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It takes me all of a minute to fix a scotch neat, and I cross over his foyer, entering his fancy living room, I’d guess gets very little use. I set it down with a coaster, purposely sitting across from him.
I don’t have to coax him. “I’ve allowed my guilt of letting Katherine down play into the amount of time her dad spends with Jett. Hell, I could hand him the moon, and he’ll never forgive me for letting his daughter go. She knew I had needs she couldn’t meet. She let me go. I loved her, but she knew me better than I knew myself. And I allowed her to end our marriage, because I needed both a man and a woman. After she died, Jett spent more time with his grandpa, partially because they were both hurting. And honestly, he was the connection Jett needed to his mother. But no matter how much I gave, I could never earn his forgiveness. I’ve told Alan it was time to get back to a normal schedule. After all, he isn’t the parent. He should enjoy being a grandparent and not worry about the day-to-day needs of his grandson.”
He stops to take a sip of his drink.
“Sounds reasonable,” I agree.
“Yeah, well, through it, Jett got it in his little mind that I didn’t want him with me, and he heard his grandad on the phone with someone, about how I won’t let Jett near him anymore. It broke him, thinking I was taking his grandpa away. He was so confused, not knowing right from wrong. I shielded him from my strong opinions when it comes to Katherine’s dad because at the end of the day, he needs that relationship for balance, to know more about his mum, but what I did, giving in to Alan, hurt my son, and I’d never willingly…”
Stone stops while tears flow down his face, and it’s time to move near him. The strong Dom of a man collapses in my arms. “You were doing what you thought was right at the time. Don’t ever doubt your commitment to your boy. I see it all over his face, and yours.”
He lays his head in my lap and stays like this as my fingers massage his head. He falls asleep and because he’s too tempting, I grab a blanket from behind me, placing it over the man, now snoring. I take one last peek at him before I open the door, locking it behind me. He’s one beautiful, tempting man.
* * *
The car lineshould be banned. Everyone should ride the bus. I understand this isn’t reasonable, but I’m running on less than four hours of sleep, and thoughts of both Charis and Stone are rattling through in my mind. The car line is even more hateful than most other days.
Anita sidles up next to me. “There’s the sexy doctor. Are you sure he’s seeing someone? Man, and why is it he’s even sexier knowing he’s a single dad?”
On most days, Anita is a fun person, always a joke on the tip of her tongue, and although my eyes are only for Charis when it comes to the female anatomy, I certainly realize Anita’s an attractive woman. But there’s so much more to the story when it comes to Stone. I’m not ready to admit, but I also don’t want to see him with anyone but Charis and myself.
“Yeah, a nurse, who he’s been pining for a while. Sorry.” My gaze catches sight of Stone when he turns from the main doors, and he has me in his sight.
“Why is he coming over this way?” Anita asks.
I let out a little chuckle. “Um, I don’t know, maybe because I teach his son and he has a question for me.”
She starts toward the part of the line she’s responsible for, giving me a second alone with Stone.
“Hey, Teach,” he jests, and here is part of the façade that covers his vulnerability. But I know it exists. “I had no idea you left last night, but thanks for the listening ear.”
I give him the universal sign with my index finger asking to give me a second as I open the door for a student and walk back over to him. “Anytime. And I mean that.”
“Um, I think there’s more we should talk about. Do you have a couple of hours to hang out while Jett is at football practice, the real football you kick with your foot, on Saturday morning?”
Another car pulls up, one without automatic doors, and I give him the same sign. Who needs cardio when you have car duty. As I make it back close to him, I really don’t know how to answer. “Can you let me think on that? I’m not blowing you off, it’s just…”
“Yeah, you know how to get ahold of me, Teach. Hope it’s the answer I want.”
No pressure there. But as he walks away, I can’t help but picture Charis, plus him and me together, simply watching a television show. It’s more than I have the nerve to hope for.
