Marcus hadn''t expected McNeil to show up, but he didn''t seem the least bit awkward-in fact, his eyes shed with open challenge.


    “So, Mr. Langford, you and Vicky are pretty close, huh?"


    He asked the question even though he already knew the answer, a hint of jealousy sharpening his tone.


    Now that the divorce was final, the only thing tying him and Victoria together was their daughter. They weren''t even friends, let alone a couple. He hadn''t invited McNeil along for lunch, so McNeil''s sudden appearance felt as subtle as a spotlight on a quiet stage.


    McNeil''s lips curled into a smirk, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I thought you were always swamped, Mr. Green. You never seem to have time for a drink with friends, but suddenly you''re free now?"


    Did he not hear Gwh call out "Daddy"? Or did he just choose to ignore it?


    Standing there in front of his ex-wife, her child, and her ex-husband, did he not feel even the slightest bit out of ce?


    Marcus shot him a dry smile. "Right back at you. Haven''t seen much of you these past six months. You barely show up at the office. Aren''t you afraid it''ll all fall apart?"


    The two former friends volleyed barbs across the table. Gwh and Max nced back and forth between them, unsure what to make of any of it, until finally Gwh piped up, her little-girl voice cutting through the tension.


    "Daddy, are you and Mr. Green fighting over Mommy?"


    Both men fell abruptly silent.


    Victoria''s gaze was icy as she looked at McNeil. "Did you need something?"


    McNeil dialed back the hostility, focusing on business. "I need to stop by Dad''ster and bring Gwyn. Chris and Celia will be there too-he wants to see his grandchildren."


    He was speaking to Victoria, but his eyes never left Marcus.


    Marcus took a sip of his wine, setting the ss down with deliberate calm. Not a flicker of irritation crossed his face.


    "Yay! We get to go to Grandpa''s!" Gwh bounced in her seat, then turned to McNeil. "Daddy, can Maxe too?"


    Max, ever the perceptive one, sensed the tension right away. "I''d better not," he said quickly. “My uncle and I have nster."


    Max had picked up on the bad blood between his uncle and Mr. Langford. The way Mr. Langford looked at him, it was almost murderous.


    And besides, Gwh called Mr. Langford "Daddy." So, Mr. Langford and Aunt Victoria-they were the real couple, weren''t they?


    Did that mean his uncle had just lost out in love?


    He knew his uncle too well. The more Marcus pretended not to care, the more it actually bothered him.


    "Oh. Okay." Gwh was clearly disappointed. She''d hoped Max coulde over to y.


    Before Victoria could say a word, McNeil was already standing up.


    "It''s gettingte. Let''s go."


    Victoria shot him a bewildered look.


    McNeil nced at her, voice low. "Dad likes to nap after lunch. We need to get


    there before he finishes eating, or he''ll be cranky."


    He looked at Victoria again. "You know how he is once he asks, I''m not exactly in a position to say no."


    "Vicky, since your dad wants to the kids, you should go. We can reschedule,” Marcus said, finally breaking his silence so as not to appear rude.


    see.


    McNeil had already scooped Gwh into his arms, reaching out his other hand for Victoria. No


    matter how she tried to pull away, he wouldn''t let go.


    The restaurant was crowded, and


    with the three of them-plus two et


    felt like every eye in the ce was


    on them.


    strikingly good-looking child


    McNeil shot Victoria a warning look and spoke softly. "Either walk out with me like


    an adult, or I''ll carry you out myself."


    Mortified, Victoria''s face flushed scarlet. She turned to Marcus apologetically. "Sorry. Rain check?"


    McNeil snorted under his breath. As if there would be a next time.


    They had barely stepped out of the restaurant when Marcus''s phone buzzed. It was Garrison Green-his father.


    He hadn''t heard from Garrison in months. The two of them led separate lives and rarely interfered with each other.


    He hesitated, then picked up.


    "Marcus, have you lost your damn mind? Of all the women in the world, you set your sights on a married one?"


    Garrison almost never swore-especially not usingnguage that insulted Marcus''s own mother. He must be furious.


    McNeil, well yed-dragging my father into this just to keep me from seeing Victoria.


    Marcus pressed his fingers to his brow, half exasperated, half amused.