Chapter 57

57

ALAINA

T he semester had finally drawn to a close. I was looking forward to the break. It meant I would get to spend a lot of time with Rafe and Roan. In fact, Roan had planned an exciting trip for us. We were going to New York City for a few days.

He did have a couple of meetings he had to take care of, but then it was going to be the three of us enjoying a nice little getaway. We were of course going to be taking his private jet. I could hardly contain my excitement. It was going to be my first time in the Big Apple, and having Roan and Rafe with me made it even more special.

Even Beau was going to get to go. Apparently, when you were as rich as Roan, hotels didn't care if you had a dog. Rafe had pretty much insisted Beau come along. I was prepared to leave him with Cate but Roan insisted it would be okay.

I had just finished packing when there was a knock at the door. I smiled and rushed to answer it. "Hi, gorgeous," I greeted Roan.

He pulled me into his arms and gave me a kiss. "Hi, yourself. Are you two ready?"

"We are." I nodded.

He grabbed my suitcase while I grabbed Beau's bag and his leash. I led him out to the limo and had to laugh as I lifted his butt into the car. "I think Beau is going to think he fell into doggy heaven."

Rafe was sitting in the seat facing the back of the car. Beau ambled back and managed to get in. "Beau, you are one spoiled dog," I told him. "I don't know a lot of dogs that get the limousine treatment."

Beau looked at me. You know I deserve it.

Rafe giggled from his seat. "He's probably the most spoiled dog in the whole world."

Roan chuckled, sliding in next to me. "I think we might be spoiling ourselves a bit as well."

As the limo pulled away, Roan handed me a bottle of water from the minifridge. It was going to take me a while to get used to his way of living. The drive to the airport was filled with laughter and chitchat. Rafe told us about his latest improvements to the robot he was making.

At the airport, Rafe was in charge of holding Beau's leash. The stairs were a bit of a challenge for the old guy. "Let me save him some trouble," Roan said. He bent down and picked up Beau like he was a tiny little pup and carried Beau up the stairs. I loved that Rafe and Roan took such good care of my old baby.

Rafe and I went up next. Rafe immediately went to Beau and spread out the blanket we brought along specifically for the dog. He got Beau situated in the back TV area while Roan and I sat in the chairs.

"Ready for this adventure?" he asked, squeezing my hand.

"Absolutely," I replied, squeezing back. "I can't wait to see the city."

"And I can't wait to show it to you," Roan said, smiling as he looked at me. The plane began to speed down the runway and then, with an exhilarating rush of motion, we were airborne. Through the window I could see the ground drop away beneath us.

While I was lost in the stunning sight, Rafe had settled down with Beau and was showing him a picture book about New York City. Beau just seemed content being near Rafe, listening to his voice. It warmed my heart how much Rafe loved Beau.

The flight was smooth. We spent most of it chatting about all the places we wanted to visit. Rafe was particularly excited about showing me around. I was looking forward to seeing the city through his eyes. Once we landed, a car whisked us away to our hotel, an elegant place in the heart of Manhattan. The lobby was decorated for the holidays, with a giant Christmas tree adorned with twinkling lights and ornaments. Rafe's eyes widened as he took it all in.

"This place is amazing!" he exclaimed, bouncing on his toes.

"It really is," I agreed, smiling down at him.

Roan checked us in, and soon we were settled into our suite. It was spacious and luxurious, with a breathtaking view of the city skyline. Rafe claimed his own room with enthusiasm. I couldn't help but laugh at his excitement. Beau slowly ambled around sniffing every corner.

"We've got a couple of hours before my meeting," Roan said, wrapping his arms around me from behind. "Why don't you and Rafe go explore a bit? I'll catch up with you after. I know you didn't come here to be holed up in the hotel."

I laughed. "Although this hotel isn't exactly a burden. This is incredible."

He gave me a credit card. "Do some shopping. Get some lunch."

"You don't need to give me your credit card," I told him.

"I want to and you are taking care of my son." He shrugged. "It'll make me happy."

"Fine," I said, leaning into his embrace. "We'll have a great time."

Rafe and I bundled up in our warmest clothes and set out to explore the city with Beau getting to relax in the penthouse. Our first stop was Central Park, where we admired the ice skaters and took a leisurely stroll through the snow-covered paths. Rafe was full of energy, pointing out every little detail he found interesting.

Next, we headed to the Museum of Natural History. Rafe was in his element, dragging me from exhibit to exhibit, explaining everything with the enthusiasm of a seasoned tour guide. It was a joy to see him so engaged and passionate about learning. I loved museums. Rafe was so much like me, which was crazy considering he wasn't my biological son.

We wandered through the dinosaur exhibit. Rafe was clearly a bit of an expert when it came to dinosaurs. And he had been to the museum a couple times before. We opted to go to a restaurant to get lunch. It wasn't anything fancy, but that was my preference. Now that we were alone, I decided it was the perfect time to have a more serious conversation with Rafe.

"Rafe, can we talk for a minute?" I asked.

"Sure," he replied, looking at me with curiosity.

"You know I've been spending a lot of time with you and your dad," I began, searching for the right words. "I wanted to ask you how you feel about it. Is it okay with you that I'm dating your dad?"

Rafe's face lit up with a big grin. "I like it when you're around, Ms. C. You make my dad really happy."

I felt a surge of warmth and relief at his words. "I'm glad to hear that, Rafe. I care about both of you a lot."

"Are you going to be my stepmom?" he asked, his eyes wide with hope.

I smiled, feeling my heart swell. "Well, we're not there yet, but I do hope to be a big part of your life for a long time."

"I'd like that," he said earnestly. "Can you help me with my science projects too?"

"Of course." I laughed. "I'd love to help with anything you need."

"Should I call you Ms. C?" he asked.

"I think when we're not in school, you could call me Alaina if you would like," I told him.

"Okay." He nodded.

And just like that, it was decided. I let out a sigh of relief. I wasn't really worried he would have an issue with things, but I still wanted to get his opinion on the matter. The little boy had stolen my heart, just as much as his father had. I wanted to be a part of their lives for as long as they would have me.

We were just about to order when Roan texted. "Oh, your dad is done with his meeting," I said. "I'm going to tell him to meet us here for lunch."

"Okay." Rafe nodded as he colored the place mat.

Roan asked me to order him a burger and he was going to meet us in about ten minutes.

"How was your meeting?" I asked after Roan sat down.

"Productive," he replied, smiling as he looked between Rafe and me. "But I missed you two."

Rafe launched into a detailed account of everything we'd seen and done. Roan listened with genuine interest, his eyes twinkling with amusement and pride. "Sounds like you two had a busy day."

"We did," I replied, smiling back at him. "And we learned a lot too."

Roan chuckled, reaching over to ruffle Rafe's hair. "I bet," he said.

Rafe beamed at his father's words, his chest puffing out with pride. "I can name all the ones in the museum and tell you facts about them!"

"I'm impressed," Roan replied.

That evening, we returned to our hotel, where we enjoyed a lavish dinner in the room. Afterward, we retired to our suite, where Rafe quickly fell asleep in his room, exhausted from the day's adventures. Beau climbed onto the bed as usual.

Roan and I settled into the master bedroom, enjoying the peace and quiet. As I snuggled up next to him, he began to speak in a serious tone.

"Alaina, there's something I need to tell you," he said, looking into my eyes. "My company is considering expanding overseas, which means I might have to make some international trips soon. I could be gone for a while, at least until all the deals and mergers are finalized."

I took a deep breath, processing his words. "I can handle that, Roan. I'll be happy to stay with Rafe while you're away."

He sighed with relief, pulling me closer. "That would mean the world to me. It makes me feel better knowing my son is in good hands."

"You don't have to worry about a thing," I assured him, resting my head on his chest. "We'll be just fine. I talked to him. I asked if he was okay with me hanging around and he asked if I was going to be his stepmom."

Roan laughed. "He's a little blunt."

"I didn't mind. We agreed he can call me Alaina when we're not in school."

"Whatever you two are comfortable with works for me."

"I'm glad," I said, tracing a random pattern on his chest. "I want you to be comfortable too, Roan."

He gave a dry chuckle. "That's the least of my worries. Knowing that you and Rafe are okay is what matters most."

"Alaina, thank you," Roan said after a pause. The depth of emotion in his voice took me by surprise. His eyes met mine in the dim light of the room. "You've brought a sense of stability into our lives, and I can't express how grateful I am for that. I didn't realize how incomplete I felt until I met you."

A rush of emotion filled me, an intoxicating mix of happiness and trepidation. The weight of his words hung heavy between us, pulling at the strings of my heart. It was a lot of pressure to be the person that made him whole, but it was also amazing.

"I'm honored to be a part of your lives," I told him sincerely, running my fingers through his hair.