“They’ve already been turned over to the police. Releasing those horses caused damage to a neighbor’s crops, and that will have to be paid for.” He wasn’t going to back down in the least.“And you know that Henry didn’t just decide to do this on his own….”
“No,” Jenn said, sitting back. “He was put up to this, and I know who it was.”
“So do we. It’s going to go easier on them if they turn themselves in. Otherwise, they are going to hound Henry until he tells them everything, and once they have that, the prosecutor isn’t likely to go easy on either of them.” Brendan noticed that Greg didn’t supply any names, but Jenn was buying all of it.
“Mom never understood why I married you in the first place. She didn’t think you were good enough for me. But….” She lifted her gaze. “I’ll tell her she needs to come clean. Henry could never keep a secret of any kind, anyway.” She stood and slowly walked toward the door. “My family is really screwed up.”
Brendan couldn’t argue with her.
“Look. I’m going to drop the appeal. After this, it isn’t going anywhere.”
“Jenn,” Greg said. “It never was. Brendan is an amazing parent, and if he decides to let someone else in his life, then you can be sure that person will be good to both of them.”
She looked confused and more than a little hurt.
“I know your mother spun you up and got your pride and ego all in a rage, but you have to know that Jameson is happy here with me.”
Jen nodded, and then tears ran down her cheeks. “She did, and I know things not working out was my fault….”
“Nothing about divorce and separation is one person’s fault. It’s always a two-way street. So you go on with your life and try to be happy.” Brendan smiled and then sighed. “Mom is upstairs with Jameson. I need to say good night. You want to come?”
Jenn nodded, and they went upstairs together. Brendan let Jenn go in first. “Mommy,” Jameson said happily, and shehugged him good night. Brendan did the same, and then they all left the room, his mom following them down the stairs.
“I’m sorry for all of this. I know I was a real pain in the ass the last time I was here. I’ve had a chance to think things over.”
“Look. Just be in Jameson’s life. That’s all I want, and that’s all he wants. Make memories with him. He’s only going to be this age for a very short time, and soon enough, he’ll be a teenager, and he won’t want to have anything to do with either of us.” He smiled, and Jenn nodded.
“I know. But most of the time, I don’t know what to do with him. He doesn’t like the same things I did as a child.”
“No, probably not. But all you need to do is spend some time doing the things he likes, and you’re halfway there. He loves Lego, animals, and helping in the kitchen. Don’t just put him in front of the television. He’ll be happy to sit there and watch, but he isn’t going to remember anything about it.” He walked her to the door and said good night. Brendan sighed as he closed the door.
“Well, that tells us quite a bit. She believes her mother is behind all this.”
Greg said good night as well and told them he’d call the police in the morning to explain to them what they had found out. Mom followed him out, leaving Brendan and Lucas alone in the living room. The house was so quiet, and he didn’t quite know what to do.
“Come on. Everything will wait until tomorrow.”
“I need to check on the horses and make sure the barn is closed up for the night. I’ll be right back in,” Brendan explained, and hurried outside. Everything was as it should be. He checked the mangers and water troughs before returning to the house.
The lights were off except for the one over the stove. He locked the back door and checked the others before heading upstairs and going to his room, where Lucas waited for him, hisrich skin shining against the dim light. Brendan swallowed and slowly entered the room. “You’re….” Lucas wore only his boxers, his legs crossed at the ankles, hands behind his head. He was a sight beyond anything Brendan had imagined.
“Come here,” Lucas said, his voice deep and seductive. Brendan couldn’t help moving closer. It was like he was outside of himself in the best way possible.
“Damn,” he said under his breath, unable to help himself. Lucas was hot as hell, with his strong arms and chest, belly cut with lines, and legs like tree trunks. Part of him wondered if Lucas was too strong, but he knew he would never hurt him. Lucas was all power, and yet he drew Brendan in like a moth to flame.
“You like what you see?”
Brendan nodded. Lucas was as hot as any man Brendan had ever seen, and there was no way he could lie.What does he want with me?he asked himself, even as he drew closer, and Lucas reached out, taking him by the hand, pulling him gently to the bed.
“What’s going on behind those incredible blue eyes of yours?” Lucas asked. “I can see you worrying about something.” He drew Brendan down until their lips touched. Lucas slipped his hand around the back of his neck and held him in place, deepening the kiss. It was like something inside him gave way, like a dam bursting. Brendan climbed onto the bed, and Lucas enveloped him in his arms, holding him as he stroked his back up under his shirt.
“Jesus…,” Brendan sighed, pulling away for only a moment. Lucas took that time to tug his shirt off before kissing him again. This time they were skin to skin, and warmth spread though him. “What are you doing to me?”
“What do you mean?” Lucas whispered.
“You… I don’t know. You come into our lives through Greg, and suddenly things are so very different. Jameson is happy—you two cook together. You figure out how to make the stables safe and help catch a vandal who has been a pain in the butt. Then you make me feel like I can have a life again.”
Lucas chuckled. “You always had a life. You just needed to figure out what you wanted.”
