As the first week flew by, Aiden admired Quinn’s work. Even though he was apprehensive and said that his employees were the ones that really knew what they were doing, Quinn quickly proved that he was the one who was a true master, and Aiden spent more time admiring Qui... no, no,hiswork from afar.
Quinn barely even noticed he was there, and he wasn’t sure if it was because he was trying to be innocuous or the man truly didn’t notice him.
Then the second week went by, and Aiden made sure to make an appearance wherever Quinn happened to be at certain times, just so he knew Aiden was still around. He hadn’t wanted to spook the omega, and now that he was certain Quinn wasn’t going anywhere, Aiden tried to initiate more contact.
He just wasn’t close enough. It was the last day of the second week, and Aiden knew he needed to step up his game and get Quinn to notice him. As Quinn was working in the den, Aiden peeked his head in the door. “Want something to drink? I have some cold juice. Or cold beer if you prefer.”
Quinn looked up, then laughed and shook his head. “As a boss, I always frown upon my employees drinking on the job, so I’d best say no.” He snickered and went back to work. That was the most Quinn had said to Aiden over the last two weeks, and it made Aiden smile.
“Well, then I guess we can save the beer for another time, but I do have lemonade as well,” Aiden pointed out.
That had Quinn lifting his head again. He looked at Aiden and then shrugged. “I suppose I could stop and take a fifteen-minute break.”
Aiden smiled. “Take twenty. Your boss won’t mind.”
They both laughed at that, and Quinn shrugged. “Twenty it is, but not another minute longer.” He looked at his watch and nodded.
Quinn followed Aiden into the kitchen. Aiden grabbed two glasses and then reached in his refrigerator to grab out the pitcher of lemonade.
“Thank you,” Quinn said as he was handed a glass filled nearly to the top.
“You’re welcome.” Aiden set down the pitcher, and they each took a sip. He looked over the rim of his glass to Quinn. “Can I make a confession?”
Quinn put his glass down and turned to face Aiden. “I don’t see why not.”
“Your work is phenomenal,” Aiden said.
Quinn chuckled. “No more than my employees.” He wiped at the condensation forming on the glass. “But I have to say I’m still confused by the way everything went down.” Quinn looked at him brow raised before going on. “It seemed like they couldn’t do anything to please you.”
Aiden opened his mouth and was going to make up an excuse as to why that was, but Quinn continued. “However, in the two weeks that have gone by since I took over, I have come to see it as a blessing.”
Aiden frowned. “A blessing?”
Quinn’s lips lifted at the corners, and he took another drink before carrying on. “I have three children. They’re five, and I don’t want to be one of those fathers that looks back and thinks, ‘look at how much time has flown by and I have nothing to show for it.’ I want to be able to say that I was there when my kids needed me the most.”
Aiden smiled. “That makes sense.” He took a drink from his own glass before he pushed for more information. “Tell me about your children.” Aiden hoped that wasn’t weird. Parents wanted people to ask about their kids, right?
That did seem to be the right thing to ask because Quinn’s eyes lit up, and he grinned like the proud papa he clearly was. “Well, they’re three of the funniest little ones you’ll ever meet. And they’re smart, so smart. There’s Haley, she’s the only girl in the mix, but she gives the boys a run for their money.”
Aiden smiled along. Fuck, the more he heard, the more he wanted to know. It was surreal hearing about three kids that came from his sperm. God he hated thinking of it like that. They were three kids that came fromhim… a part of him. Aiden hadn’t expected it, but there was something about knowing they were out there that made him happy.
“Then there are the two boys. Leonard, but we all call him Leo, and Keith. They are the sweetest. Of course, they have those loud moments, but they’re still perfect. Haley is nuts about animals. Leo just loves cars, all cars. Then there’s Keith, he loves books and science. I call him my little professor.”
“They sound like great kids. I bet it helps that they have the best papa.” Aiden couldn’t stop smiling if he tried, especially watching as Quinn became more animated the longer he spoke.
Quinn flushed. “They’re the best.”
Even a blind person would notice how much Quinn loved his kids… A small voice whisperedtheir kids,but he shook it off. There was also no question he was a good father to them, and it made Aiden’s heart clench. He wanted to experience that kind of love even more, wanted to be a part of it.
“I’m sure it’s been rough since your husband has been gone,” Aiden said, sympathy filtering into his words.
Quinn’s spine straightened and a guarded look crossed his face. “Since my husband has been gone? How would you know that?”
Aiden could hear the defensiveness in Quinn’s voice. “I’m sorry. I assumed because you said the picture in the officewasyour husband. I figured something must have happened since not many divorced people keep pictures up.”
“Oh…” Quinn looked away from Aiden’s and nodded slowly. “Sorry, yeah, uh... it’s been rough. I really don’t want to go into the details.”
“Of course.” Aiden didn’t want to push the omega too hard, so he said, “I didn’t mean to pry.”
