Chapter 10
Daddy Was a Dick
Prince Walker
“Drew! Drew, darling, the kids are here!” my mother’s voice rang out as she flew down the wide, sweeping staircase that led to their three-story Scarsdale home. “Alec, darling! It’s so good to see you!” Still beautiful in her early 50s, my mother could knock the socks off of women half her age. Though that had never been enough for dear old Dad.
Absent Dad, as it appeared now, and Mom looked sheepish as she reached the spot where I was parking the Bentley. We’d given Horatio the day off – although he’d probably spend it detailing the limo. It had been refreshing to get behind the wheel for the half-hour trip out from Manhattan. I opened the door and took Sasha’s hand, watching as she emerged gracefully.
She’d opted for a demure black wraparound in some sort of clingy knit fabric that hugged her curves in a way that was more tantalizing than if she’d exposed more flesh. Her hair had been swept back into a high, scarlet ponytail that swung all the way to the center of her back. Black pumps. A hint of make-up.
She was perfect.
She stood silently as my mother threw her arms around me and made her usual fuss, showering me with kisses and chastising me for taking too long to visit. I extricated myself reluctantly and turned to face Sasha slightly.
“Sasha, this is my mother, Eleanor Walker. Mom, this is Sasha Ramirez,” I introduced them, reaching for Sasha’s hand as I spoke. She squeezed almost too hard, but I kept my expression neutral.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Walker,” Sasha said primly. It was hard to imagine that this same woman had taken me to heaven and back just hours before.
“Oh, darling, you must call me Eleanor,” my mother smiled warmly, reaching out and taking Sasha’s free hand. “I’d heard you were beautiful, but I had no idea just how lovely you truly were. No wonder you’ve stolen my son’s heart.”
I smiled as Sasha dropped her eyes to the floor. She’d grown more confident with me these past days, but occasionally, it would slip, and I’d see that same girl who’d entered my world all those weeks ago.
“Where’s Dad?” I asked as my mother led us up the stairs to the house.
She huffed out a breath as she swept into the huge entrance foyer. “Oh, you know that man.” She shook her head. “He decided at the last possible minute that he had to fit in a training session.”
I tried not to roll my eyes. Sasha was staring around the place as if I’d just guided her into Buckingham Palace. I guessed it wasn’t far off. My father had always been one for grand displays of wealth. Even after down-scaling from their previous estate to this “bungalow,” he still needed everyone to see just how much damn cash he truly had. Not that a three-story, eight-bedroom mansion qualified as a bungalow. But that was my dad.
“Prince! Glad you could make it, boy,” my father’s voice boomed across the sprawling space. “Did I say 6 or 6.30?” He was striding toward us, looking like the cover model of some sort of men’s fitness magazine. I seriously wanted to roll my eyes now. He was decked out in a snug black tank top and matching cycling shorts with a pristine white sweat towel draped over his shoulders. It contrasted brightly against his tanned shoulders that I had no doubt were a product of a tanning studio. My father was a complete ass.
“You said 6, Dad,” I answered. His eyes were focused on Sasha at my side, moving straight past me to take her hand in both of his.
“Ah, well, I meant 6.30,” he said without looking at me. “You’d have been late if I told you 6.30 anyhow…” He was towering over Sasha, taking in every detail, and I felt my jaw clench. “It’s Sasha, I believe? What a rare pleasure to meet you at last.” His smile was too wide, too bright. He reached for her hand, and she recoiled. “I’m Drew Walker. So glad he’s finally brought you to meet us.”
She gave a tentative smile. “Thank you, Sir. It’s a pleasure to meet you too. Your home is beautiful.” She looked around us again.
“Oh, this little place?” My father waved a hand dismissively. “It’ll do, I guess. We had to step down a little when the old lady found the last place was getting too much for her.” He jerked his head in my mother’s direction, but she didn’t seem offended. I wanted to punch his lights out.
“Are you going to get cleaned up before dinner, Drew darling?” she asked now, and my father made a grand gesture of dabbing his towel over his throat and chest.
“Of course, of course! My apologies, Sasha. You know how these things are, I’m sure. Need to stay in shape…” He was rubbing the towel in circles over his firm belly. Not that there was a drop of sweat anywhere on him.
The fucker was totally hitting on my woman.
And not for the first time.
“I know exactly what you mean, Mr. Walker,” Sasha replied smoothly as she linked her hand through my arm. “Although I suppose some have to try harder than others. I don’t know how Alec finds time to stay in such great shape when he puts so many hours in at work.”
My father raised an eyebrow, and I wasn’t certain if it was at the reference to work, or the use of my given name. Either way, I had to bite back a laugh.
“We’ll be taking drinks in the conservatory, darling,” my mother deftly redirected the conversation. “Why don’t you meet us down there when you’re done?”
He gave a curt nod. “Ahh…there it is. You know how I know I’m in charge around here? My wife tells me that I am allowed to be.” Despite the lightness of his words, the look he aimed at her was baleful, and it was not lost on Sasha. She was far more perceptive than her youth would imply. He moved off without a backward glance, and I realized he hadn’t looked at me once since he met us.
