Page 17 of Forbidden Vow

“Raven?” Maria knocked before pushing the door open. “Mr. Kent.”

They both looked over at the woman. Her plain gray athletic suit matched the gray of her hair, and her pleasant expression dropped into a stern, kindergarten teacher authoritative demeanor.

“I think you should lower your voices.” Her pointed glare at Darius suggested retort, and she’d have him removed by security. “I wouldn’t want Lexi to overhear his parents arguing after having such a wonderful evening with his father.”

Maria maintained her distance, holding one of Lexi’s portable computer modules in her hand. She’d tilted the screen, clearly showing Darius his son had exceptional coding skills.

Memories of his father and mother arguing flooded his brain. No, he would not make the same mistakes his father had. Darius backed off, took a breath, and let it out slowly. “Raven, we were just talking about you all extending your stay in Shell Cove.”

“I wasn’t.” Raven angled her head, a curt smile curling her lips.

“You should,” he said tersely. He glanced to Maria. She stood patiently, as if waiting for them both to follow her instructions. Wow, she really was excellent at this job.

“Maria’s right. We can talk in the morning, when you return.”

“I know you didn’t think I would leave?” Darius snapped.

Raven threw up her hands. “Of course not. Who can make you do anything,” she practically shouted.

“Lexington deserves his birthright.” The boy’s name on his tongue felt right. It was as though he still had a piece of his own father with him. “The Kent estate is here. Every Kent man in this family has been raised in that house.”

“You act as if I haven’t been taking care of my child.”

Darius’s heart clenched. Raven was an excellent mother. His son was happy, intelligent, inquisitive, and respectful. He’d never thought about what attributes he wanted a child of his to possess, but he couldn’t be more proud of the child Raven had raised. Lexi was the best of them both. He knew that Raven had surrounded herself and their son with quality people, both men and women, but it pained him to think those good examples weren’t him. He wanted to be a fully engaged parent.

“Raven,” Maria said with a soft lilt. That one word expressed so much. A question. Judgment. Encouragement. Maria didn’t say it, but her tone saida son and father should be together. Especially if they both wanted that.

Darius could kiss Maria right now.

“Babe,” he gentled his tone, trying a different tactic, since anger and bluster wasn’t helping. “Lexington deserves to have every advantage I can give him. The best of everything will be provided for him. I just want to take care of him.”

Raven’s eyes filled with tears that she quickly brushed aside. “Fine, I’ll let you know in the morning.” She slipped past him. “I need to go check on Lexi.” Darius moved to follow her.

“You stay here, Mr. Kent.” Maria waved a finger at Darius. “She needs more time. You cannot win a woman over in one night.”

Darius swore under his breath and watched the love of his life go a second time. He may not win in one night, but he never lost.