Naomi settled into the small corner table of the bustling coffee shop, watching Ethan as he scrolled through his phone with an amused smirk. The aroma of freshly brewed espresso hung in the air, mingling with the faint hum of conversation. She sipped her latte, waiting for him to launch into his usual nagging about her career decisions.
"So," Ethan started, finally putting his phone down, "have you thought about my offer yet?"
Naomi rolled her eyes, knowing exactly where this was going. "Ethan, we've talked about this."
"Yeah, and your reasons for not joining my family's paper are still ridiculous," Ethan countered, leaning forward with an exasperated look. "You're miserable working for Chris, and you know it. Why are you so stubborn?"
"Because it feels like I'd be using you," she shot back, lowering her voice. "I don't want our friendship to get tangled up in work drama. Besides, you're not exactly impartial when it comes to me."
Ethan's jaw tightened, but before he could reply, the bell above the café door chimed, and Naomi's eyes instinctively drifted toward the entrance. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw Adrian walk in, looking effortlessly magnetic in a dark cashmere coat and tailored pants. He scanned the room briefly, his sharp green eyes landing on her.
To her surprise, a smaller version of him trailed behind—Ace. The little boy spotted her instantly and waved excitedly. "Naomi!"
Naomi waved back, feeling a mix of surprise and nervousness. Ethan followed her gaze, his brow furrowing as Adrian approached their table.
"Fancy running into you here," Adrian said smoothly, his deep voice somehow managing to cut through the lively atmosphere of the café.
"Adrian," Naomi said, forcing herself to stay composed. "And Ace. Hey there, buddy."
Ace beamed, climbing onto the chair next to her without waiting for an invitation. "Hi! Are you having coffee?"
"Something like that," Naomi said with a laugh.
Ethan cleared his throat pointedly, drawing Adrian's attention. Naomi sighed, rubbing her temple. "Ethan, this is Adrian Moretti. Adrian, this is Ethan—"
"Her best friend," Ethan interjected, his tone laced with subtle challenge.
"Good to know," Adrian said, his expression unreadable.
Before the tension could escalate further, Ace tugged on Naomi's sleeve. "Are you coming with us?"
Naomi blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
"To the amusement park!" Ace said excitedly. "Dad said we could go, and it'll be way more fun if you come too!"
Naomi froze, her mind catching on one crucial word: Dad. She turned sharply to Adrian, her surprise evident. "Wait. He's your son?"
Adrian raised a brow, as though her reaction amused him. "Did you think he wasn't?"
Naomi's mouth opened, then closed again as she scrambled for a response. "I—uh, I just assumed..." She glanced at Ace, then back at Adrian. "I thought he was Kara's."
Adrian's lips curved into a faint smirk. "Kara? No. Ace is mine."
The weight of his words hit her, and her stomach twisted. If Ace was his son, that meant... "You're married?" she blurted, her voice louder than intended.
Adrian chuckled softly, leaning slightly closer. "No. Never have been."
Naomi narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "So what, you're a single dad?"
"Something like that," Adrian said vaguely, his smirk not fading.
Naomi leaned back in her chair, processing this new information. She was stunned, but a small part of her was relieved. Still, her irritation bubbled to the surface.
"And you think it's okay to flirt with me when you're someone's father?" she snapped.
Adrian's smirk faltered, his gaze sharpening. "I didn't realize those two things were mutually exclusive."
Naomi rolled her eyes, standing up. "You're impossible."
Ace tugged on her sleeve again, his big, hopeful eyes cutting through her frustration. "Please come with us, Naomi. It'll be fun!"
Ethan's brows shot up. "She has plans, kid."
Naomi glanced between them, unsure of how to handle the situation. Ace looked up at her with pleading eyes, while Ethan glared at Adrian like he was ready to launch into a full-blown interrogation.
"It's fine," Naomi said finally, her voice steady. "I'll join them. They'll drop me home after."
"Naomi," Ethan began, his tone low with warning.
"I'll be fine," she said firmly, standing up. "Thanks for the coffee, Ethan. I'll call you later."
Ethan looked like he wanted to argue but held back, his jaw clenching as he watched her leave with Adrian and Ace.
The amusement park was alive with the sound of laughter and the bright colors of spinning rides. Naomi found herself swept up in Ace's infectious excitement as they explored the park, his energy seemingly boundless.
"Let's do the roller coaster next!" Ace exclaimed, dragging Naomi toward the line.
"You sure about that?" Naomi teased, glancing at Adrian. "Might be too intense for you."
Adrian smirked, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. "I think I'll manage."
The day passed in a blur of laughter and lighthearted moments, though Naomi couldn't help throwing a few barbed comments Adrian's way.
"So, Mr. Devoted Father," she said as they waited for Ace to finish a ride. "Do you make a habit of flirting with women when you're supposed to be setting an example for your son?"
Adrian chuckled, leaning casually against the fence. "You're assuming I was flirting."
Naomi raised a brow. "You weren't?"
"I was," Adrian admitted, his smirk deepening. "But Ace is fine. He likes you, by the way."
Naomi blinked, caught off guard. "He... does?"
Adrian nodded, his gaze softening as he glanced toward his son. "He doesn't warm up to people easily. But with you... it's different."
Naomi felt a warmth spread through her chest, though she tried to hide it. "Well, he's a great kid. You've done a good job with him."
Adrian's expression darkened slightly, the hint of a smile fading. "I try."
By the time the sun began to set, Ace was fast asleep in the backseat of Adrian's car, his head resting against the window. Naomi sat in the passenger seat, her thoughts tangled as they drove in comfortable silence.
"Thank you for today," Adrian said finally, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it.
Naomi turned to him, surprised. "For what?"
"For being good to Ace," Adrian said, his eyes focused on the road. "He's... he doesn't get that kind of attention often."
Naomi frowned. "Why not? He's such a great kid."
Adrian hesitated, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. "Because of me. Because of the life I've chosen. It's not easy raising a child in this world."
Naomi studied his profile, noting the strain in his jaw and the shadows under his eyes. "You're doing your best," she said softly. "It's obvious how much you love him."
Adrian exhaled a bitter laugh. "Love isn't enough to keep him safe. That's why I do what I do. Every deal I make, every risk I take—it's all for him."
Naomi's chest tightened at the vulnerability in his voice. She reached out instinctively, her hand brushing against his arm. "You're a good father, Adrian. Don't doubt that."
Their eyes met briefly, and the tension between them crackled to life again.
"About the other night," Adrian began, his voice low.
Naomi's heart skipped a beat. "What about it?"
"The almost kiss," he said, glancing at her. "I wasn't imagining things, was I?"
Naomi swallowed hard. "No. You weren't."
Adrian's lips curved into a faint smile, though his eyes remained serious. "Naomi, I need you to understand something. If you get involved with me, there's no going back. No half-measures. It's dangerous, messy, and..."
"Complicated?" Naomi offered, her voice barely above a whisper.
He nodded. "Exactly."
Naomi took a deep breath, her gaze steady. "I don't know what this is, Adrian. But I do know that I'm... drawn to you. Even when I know I shouldn't be."
Adrian's hand brushed against hers, sending a jolt of electricity through her. "You're not the only one."
The moment stretched between them, heavy with unspoken emotions. But before either of them could act on it, Ace stirred in the backseat, breaking the spell.
Adrian turned his attention back to the road, his expression unreadable. Naomi leaned back in her seat, her thoughts racing.
As they pulled up outside her apartment, Naomi got out of the car, feeling the weight of the day settle over her.
"Thank you again," Adrian said softly, walking her to her building door.
Naomi smiled faintly. "Anytime. You should go he is asleep in the car alone"
As she reached her apartment door, she couldn't shake the feeling that her life had just taken a turn she couldn't quite name—but one she wasn't sure she wanted to avoid.