My brows shoot high as Caleb winces and whispers, “Sorry, Vinny,” using Aisling’s nickname, and the man melts on the spot like he always does with the kids, but I don’t laugh like the brothers, instead, I sit forward, concerned.
He wouldn’t rush into church unless it was an emergency, and where in the fuck is Dad?
“Caleb, what’s going on?” I question instantly, and my son, with eyes like my own, looks at me with determination, and I fucking know he’s about to say something that will piss me off, and the reason Dad isn’t behind him is that he’s on his side.
This has something to do with his goddamn teacher, I just fucking know it.
“I invited Ms. Robins and Lyra for dinner. We need to go now so you can make your chili!” he blurts out, confirming my thoughts and anger fucking rages through me at the truth shining in his blue eyes.
Mother fucker!
The brothers all look away from me, fuck, even my own blood brother, who was just trying to convince me to meet the woman,winces at my seven-year-old's tactics that will fucking bite him in the ass.
“Come on, Dad!” Caleb whines, and I breathe heavily, glaring at my son, who clearly hasn’t fucking picked up on my anger.
“Brother?” Tank questions as I snap.
“Caleb Scott Lee!” I growl, my voice sharp and my son's eyes widen as he takes a step back, not used to my tone, “I have told you several times, it was a no for you to invite them over. What on earth were you thinking?!”
He’s fucking done for, he’s grounded, and Lyra will not be allowed around for fucking weeks, even if I care for the sweet girl.
Caleb has over fucking stepped!
Caleb, despite the tears in his eyes, lifts his chin and replies, “I was thinking I wanted my friend around for dinner with my teacher, who you haven’t even bothered to meet! So get off that chair and come on! They will be here at five!” before turning on his heels and storming out of church as my eyes go to the clock and I see it’s ten to five already, meaning he waited until I couldn’t say no.
Grounded, he is fucking grounded!
“Alex?” Ace says lowly, and I vibrate, my anger fucking consuming me.
“The gavel, Doc!” I demand, not one to disrespect my Pres, my friend, by storming out after my son and the brothers all wince.
Doc clears his throat and says, “Church tomorrow afternoon to finish going over the business finances, church dismissed,” and bangs the gavel.
I don’t wait around, I stand, not giving a shit if my chair falls and storm after my son.
Mama looks down as soon as I enter the common room, obviously knowing what my son planned, while Dad calls, “Son…” but I just shake my head at him.
“Alex, she was very reluctant, please don’t take your son's actions out on her,” he tries as I get to the door, and I growl, “She’s the fucking adult here, just like you!”
What kind of woman accepts a child’s fucking invitation? A patch chaser, that’s who.
Dad winces, and I storm out of the clubhouse just as a car drives through the gates, and I growl, knowing I’m too fucking late to get the prospect to tell the woman to turn around.
“She’s here, Dad, look!” Caleb cheers like he isn’t in deep shit, and I swear to fuck.
The shit box that was in my garage not long ago, that has another rattle that wasn’t there before pulls up and Lyra shouts, “Hi Mr. Dirty,” from the back seat and I give the cute girl a tight smile as she climbs out of the back seat with the help of my son while the driver’s side door opens but I don’t look that way, instead I keep my eyes focused on the kids celebrating.
Grounded, grounded, grounded, I chant in my head as Caleb says, “Ms. Robins!”
The teacher giggles, which goes straight to my fucking cock, making me tense, before her sweet, soft voice echoes, “Hi Caleb.”
“Are you ready for some of Dad's chili?” Caleb asks excitedly just as Lyra rushes over to me like she always does when she sees me and I kneel before her and she wraps her arms around my neck, making me soften for the first time since Caleb barged into the church.
I can feel eyes behind me, eyes that I know are my dad's, but I ignore him as the woman gasps, most likely confused by her daughters reaction to me. I ignore her until she clears her throat and says, “Actually, Caleb, I was just dropping Lyra off. I thought I could come pick her up in a few hours.”
I look at her sharply and with confusion as Caleb pouts before I lock eyes with icy blue ones just like Lyras and I…fuck no.
My heart skips a beat as a spark rushes between us, and Ms. Robins's mouth parts slightly as her eyes race between me, feeling this instant connection as well.
