Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 107352 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107352 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 429(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
“You have no idea what you’re—”
“I have a question,” Tatum announced.
“Go ahead,” Luke prodded, hearing her but ignoring me.
“Nash is bisexual. Are you bisexual too?”
His eyes flicked to me and then back to his daughter. “I think it’s different for me. I want Nash to live with us because he’s Nash.”
She nodded. “Like I love Wink because he’s Wink, not because he’s a black cat, even though that’s cool.”
He nodded. “Exactly.”
“I’m glad you love Nash, Daddy, and you don’t have to worry, he won’t ever leave us.”
“How do you know?” he asked her as I straightened up, scowling at him.
“He loves us, and he makes everything better.”
“You’re right,” Luke said, stepping in close and cupping my cheek. “He does make everything better.”
The man was irresistible. When he smiled and leaned in, I met his mouth with mine and took the kiss I wanted. Tatum’s long happy sigh made me smile as his hands went to the sides of my neck and he held on, making sure I couldn’t pull away.
“Already mine,” he whispered, and when I opened my eyes, I was startled by the resoluteness I saw in his.
I cleared my throat, and Tatum looked up at me. “The boys might not be as happy as you, love. I don’t want you to be upset if they’re not.”
“You’re wrong. They’ll be happy. We’ve all been super worried about whenever it was you would be going, but now you have to stay.”
“Why do I have to?”
“Because we love you, and Daddy does too.”
Hard to argue with her logic.
Once she left us, charging down the stairs, reminding her father that he had to go back to the kitchen soon because his parents were there visiting—she really was very bossy—I turned to him and found him grinning, appearing quite pleased with himself.
“The boys will be different,” I told him.
“Because?”
“They judge themselves by you, so you have to be prepared.”
“I know,” he agreed, starting for the door. “But we’re going to worry about that later. Right now, I want you to come downstairs with me. I want to show you where you’re going to be sleeping later tonight.”
“No,” I made clear, watching him walk ahead of me.
“Yes,” he insisted.
“Absolutely not. Your parents are here.”
“So what? Caitlyn and I slept in that bedroom when they visited.”
“We’re not married, and I’m a man,” I reminded him. “Let’s maybe not shock your parents into an early grave.”
His brows furrowed. “You realize if this is it, if this is the thing that turns them away from me, then all those years of them telling me they love me have been a lie.”
“You have known me for barely two weeks, and you’re going to do what, change your whole life?” I asked, taking the stairs to the second level, and then rounding on him as he had followed right behind me. “What about the guys who work for you? Did you consider that maybe they don’t want to work for a man who sleeps with another man? And back to your parents, are you really going to—”
“Yes,” he snapped, slipping both hands around the sides of my neck, holding me gently but firmly. “When you’re with me, I’m different. I’m better. And I know you’re going to think whatever stupid crap you’re gonna think about gratitude and everything else, but it’s not true.”
“Luke—”
“You think you’re smarter ’cause you’re older, but you’re just scared.”
I was. He wasn’t wrong.
“Because if this doesn’t work, unlike my ex-wife who didn’t care, if you don’t get to have me and the kids for the rest of your life…it’s gonna break you.”
I didn’t want the kids to hear us, so I pulled free and descended to the first floor, Luke on my heels. I saw Viola and John in the kitchen with Griff and headed toward the sliding glass door. It was raining, so I changed direction and was going to go to the garage to finish our conversation, but something caught my eye, some movement outside pulling my focus back. When I took a step closer, searching the darkness through the torrent of water, the new motion detectors I’d installed triggered the outdoor lights, and I saw a man standing on our deck.
In motion fast, I saw the guy flip over the railing as I bolted for the front door.
“Nash!” Griff yelled from the kitchen.
“Lock the door behind me!” I roared back.
Throwing open the front door, I went out into the driving rain and saw the guy across the street—had to love well-lit suburban neighborhoods—ducking down a driveway.
I knew Luke wouldn’t chase after me. His kids were in the house, as well as his parents. He was too good a son and father. He was always prepared to step up into the role of guardian.
I, however, was not prepared for what I was doing. Having not expected to be running outside, and being unable to stop and put on shoes, as time was of the essence, I was racing across wet ground in heavy wool socks. Also, my gun was in the attic in my safe. Should I have retrieved the gun and boots? Of course. Had there been time? Absolutely not. My life had always called for quick decisions, and because I’d been in the warm house with people I was crazy about, I’d messed up. I could only hope it didn’t cost me my life.