Page 98 of The CEO Alpha’s Substitute Mate

“We have a studio.” My eyes fill, and I don’t wipe them. “Oh God. What have we done?”

Outside, the street smells of the bakery two doors down and the river underneath that. Marek, the security guard that Callum assigned to me last week, is waiting outside by the car. As soon as we approach, he straightens and opens the door for us.

Zara has her folder against her hip and her sunglasses pushed up into her hair. “Are you going to handle the paperwork? Do you want me to do it?”

“No. Callum will do it.”

She stops by the open door, taken aback. “You’re getting him involved? I thought you didn’t want Callum’s help on this.”

My hand lands on the frame of the car door. “I don’t want to be an idiot who doesn’t take advantage of the resources offered to me. He wanted to look over all the paperwork and the legalities. He’s good at it, and who am I to say no?” I shoot her a quick grin.

Zara smiles softly. “You never let people help you. You really care for him, don’t you?”

I look at the bakery awning instead of at her, trying to get my emotions under control. “He makes me happy. I didn’t think being around someone could make me so content. I’ve never—” I hesitate, recalling what he said to me on the roof the other day. “I’ve never had somebody who cared so much about me, who noticed every little thing about me. I know he’s cold on the surface, but when he’s with me, he’s so attentive and thoughtful.”

Zara laughs. “Okay. Okay, stop making me jealous now. I have never felt more single in my life.”

“Come on.” I nudge her toward the car, snickering. “I’ll drop you home, then I have to pick up Luca.”

Zara slides in beside me. “I love how you now have a chauffeured car to take you everywhere.”

I shoot her a dry look, and she just takes out her phone. “So how are Luca’s etiquette lessons going?”

Zara is a regular visitor at the estate, and when she dropped by two days ago, she saw Isabella sitting with Luca. I had to explain it away, and etiquette lessons were the only thing I could come up with. I’m still shocked she bought it.

“He’s adapting well,” I murmur.

“He really seemed to like his teacher,” Zara comments, and I notice her eyeing me. “She was very pretty.”

“Pretty is an understatement,” I respond. “Isabella and Callum are childhood friends.”

“Oh.” Zara doesn’t sound so understanding. “Then maybe you should have said childhood friends only show up when you’re there.”

I roll my eyes. “If you’re implying Callum is interested in her, you couldn’t be more wrong. He’s been around her for years. If he wanted her, he would’ve made a move.”

“I’m not doubting your man. I’m doubting the woman. No one has to wear a dress that short to teach a kid.”

Zara thrives on gossip, and while I love hearing her paranoid theories, I simply don’t buy it this time. I’ve noticed Isabella around Callum. She’s close to him, but they seem more like friends than anything. And she seems much more interested in spending time with Damien than Callum. My reservations about her have begun to dissipate over the past couple of days.

“She just dresses like that. Besides, she’s always with Luca.” I look out the window, wondering how soon I can get home and tell Callum the good news.

We drop Zara off and head toward Luca’s school. Marek has us at Marchmont before the gates open at three. The drive is already filling with cars, and he parks close enough to the pedestrian gate that he can watch it without getting out.

Luca comes through at a dead run with his bag banging his hip, tie already loose, and he isn’t alone.

Isabella is walking beside him with her coat over her arm, saying something down at the top of his head that has him laughing. He’s got one hand up hanging off her sleeve as he goes, which stops me dead where I’m standing.

“Mom!”

He throws himself at me, and I catch him in my arms before looking up at the woman beside him.

“Isabella.”

“I was here to meet one of the teachers.” She lifts her chin at the main building. “My cousin’s boy starts in the spring, so my aunt has decided I’m the family emissary. Two hours of my life I’ll never see again.”

“Right,” I murmur slowly.

“Callum had a pack meeting tonight,” Isabella continues, sliding her coat over her shoulder. “I was heading into the city for a late lunch.” She stops there, then does something I’ve never seen her do, which is hesitate. “You could come. Both of you.”