Her Marine Next Door - Aliyah Burke Page 0,31

in his hands. “Are we interrupting you and a guest?”

Truth or lie? Nope, he couldn’t lie to them, not about Cullen.

His father’s eyebrow rose, just as it had when he was young and set to get a dressing down from a marine captain. As he had then, he hated disappointing them.

“There’s someone here with me and please, keep the comments to yourself. I’ll explain.” They both gave him an odd look. He took a deep breath, and with a jerk of his head went to the sliding glass door. “Cullen.”

The boy froze and slowly turned his head. No denying the suspicion in his blue eyes—as swiftly as he glanced up, he averted his gaze.

Parker’s heart went out to him. How did he do this? He didn’t even have proof this was his son, yet he called, “Come meet your grandparents.”

“’Kay.”

His mother’s shocked gasp wasn’t low enough for him to miss, but Cullen wouldn’t be any the wiser.

Holding Murray by his paw, Cullen dusted off his hands after he got up from the ground and approached.

Parker’s mom pushed by him, pinched the inside of his arm painfully, and intercepted the boy.

She lifted him and kissed his cheek, completely disregarding his discomfort.

“Cullen, I have been looking forward to meeting you since Parker told us he had a son.” She leveled a glare of death in his direction. “You can call me Nana. And he is Pop-pop.”

Parker claimed Cullen, who’d gone stone-still. The boy leaned into him, not making a noise but straining to get away from his new grandparents. His mom had a hurt look, but she had to understand Cullen was shy. More protectiveness rose within him.

Skylar was right. He wasn’t going to be able to let him go. No matter what those results said.

“Looks like we have a lot to talk about.” His father didn’t reach for Cullen, just watched him. That stare was returned by the child in his arms, and Parker was woefully out of his depth.

He’d have to tell them about Skylar, as well. He wasn’t ready to introduce them, because he hadn’t decided whether to tell them the truth—his mom might inadvertently blurt it to Gemma.

“Let’s talk.” His father made it almost sound like he had an option.

Putting Cullen down, he ruffled his hair. “Hang out here for a bit, C-Man. Here’s your water. I’ll be back out soon.”

Those incredible eyes tipped up to his before he nodded and went back to the workbench Parker had gotten for him. Then he went inside with both parents and braced his hands on the kitchen table, able to still see Cullen, glad the dressing-down he was about to endure wouldn’t be overheard.

“How could you?” his mother ranted. “Why wouldn’t you tell us you had a son? He’s got to be at least three years old.” Tears burned her eyes.

“I am still waiting to find out if he’s mine,” he said in a low tone. “His mother showed up and told me he was mine. The results haven’t come back yet.” He squeezed his eyes shut and wished Skylar were there beside him, offering up the silent strength she gave him. “I know it’s a lot, it is for me, but I’m trying to figure all of this out. Job on the line, possibility of a boy I didn’t know about, rehab, and a fiancée.”

His old man blinked. “A fiancée? Something else you didn’t see fit to tell us about?”

Yep, there was that disappointment in their only son.

“I was going to tell you. Just with the arrival of Cullen and all of that, it got pushed back.”

They stared at him. His mother frowned and muttered something under her breath he had no doubt was unflattering, then she shoved past him and stormed outside. He had to give her credit, she sure as hell didn’t take it out on Cullen. The boy got nothing but sweetness and light from her. She wanted grandchildren and would dote on the boy.

His father stared at him, making him feel like shit for how he’d handled this. The old man never had to say a thing. Those damn eyes did it all, just like they had when he’d been growing up.

His mom was back inside with Cullen, fixing him a snack, when the front door opened and in walked Gemma, the familiar scowl and anger in her expression. It never failed she came home in a mood no one should have to put up with.

Her behavior shifted when she realized there were guests, and