Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 118592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 593(@200wpm)___ 474(@250wpm)___ 395(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118592 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 593(@200wpm)___ 474(@250wpm)___ 395(@300wpm)
In an hour I’d make sure he understood the score. I’d thrown out the rules this one time, but I wouldn’t let it happen again.
I couldn’t.
* * *
“You sure you can’t stick around for dinner?”
I shook my head and tried to keep my focus on Ronan even as I wondered if Brennan had left yet or if he was even going to show up at the motel at all. I hadn’t seen him after I’d left the bathroom and made my way back outside to give my congratulations to the grooms, and part of me wondered if he’d chickened out and just taken off.
“No, I need to head back,” I said as I shook Ronan’s proffered hand. I’d never seen the man look as alive and happy as he did in this very moment. While his eyes were on me, I didn’t miss the way they shifted every few seconds to search out his husband. A smiling Seth seemed to be in a deep conversation with little Matty near the open tent that sheltered a handful of tables and chairs where the majority of the guests were converging.
“Congratulations, Ronan,” I murmured as I watched the widening smile that spread across Seth’s mouth as Matty talked excitedly to him. I had no idea what the little boy was saying, but whatever it was, he had Seth’s complete attention. “You’re a lucky man,” I added before I turned my attention back to my boss.
I was surprised to find his eyes on me instead of Seth and I flinched when I saw the flash of pity in them. Ronan was the only one who knew the details of my past and while he’d always been sympathetic, he’d never looked at me like he was now…like instead of just being sorry that things had turned out the way they had, he was now feeling sorry for me.
“That I am,” Ronan finally said and even after he pulled his eyes from me, I still felt uncomfortable. I glanced over to see Seth had his eyes on Ronan even as Matty continued to speak and the look that passed between the two men cleaved apart what remained of my heart. I’d had that once…that ability to share a look with someone and know what he was thinking. To have him know what I was thinking.
Or so I’d thought.
I’d been wrong.
Terribly wrong.
I watched as Seth picked Matty up and began walking towards Ronan. Hawke and Tate were right behind him, their hands joined. I’d only worked with Hawke once, but the guy I saw now was nothing like the one I’d once helped to take out two bastards who liked kidnapping little girls and selling them online to the highest bidder. Like Ronan, Hawke was lighter…freer. I didn’t want to envy either man, but I did.
As Seth neared him, Ronan put out his arm and Seth happily walked into his embrace. They shared a quick kiss before Seth nodded at me. “We’re glad you made it, Memphis.”
I gave him a noncommittal nod and prepared to take my leave when Matty said, “Are you a superhero like Papa?”
I cast a glance at Hawke and Tate and saw that the man I’d once watched gut a man with a knife, actually appeared to be blushing. “Your Papa’s a superhero?” I asked.
Matty nodded vigorously.
“Matty-” Tate began to say, but I cut him off.
“Not everyone gets to be the good guy,” I said to the kid. I gave Ronan a quick nod as I prepared to leave, ignoring his look of confusion.
“You could try.”
I stopped when I heard Matty’s voice pipe up and I turned to look at him. “Papa says everyone should get a second…second…”
The little boy seemed flustered for a moment and then he looked at Hawke. “Chance,” Hawke supplied and he reached out with his free hand to pat Matty’s leg.
I actually felt my stomach knot up when the little boy turned his attention back on me. “Second chance. It’s a do-over. Papa says he got a second chance to be with me and Daddy forever. Maybe you could have one too.”
The child’s innocent expression bothered me.
A lot.
I felt frozen in time as I watched Seth give Matty just enough of a shake to get his attention. “Was there something you wanted to tell Ronan?”
Even once the kid’s eyes were off me, I couldn’t move and I felt myself entranced as Matty smiled. I’d seen that same look of pure innocence on more occasions than I could count and just seeing it took me back to another time. Another place.
“Oh yeah, Papa and Daddy said it was a secret so it wouldn’t steal your…” Matty glanced at Seth and Seth quickly lifted his mouth to whisper in his ear. “Yeah, thunder…Papa and Daddy didn’t want to steal your thunder, but Seth says I can tell you the secret.”