I shook my head. “What was the point? I didn’t want to rock the boat. What would it prove? But it’s different with Axel. I know they’ve been lying to me my entire life, and I hope to God they have a good reason.”
Thomas shifted on the bench. “I know you don’t want to involve your family, but it makes the most sense. We need to start with your father.”
I released a heavy sigh,because I knewhe was right. My gut told meDavisKennerlyknew what was going on. I just didn’t want to destroy the illusion about him. “I know.”
“I’ll go with you,” he said, squeezing my shoulder.“I’ll be right by your side the entire way.”
I stared at him as my heart thumped a rhythm I wished he could hear. “I know, Thomas. You’re the best.”
When we got back to his house, he made me breakfast as promised while I bookedourtickets to New York to talk to my dad in person.
Chapter 7
Thomas
After breakfast, we sat at my bar, talking about football and Storm Management. I was worried I might have fucked up after the wedding. When he told me he was bisexual, my heart skipped a beat. It was clear I couldn’t be completely straight since I had feelings for him, and it threw me for a moment. Not the bisexual thing, but the idea that Mason could want me. I could see it in his eyes, and if I’d had my head on straight, I might have acknowledged my feelings. But I didn’t, and I hurt him. When he walked away from me last night, I knew it was time to sort myself out. The thought of having someone after convincing myself I would never do that again was startling. I hadn’t realized how lonely I was. “I heard through the grapevine that the bachelor auction was scheduled for the fall.”
Mason groaned. “Oh god, I was really hoping they’d postponed that again.”
Chuckling, I elbowed him. “Sounds like there’s a story there. Spill the beans, Champ.”
Turning on his stool, he sighed as his knee brushed against the side of my leg. The sensation was like a red-hot poker to my libido. His coarse leg hair rasped along mine, making me wonderhow his beard might feel against my lips. My face must have given me away.
“Are you okay?” he asked, placing his hand on my thigh. He didn’t think about it. Didn’t hesitate to touch me. He was concerned because I had stopped talking.
Looking down at his hand, I nodded. “Yeah. Sorry. Tell me the story.”
Mason followed my eyes, then pulled his hand away. Clearing his throat, he turned away. “After the Super Bowl, PR asked us for suggestions about things we’d like to participate in for charity. You know, to capitalize on our spotlight to help our community. Lennox said we do a bachelor auction. He and Evan agreed to do it because they like that kind of thing. Now both of them have removed themselves from the list, for obvious reasons, and left the rest of us to deal with it. Carson and Colin aren’t participating, again, for obvious reasons.”
I bit back a smile. “But you’re on the auction block?”
He huffed. “Unfortunately.” I watched as his eyes went wide and a smile crossed his face. “But there might be a way out of it.”
“How? And why can’t they do it? Hudson would bid on Evan, and I’m guessing the Lieutenant would do the same for Lennox.”
“That’s what I said, but Laura says that defeats the purpose of getting out into the community. I call bull crap because money is money. But that’s where you come in.” He turned to me again, this time careful not to touch me. And I hated it. “You could bid on me. I would reimburse you 100%, because I’ll do anything to keep myself out of the clutches of another octopus.”
I laughed. “Level two?”
He smiled. “Maybe even a three.”
I tipped my head back and laughed. My old Mason was back. “Sounds like fun. And we wouldn’t want you to end up in the clutches of an unsavory character.”
Mason snorted. “Not likely, but yeah. That’s my luck.”
I would buy him in a heartbeat, whether he asked or not, just to see him smile and look at me like I was his favorite person in the world. But that would be selfish of me if he were actively seeking a partner. The thought made me ill. “Don’t you want to find someone and settle down? You’re a handsome guy. The right person might be out there waiting for you. You’ll never know until you try.” God, those words were like acid coming out of my mouth.
He looked away and down at the table. He pushed the last bits of his breakfast around on his plate. “Are you looking for that?”
Yes, maybe with you.But I couldn’t say that right now. “Not at the moment. I’ve already done that years ago.”
Mason looked at me with sad eyes. “But you said you wanted kids one day.”
“I did at one time, but I’ve become a serial workaholic. I was with Hudson for eight years, traveling and going wherever he and the kids went. Especially after Mrs. Gatlin passed. It was better for Jack and Erin to have the same people. It gave him peace of mind so he could concentrate on being the governor.”
Mason’s brows furrowed. “You gave up your life for someone else. But what about what you want?”
I sighed. “I’m not sure what I want anymore.” Picking up my coffee, I took another sip, then set the cup down.
