“When?” He wanted to ask Brenden why the sudden change, but kept the question to himself.
“Um… how about this Saturday if that’s okay with you?”
“Yeah, yeah, that will be great,” he answered, then thought about it. “Ah… do you mind meeting us at Stanton Park? Nicholas has a soccer game in the morning.”
“He plays soccer, is he any good?” Brenden asked in surprise.
Stephen chuckled. “When he’s on the field, he’s pretty focused, but when he’s sitting on the sidelines, he and a few of his teammates prefer picking grass and chasing butterflies right now.” Brenden’s deep chuckle resonated deep inside of him.
“I suppose it’s normal for a kid his age,” Brenden commented.
Stephen nodded his head, still not believing that he and Brenden were actually having a decent conversation. “If you want to know more about him, all you have to do is ask me. He’s a pretty great kid.”
“Sounds like it; I can’t wait to meet him.”
They stood there staring at each other a lot longer than they had before and the same heat and intensity from all those years and months ago were still there between them. Stephen wondered if Brenden felt it as well.
“Okay then, I guess I will see you guys there,” Brenden said rubbing his chin.
“Yup,” Stephen whispered just as Brenden walked away.
He stood there a few minutes after Brenden walked away, contemplating what just happened. It wasn’t a big leap for the other man, but it was more than what he was asking for.
** ** ** ** **
Brenden got back to his desk with a smile on his face. He was quite pleased with himself. He’d decided over the weekend that he wanted to get to know his son. He was appreciative that Stephen hadn’t been forcing him and gave him all the time he needed to sort out his thoughts. He’d been at his parents’ home over the weekend, and after seeing the way his mom doted over his nephews, he wondered if she would have done the same with Nicholas. He hadn’t mentioned that he was a father to his parents as of yet.
They would have smacked him good upside his head if they knew the way he’d been acting. It hit closer to home when they had an impromptu family dinner when his avo, Amalia, and nonna, Gemma, kept pestering him about finding someone to love and giving them more great grandkids. He almost blurted out that he had a kid, but knew the questions that would follow. And they were questions he would not be able to answer, since he hadn’t met his own kid yet.
He had a big blended family of Italian and Portuguese who were loud and had no problems expressing themselves. Seeing his nieces and nephews made him wonder what kind of father he would be to his own. It also did not help that his mother and sisters picked up that something was bothering him. He evaded their probing questions, but they were relentless.
Brenden chuckled, thinking that the next time he had an unsub that refused to talk, he was going to call his mother and sisters to let them interrogate them. They could make a grown man cry. He loved his family to death. They were loving and caring which were their good qualities. But they were just as bossy and pushy as the Hamiltons. The only differences were the Hamiltons gave their family members the personal space to work out the issue, and his family had a habit of jumping in, no matter what.
“Hey, Smith.” Brenden looked over at the entrance of his office to see who called his name and regretted it instantly.
“What do you want, Baker?” Brenden did not take the distaste out of his tone. Roland Baker was a good agent, but an asshole who thought his shit didn’t stink. He hated Jaxson and especially Brenden because he’d gotten a promotion over Baker, making him the third highest ranking agent in the office.
“You know Young, right?” Baker asked, coming into his office and sitting in one of the chairs, crossing his leg over the other. Brenden did not respond, and Baker didn’t seem to be waiting for an answer. “Do you know if he’s dating anyone?”
“Why are you asking me?”
“You used to work with him, and I saw you guys talking not too long ago, plus I think he’s hot as fuck.”
Brenden felt that vein in the middle of his forehead start to pulsate. “Look, if you want to know anything about Young, why don’t you ask him your damn self.”
“I would, but he gives everyone the cold shoulder, I see why they call him the ‘Ice Prince of Chicago.’ The man is brutal on an ego.”
Brenden held back a chuckle, he had no idea that one of Stephen’s many nicknames would transfer over from Chicago to Providence. The only person that was able to crack the Ice Prince was him. He didn’t know if he should be happy about that or not. “Well, I can’t help you.”
“Come on, man, I really want to go out with him. I mean, look at him. He’s got those beautiful eyes, that sweet-as-sin body, and he’s smart. I heard what he did the other day—”
“Baker!” Brenden snapped, instantly shutting the other agent up.
“Did you and he ever, you know?” Baker asked wiggling his eyebrows. And it pissed Brenden off. He was never one to kiss and tell for shits and giggles, and he wasn’t about to start now. Talking to the fucker about Stephen was pissing him the hell off.
“Get the hell out of my office,” Brenden growled, surprising Baker. He stood, grabbing the man by the arm, pulling him out of the chair he was sitting in and dragged him to the door and opened it.
“I take that as a yes,” Baker gloated. “How was he?”
“I don’t give a fuck how you take it!” he snapped. “And you’re way out of fucking line,” Brenden told him, squeezing the other man’s arm, but he didn’t seem to notice or care. “That is a fellow agent, and you will not disrespect him in front of me or anyone else.” His tone was low but loud enough for Baker to hear him, and strong enough to cut the hardest steel.
“You don’t…”
“I don’t what?” Brenden asked.
The other agent opened his mouth to say something, but the expression on Brenden’s face told him to keep his mouth shut before he said something to get a right cross to the face. “Get the hell out of my office.” He literally threw the man out of his office, slamming the door in his face for good measure. He was about to turn back to his desk but stood and looked out to the bullpen watching Stephen the same way he’d done for the past couple of weeks. His easy-going attitude, the way he got along with just about everyone. Brenden had no idea why he was called the Ice Prince, when his bright smile and the sound of his laughter could melt the coldest heart.
Shit, I’m still not over him yet, and I doubt I will ever be.
** ** ** ** **
