AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Home.
Why did I have to wish that it could be our home?
CHAPTER12
Wren
“Peeese, Daddy. Just ten more minutes,” Justin begged for the third time.
I’d almost forcefully taken over getting the plates and glasses in the dishwasher, which had allowed me to watch their interactions. The puppy had made Justin a happy kid, at least for now. I’d seen none of the behavior I’d heard about, although he’d been a bear to try to get to eat. At least Phoenix had made the best cheeseburgers I’d had in a long time.
That had allowed Justin to get ketchup everywhere, including on the puppy’s face since the kid had insisted on feeding him French fries. I’d never seen Phoenix laugh so hard as trying to catch the puppy when he’d snagged the brawny man’s phone.
And Justin had giggled for almost ten full minutes.
As I put away the last item into the refrigerator, I stood against the kitchen island, enjoying every minute of their interactions. They were ones I’d never experienced with my father. He’d acted as if he’d had no time to play with his two girls, although even as a child, I’d suspected that if we’d been boys, he’d have taught us how to ride and shoot, play pool and football. If I knew my father, he’d have taken us to a brothel to get laid the first time.
“Just ten more minutes and I’m serious this time,” Phoenix told him.
Justin gave him the exact same kind of look Phoenix had given me several times. The kid was going to be just like his dad.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Which caused Phoenix to slowly turn his head in my direction, his eyes piercing mine. “You find something funny?” he asked, his tone far too husky for while his kid was still racing around the house with the puppy.
“Absolutely.”
“Careful. Them’s fighting words.”
“I’d like to see you try it.” When he took long strides, crowding my space, I tried to race around him and he grabbed me, yanking me against his chest, cupping my jaw as he took several deep breaths.
“I’m going to do really bad things to you,” he growled lowly into my ear.
“I hope you will.”
“Dad. Is Wrennie your girlfriend?”
The little voice came from only a few inches away and I immediately pressed my hand over my mouth to keep from making a single sound. When I looked down, he had such a serious look on his face I had to bite my tongue.
“Yes, she is,” Phoenix said without missing a beat. “Does that bother you?”
I was shocked when Justin rolled his eyes. “Bout time.”
Then he stomped off and I almost lost it, forced to cling to Phoenix’s arms. “He’s adorable and just like you.”
“Uh-huh. What does that mean?”
“Stubborn. He says what’s on his mind without thinking.”
“Hmmm… Do I do that?”
“Constantly.”
The sound of his phone put a pensive look on his face, and he immediately let me go, grabbing it before the second ring, immediately heading out of the room. It was the second call he’d received since we’d returned; one of them I’d learned had been from the sheriff about the dog we’d found. From what little I’d overheard, I suspected the dog’s owner had been a victim as well.
While I didn’t want to eavesdrop, since he hadn’t told me anything about what was really going on, I was getting antsy. I grabbed my glass of wine, inching closer to the doorway when Justin started to sing at the top of his lungs. I quickly moved to the living room, making certain the little boy noticed I was standing close.
“Justin. Can I ask you a question?”
