Secret Daddy - J.R. Gray Page 0,37

since he’d made me be nice. Fair was fair.

He gestured at me. “Go ahead.”

“Really?” I asked.

“Of course.” He started to get out of the booth.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“I didn’t say I was going to stick around and listen to any of it,” he whispered and strolled towards the bar.

“That rat bastard,” I muttered.

Jensen leaned against the bar like the sexy asshole he was, chatting easily with my brother. A warm glow started to fill my chest. I was lucky. I couldn’t believe he liked me, pursued me. Wanted me. It didn’t change any of my behavior. I was going to continue to be myself, but it all solidified in my brain. I wanted to do this with him.

I pushed out of the bench and swaggered over to stand next to Jensen.

“Your boyfriend wants to go home,” Adam said in the middle of a conversation without breaking stride. He went right back to something about Pokémon Go. I knew what he was talking about because he’d kidnapped me while in college to hunt Pokémon under the guise I was ‘showing him around,’ only it had been a ruse and I’d ended up with blisters trying to keep up as he jogged after pika-eevee-asaurs. Or something or other. It was nice to bond, but I would have found some more sensible shoes.

“Does he?” Jensen glanced over when Adam stopped, showing him something called a ‘shiny collection.’

“He does.” I stood back, waiting for Jensen to lead me out.

“And?” Jensen asked under his breath.

“Well, now I don’t know what to say other than my balls are bleeding.”

“Welp, that’s enough of this conversation for me.” Adam sauntered off like only a giant bear of a man could.

“There is something wrong with him.”

“He shares your DNA,” Jensen replied, slow sipping his beer like he didn’t have an ass to beat.

“Avery and I are pretty sure he’s the mailman’s baby.”

Jensen blinked at me. “I don’t think we have time to unpack all that.”

I shrugged. “Look at my father and tell me they look at all similar.” Both Avery and I were built like my father. Adam was twice the size and shoulder span.

“Nope, still can’t unpack it all.” He paused with the beer next to his lips not drinking, staring off into space like he was attempting to work something out. “You and Avery talked about Adam when” —he did some mental math— “when you were ten?”

I gritted my teeth and clapped a hand over my mouth. “Shit.”

“Now you have to tell me.”

“Only if you take me home.” I tilted my head to the side and pursed my lips. I was going to hold to it, too. There was no way I was talking about it here where gossip spread like wildfire and everyone was up in everyone else’s business.

I did not need any of that on me with my family Christmas celebration coming up.

Jensen eyed me then chugged his beer, slamming the glass down on the bar top. “See you later, Adam.”

Adam came over to collect the glass. “I see my brother has lured you out with his wild ways.”

“Correct. I’ll settle up next time I’m here.”

He waved Jensen off. “I got ya.”

We had our coats on and were out the door in a minute. I pulled my scarf up around my nose against the bitter wind. The snow had stopped but it was going to be an icy one tonight. Jensen stayed by my side and opened the car for me. I stared at him before slipping in and letting him close it.

“What was that for?” I asked when he got into the driver's side.

He started the car and was in the process of blowing into his hands. “I can’t take care of you?”

“I didn’t say I objected. I just didn’t understand why it happened. It was so—nice.”

“This is your problem, I’ve finally figured it out.”

I glared at him. “What?”

“Why you’re so cynical and mean to me.”

I gasped, playing up the offended. “Excuse me?”

“You have no idea what nice is, so you default to sarcastic.” He was grinning so big I almost let my attitude slip, laughter trying to bubble up my throat.

But I held firm. “And this is what you think of me?”

“Maybe Adam is the milk man’s baby. He got all the chipper.”

I scoffed and crossed my arms over my chest. “I told you.”

Jensen poked me until I looked at him then he leaned over and kissed my shoulder.

“Will you keep your eyes on the road so you don’t kill us