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Phoenix stiffened, his jaw clenching.
I pressed my hand against his arm. “Do you have any suggestions of anyone else?” I asked for him.
“I started putting together a list. Please don’t get me wrong. I love that little boy, but one day he’s going to do something that we’ll both regret. My son is begging me to be careful.”
I could tell just how much that bothered him. He looked away, his chest rising and falling. “Can I ramp it down? He can’t handle losing anyone else. He just can’t.”
“I understand completely. I’m not telling you that I’m walking away. I wouldn’t do that to you, but I wanted to let you know to start looking for other options.” Betty folded her arms, her tension evident.
He nodded then grabbed Justin’s suitcase. “I appreciate you giving me some time.”
“Of course. Wren, it was lovely to meet you.”
“You as well.”
“Bye, Justin,” Betty called but the little boy wasn’t paying any attention. She backed away, giving me another nod then retreated behind her front door.
At least Phoenix waited until she’d closed to door to explode. “Goddamn it!”
“Lower your voice. Justin doesn’t need to hear you.”
He acted as if he was going to say something else then took a deep breath. “I don’t have anyone else. No school will take him. I went through three different people until the therapist recommended Betty. She’s had experience before, a full-time teacher of troubled kids before she retired from the school system. And he’s too much for her. What the hell am I supposed to do?”
“You’ll figure it out. My only advice is to remind you that he’s the only family you have.”
“Not true. I’ve been thinking about letting his grandparents raise him. They’d good people, a little religious for my tastes, but maybe that will help him.” The anguished look on his face was heartbreaking.
“You’re his father. You’re who he needs, Phoenix. No one will be able to replace that. No one. I understand you’re a busy man, but you need to ask yourself what’s more important to you.”
As he shook his head, I watched so many emotions cross his face that I wanted nothing more than to reach out to him. It saddened me that he wasn’t that kind of man who would let me in. If only he would share with me what had happened in his life, the horrors he’d been through. I wasn’t certain I could help, but he needed to talk to someone.
“I appreciate your advice, Wren. I really do, but you’re in way over your head with this.”
“Understood.” As with everything else in his life, he was shutting me out. At least this time was for good reason. I had no business trying to offer advice of any kind. What did I know about parenting? My role models belonged onMillionaire Housewifeand theMost Wanted Files, respectively.
At least the thought of my father behind bars gave me a chuckle. How many people had he swindled in order to get where he had?What a terrible thing to say about your father.
I shushed my inner voice. It was all true, the old boys club I’d known existed protecting him. Sighing, I walked toward Justin, leaning against the truck.
Then I was shocked when Phoenix crushed me against the hard metal, planting his hands on either side of me.
“That was the arrogant prick talking,” he said as he lowered his head, the look in his eyes carnal.
“Careful, big boy. You might just be getting close to an apology.”
He took a deep breath and his scent wafted through me like a wildfire. I lifted my head until our lips were dangerously close, crumpling my hand around his shirt.
“I am sorry for being such a shit. I’ve never known anyone to take the time to care the way you do,” he said softly.
“Be careful, cowboy. I might just fall in love with you.”
I hadn’t intended on saying the words. They slipped out of my mouth naturally, but when they did, an immediate awkwardness settled between us. The second he dropped his head by another two inches, I pushed his chest, skirting around him, more uncomfortable than I’d felt before.
He remained where he was for a few seconds then headed around the front of the truck. “We should get home. I need to make a few phone calls.”
“Don’t forget, new puppy owner. We need to make a pitstop for puppy food, bowls, a bed, and all kinds of toys.”
When he tipped his head, lifting a single eyebrow, all I could do was laugh.
