Amara woke early the next morning, her mind swirling with the events of the previous day.
The weight of Alessandro’s words and the engagement announcement still clung to her, but she had promised Vaughn they would see the baby tiger today.
The thought of his excitement made her heart lighter, and she needed something to distract herself from the turmoil.
She got dressed quickly and made a simple breakfast for Vaughn, who chattered eagerly about the tiger cub as they prepared to leave.
His enthusiasm was infectious, and as they drove toward the residential area in Lake Las Vegas, Amara found herself smiling.
Vaughn’s joy was enough to ease the tension coiling in her chest, even if just for a little while.
She had texted Rowan earlier, letting him know she would be visiting. It wasn’t a social call..
At least, that’s what she told herself.
This was for Vaughn.
As they neared the gates of Rowan’s residence, she spotted another car pulling in ahead of them. Rowan’s car.. no doubt..
She parked behind him and stepped out of the car just as Rowan approached, holding a bouquet of crimson roses in his hand.
Amara’s heart did a small flip at the sight of him.
“Good morning, Crimson,” Rowan greeted her, his voice smooth and deep, a slight smirk on his lips.
Amara nodded, trying to keep her tone neutral. “Good morning.”
Rowan glanced at Vaughn, who had just hopped out of the car, his smile bright as the sun.
“Rowan uncle, you’re here!” Vaughn exclaimed, running over to him.
Rowan smiled warmly and gently patted Vaughn’s head, making the boy beam even more.
Amara watched the interaction between the two with a mix of warmth and guilt.
Rowan treated Vaughn so kindly, so naturally, and yet he didn’t even know that Vaughn was his son. The thought gnawed at her conscience.
Rowan’s eyes flicked to her. “Did you have breakfast?”
Before Amara could respond, Vaughn piped up. “Yes! Mommy made me a delicious breakfast, but she didn’t eat anything!”
Rowan’s gaze sharpened as he looked at Amara. “Why not?”
She shrugged, trying to brush it off. “I wasn’t that hungry.”
Rowan didn’t push, but the concern in his eyes didn’t fade. “Let’s go.”
As they headed toward the backyard, Vaughn practically buzzed with excitement. “Rowan uncle, I can’t wait to see the little tiger! Mommy showed me pictures! How did you get him?”
Rowan chuckled, glancing at Amara with a knowing look. “I got him from a friend.”
Vaughn nodded, eyes wide with anticipation.
Rowan led them to a set of chairs in the backyard and gestured for them to sit.
Then, without a word, he disappeared into the tree line.
Amara watched him go, feeling a small pang of disappointment.
But she pushed that feeling aside as Vaughn fidgeted in his chair, waiting eagerly.
When Rowan returned, he had the white tiger cub in his arms.
The cub was small, but its presence seemed to fill the space with an almost magical energy.
Vaughn’s eyes lit up like fireworks, and he jumped off his chair, running toward Rowan.
“Slow down, or you’ll fall!” Rowan warned, but Vaughn was already too close to care.
“That’s okay, I’m a big boy!” Vaughn grinned as he skidded to a halt in front of Rowan. He gazed up at the cub, a mix of awe and fear in his expression.
Rowan knelt down, placing the cub gently on the ground. “Meet your new friend,” he said softly.
Vaughn hesitated for just a moment, then extended his hand, brushing his small fingers against the soft, white fur. “It’s so soft,” he whispered, eyes wide with wonder.
“Just like you,” Rowan replied with a grin.
Vaughn blushed, giggling, while Amara stood back, watching the scene unfold.
A strange sense of calm washed over her, seeing her son so happy, so carefree. It was a rare moment of peace in what had been a whirlwind of tension and deceit.
“I have something to take care of inside,” Rowan said after a while, standing up. “You two stay here and play.”
Amara nodded, watching as Rowan disappeared into the house again.
Vaughn didn’t seem to mind.. his entire focus was on the tiger cub, laughing as it pawed playfully at his hands.
Amara sat beside him, content to just watch, but a strange emptiness filled her as Rowan walked away. She couldn’t quite place the feeling..
Perhaps it was disappointment that he hadn’t stayed longer, or perhaps it was the growing bond between him and Vaughn that made her feel both grateful and guilty.
From the house, Rowan observed them quietly, his gaze softening as he saw the mother and son laughing together, the white tiger cub playfully nudging Vaughn with its nose.
He leaned against the kitchen counter, thinking about the night before and how the tension between him and Alessandro had nearly reached a boiling point.
Alessandro was dangerous, and Amara was caught in the middle of it all. But today, here in the quiet of his home, Rowan found himself longing for something simpler… something that included moments like this.
Then he began preparing breakfast for them. He hadn’t eaten either, and after the intensity of the previous night, it felt good to focus on something as mundane as cooking.
Within half an hour, he had prepared a spread of scrambled eggs, toast, fruit, and fresh orange juice. He set the table outside, under the shade of a tree, and began arranging the plates.
Amara noticed him from a distance and, leaving Vaughn with the tiger cub, she walked over to him. Vaughn followed closely behind, the cub trailing behind him as if it were a loyal companion.
“You didn’t have to do all this,” Amara said softly as she approached, her eyes lingering on the carefully set table.
Rowan glanced up at her, a smirk playing on his lips. “It’s nothing. I didn’t have breakfast either.”
There was something intimate in the way he said it, in the way he moved, setting everything up with such quiet confidence.
Amara nodded, feeling a strange warmth settle in her chest. He was doing all of this for her and Vaughn, without expectation, without strings.
She couldn’t remember the last time someone had done something so simple yet meaningful for her.
She picked Vaughn up and helped him onto the chair, making sure he was seated comfortably.
Rowan watched them for a moment, then joined them at the table.
They sat together, eating in the warmth of the morning sun.
“I want to come back every day, Rowan uncle!” Vaughn exclaimed between bites of toast, his enthusiasm uncontainable. “Can I? Can I come see the tiger cub every day?”
Rowan smiled warmly at him, his eyes flicking to Amara for a moment before returning to Vaughn. “We’ll see, little man. The cub needs rest too, just like you do.”
Vaughn giggled, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “I’m not tired at all! But this food is really good, Rowan uncle. I didn’t know you could cook!”
Rowan chuckled, his gaze softening. “Well, I don’t do it often, but I’m glad you like it.”
Amara, quietly listening, glanced down at her plate. The meal had been simple.. scrambled eggs, toast, fruit.. but it was comforting in a way that surprised her.
She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she started eating.
“You’re a better cook than me,” she said, her voice soft, but there was a genuine warmth in her words. “Vaughn wasn’t exaggerating.”
Rowan raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Is that a compliment Crimson?”
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a small smile. “Don’t get used to it.”
Vaughn, sensing the playfulness between the two, chimed in with a grin. “Mommy’s food is good too, but I like this more.”
Rowan chuckled. “Well, next time, we can cook together. How does that sound?”
Vaughn’s face lit up at the idea. “Yes! We can make pancakes!”
Amara watched the exchange between them, a knot forming in her chest.
There was an ease between Rowan and Vaughn that felt natural, almost too natural. She knew Rowan didn’t realize the weight of what he was offering.. a father-son moment that Vaughn was already latching onto.
And it made her heart ache in ways she hadn’t anticipated.
Rowan’s gaze shifted to Amara again, as if sensing her change in mood. “You okay?”