in his life. Well, here I am.’

‘Yes, but—’

‘Let the kid go to a party,’ he interrupted. ‘How many times is he gonna be in New York?’

‘And exactly how will he get back to the hotel?’ she asked, knowing she sounded like an uptight, overly protective mother, but she couldn’t help herself.

‘He’s seventeen, for crissakes. He’ll find his own way.’

‘Only if he’s back by midnight,’ she said, compromising. ‘We do agree he should have a curfew, right?’

‘Midnight, one in the morning, what difference does it make?’

‘It makes a difference to me.’

‘Hey,’ Michael said, ‘you know what I was doing when I was seventeen?’

‘I’m sure you were a wild one.’

‘You weren’t exactly Miss Prim and Proper, if I remember correctly.’

‘You took advantage of me, Michael,’ she said, flushed.

‘Yeah?’ he said, his eyes meeting hers.

She couldn’t help smiling. ‘Well…maybe I encouraged you.’

‘You were a naughty little girl,’ he said, grinning again.

‘And you did encourage me,’ she countered.

‘C’mon,’ he said, standing up. ‘I’m taking you to your hotel while our son goes out and has himself a great time.’

They said goodbye to Tina and Max, and while Dani was thanking Tina, Michael slipped Vincent a hundred bucks and told him to enjoy himself.

They took a cab to the Plaza, and when it pulled up outside the hotel, Dani said, ‘You don’t have to get out.’

‘Yes, I do,’ Michael replied, paying the driver, and escorting her into the lobby.

‘Well…Michael,’ she said, ‘this was nice.’

‘Let’s go to the bar and have a drink,’ he suggested, once more taking her arm.

She found herself nodding, even though she really knew she should say no. Having a drink with Michael always seemed to lead to other things.

‘Vincent really likes you,’ she said, as they settled at a table.

‘I really like him, too,’ he said, and ordered a bottle of champagne.

‘So I did the