“You don’t need to protect him from me,” he said. He saw the way Jaxson stood beside Stephen as if shielding him from Brenden.
“I know that,” Jaxson said. “But, I know how he must feel. He’s got his guard up, and now that I am aware of everything, I see how much he’s trying to stay out of your way and not anger you anymore than he already has. I told you how stupid I was when I found out about Christen. I almost lost the best thing that happened to me, and I don’t want you to do or say something stupid and end up losing Stephen and your son in the process.”
“When the hell did you become so damn insightful?” Brenden mumbled.
Jaxson chuckled and started walking to the black SUV they came in. “Answer a question for me,” Jaxson said, opening the door.
“What?” Brenden grunted.
“What’s the real reason you’re so angry?” he asked, Brenden was about to answer, but Jaxson stopped him. “Before you answer my question, think about it. Are you mad that you have a son together? Or are you mad at yourself because you didn’t fight for him?”
He got in the driver’s seat and shut the door. Brenden reached for the passenger door, opening it and stood there trying to figure out a way to answer Jaxson. He got in and didn’t say a word and scowled when Jaxson chuckled.
“What’s so damn funny?” he asked. “And that was two questions, by the way.”
“You answered my question, anyway,” Jaxson told him.
“But I didn’t say anything.”
“Exactly,” Jaxson told him. “Put your anger aside, man, and get to know your kid before you miss out on the rest of his life. Who knows, maybe then you can figure out how to get his father back into your bed.”
Brenden crossed his arms over his chest and slouched in his seat. “Yeah, the first part I can do, but I don’t see the second part happening anytime soon.” Theor everwas left off, because try as he might, Brenden still wanted Stephen and that pissed him off every time he thought about it.
“Only time will tell, my friend, only time will tell,” Jaxson said to him. He started the truck, and they pulled off into traffic, ending the conversation.
** ** ** ** **
A couple of weeks later, Stephen walked into work and headed for his uncle’s office. He was not watching where he was going when he bumped into someone that almost threw him back on his ass. He was grabbed around his waist. Stephen gasped and placed his hands on the person’s chest. He looked up into familiar green eyes staring down at him. He quickly stepped back, putting some space between them.
“Sorry,” he apologized, stepping to the side.
“It’s okay,” Brenden answered. There wasn’t any anger or snide comments coming from him. Usually, the other man simply grunted whenever he was near. “Your bruises are healing nicely.”
“Ah, yeah,” Stephen said touching the side of his face. His father wasn’t too happy that he came home with bruises, especially in his current condition.
They stood there staring at each other for a few seconds. Neither asking how the other was doing. Stephen had stayed out of the office as much as he could. He filled out his reports handing them in and worked other cases with other teams. Since the Lawrence Redding case, the atmosphere between him and the other agents changed. He’d just gotten back from New York, where he worked with another team. He was heading to his uncle’s office to hand in his report when he’d bumped into Brenden. As promised he did not pressure Brenden when it came to Nicholas. They also hadn’t spoken a word to each other unless it was regarding work. There was another reason he was also staying away, it was not only for Brenden’s sake but for his.
“See ya,” he said, heading toward his uncle’s office.
“Wait!” Brenden grabbed on to his arm as he tried to slip by the other man. Stephen stopped, looking at him. “How is he doing?”
Stephen was confused, and it must have shown on his face. “Who?”
“Nicholas, I mean, Nick, how is he doing with um… the…?” Brenden stopped talking and just stared at Stephen.
“He’s fine,” Stephen answered with a shrug of his shoulders.
“Who watches him when you’re out of town?” Brenden asked.
“Um… my dad, he lives with us,” he answered.
“Oh,” he said and looked away. Stephen thought the conversation was over and turned to walk away, but stopped when he heard Brenden’s next sentence.
“I want to meet him.”
“What?” Stephen asked in shock.
“Nicholas, I want to meet him.”
