“That’s about enough of this,” Flint grunted, then walked around me. “You are grown-ass 22-year-old men. Old enough to man up and stop this whining.”
“Flint,” I placed a hand on his strong forearm in a warning.
He shook me off. “Your father says your Mama wouldn’t bring you to him? What about when you both turned sixteen and could drive to visit him?”
Their eyes slid toward each other, then down to the floor.
“What about now that you’re adults?” Flint questioned.
“He wanted to see us today!” Logan cried.
Flint raised an eyebrow. “Just you? Or did he ask if your Mama would be there too?”
Logan and Lance looked up in surprise.
Oh, yeah. Surprises suck!
As mad as I was at Flint for butting in, he had a point. And I wouldn’t let this opportunity go to waste. “Why do you think that is?”
The twins shook their heads.
“You both are old enough to know what happened,” I sighed and plopped down on a barstool. “Your father had millions of dollars when we were married. But, when it came time to get divorced, his money suddenly disappeared. He didn’t have money for alimony or child support. Since I had money in a trust, I didn’t force the courts to track down whatever offshore bank he squirreled away his money. I just wanted you two. And I knew I could support you on my own.”
Lance and Logan blinked at me in disbelief. Yeah, I guess it was hard to believe since I never once told them what we had been through.
“Your father has been trying to get his hands on my trust money for years,” I continued. “He’d do anything to get it, including manipulating his sons. You’re just pawns to him.”
Lance’s eyes were shiny. “You’re lying.”
“That’s not true,” Logan sniffed.
I shrugged. “I wish it wasn’t. But it is. Now, before either of you throw a fit and drive off out of here, can you please bring me my purse and phone from your car?”
The boys stood and stomped out of the kitchen, Flint hot on their heels. I sagged, my head hitting the island countertop. A few minutes later, I felt a warm hand rubbing my back.
“Ceel,” Flint’s breath was hot on my ear as he leaned closer to me. “Why don’t you go up and take a long soak in the tub? When you’re done, I’ll take you to dinner. One that you don’t have to cook. How does that sound?”
I sat up, flipped my hair over my shoulder, and studied Flint. His shaved head, bulging muscles, and menacing tattoos should be enough to send someone cowering in fear. But I knew underneath that smooth brown skin beat the heart of a lover, not a fighter. If I gave him an inch, he’d take a mile. He’d already wormed his way into my brain after our sweaty one-night-stand.
“Just dinner,” Flint pointed at me. “I know your dirty mind is thinking about what we could do for dessert, but you need to get your thoughts out of the gutter.”
I couldn’t help myself. I laughed and went to get cleaned up.
Just dinner.
I could handle just dinner.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t handle anything else in my life right now.
