Page 90 of Taming the Boss

“I appreciate that. I had no idea any of this was a possibility until my mother’s Christmas party more than three years ago, when I saw photos of your twins and realized she had another family. I did some checking and also hired a PI. Evidently, Oliver and I have some similarities.” I laughed drily. “But I just thought they were half brothers, despite the notable resemblance. He laid the truth of it on me last night after Sage saw me and demanded to know who I was.”

James chuckled. “Sounds like our Sage.”

“I didn’t bother to ask my mother after I saw the early family photos when I first saw Oliver and Seth. We haven’t ever had a good relationship. My sister is closer to her than I am, but that’s not saying much.”

“Are you going to tell her about…this?”

“Yes, regarding Sydney. I want her to know about her brothers too. She may want to meet you, as well. I can’t say.”

“I’d be fine with meeting her. All of my boys have suffered because of this regrettable situation. I will help in any way I can. If there’s anything that would make this situation easier for you and…Owen, is it?”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “Yes, Owen.”

“Anything that will make it easier, just let me know.” He stood again and extended his hand, his voice thick. “Anything you need, son.”

I rose and rounded the desk to give him a hard hug. He returned the hug even harder, clapping my back. When he moved back, his eyes were as wet as my own.

“I made my mistakes and I’m owning them. But like I said, I feel damn lucky. Not every day you get more family, and at my age, I value it more than I would’ve been smart enough to when I was a man your age. You have so much, Jude, both with Owen and with Madison. And in time, if you’re fortunate like I am, maybe you’ll have even more.” He included Maddie in his warm smile. “Family is the best thing there is, however you find it or make it.”

Chapter 24

I didn’t know how Jude would react to suddenly having more family, but he did so much better than I’d ever expected. Actually, so did Owen.

Both of them quickly adapted to family outings—dinners with the Hamiltons, cousins’ playdates with Seth’s and Oliver’s kids, and then, eventually, I started adding my own family to the mix. I started by inviting Reagan over for a sleepover, and she and Jude actually seemed to find a lot to talk about, even if Asher Wainwright’s New York set crime-themed podcast seemed to be a frequent topic once Owen was in bed.

I’d even started listening to it too so I had some idea what they were talking about, though I never liked when Asher discussed some of the more grisly crimes, unlike the two of them.

The next ones to join us were Honey and Christian after they opted to skip the medium-sized wedding they’d been planning and eloped in a small church upstate. Eloped like Oliver and Sage, minus the Elvis impersonator to marry them. Their wedding was actually in a rustic church deep in the woods some distance from here, which I’d found interesting since neither of them were practicing members of any religion.

But hey, whatever made them happy, right?

I didn’t think eloping was a bad thing on a number of scores, especially considering our large family. Jude had pumped my brother on information for eloping although my brother had very sternly informed him that when and if my day came with him, I wanted an actual wedding.

Had I told my brother that? No. Had I ever even mentioned a wedding at any point to any of the members of my family? No freaking way. But somehow Christian claimed to know my secret wishes.

I didn’t even know my secret wishes, but supposedly, he did.

At least Fergus had settled in quite nicely into his new home after the holiday. He definitely liked seeing my family members when they came over for dinners and such, but he was enjoying all the attention he got from Owen. Even Jude had turned out to be a cat lover, which was also a plus.

One thing I knew as the summer wore on was that I was gaining weight at a rapid clip that didn’t match what I was eating. Oh, I was eating more for sure, and I spent a truly noteworthy amount of time baking treats for us.

For Jude and Owen, for sure, but as July bled into August, I was the one consuming most of them, encouraged by Jude. He’d started plying me with protein too, since he’d finally bought a grill and now he was proudly calling himself the grill-master. Claimed if he ever stopped snapping up local real estate with Xavier and Gavin that he could have his own grilling show on the local cable access television channel.

To which I smiled and nodded, thinking of the many burned burgers and dogs I’d choked down until he’d found his rhythm.

In late August, we had a big dinner for both the available members of my family and his father and his girlfriend, Cookie, with the towering pink hair. This was the first time his father had been at a family dinner, though he and Jude had spent some time getting to know each other at dinners with his brothers—one of which I’d missed because of a stomach bug that was now occurring daily.

I couldn’t claim to be surprised, because after the first time we’d had sex with no protection, Jude had then made it his mission in life to fuck me bare at every possible opportunity. He’d claimed we could use condoms whenever I wanted, but by then, I’d understood what he wanted, and I didn’t really have a problem with it myself.

I was young, yes, and I’d never anticipated any of this, but my own mother had given birth the first time at twenty-two. She’d gone on to have four more children afterward. Her and my dad were still happily married.

By this point, people in town were used to the idea of Jude and I together, and Mrs. Gunderson, town busybody, had even pushed baby clothes my way last week while we were shopping at Ladybug Treasures. That was the combo store for clothes and housewares from Kinleigh’s Attic and her husband August’s handcrafted furniture, mostly of the baby variety. I’d flailed and laughed but Jude had taken the onesie she’d flung at me and asked her who she was shopping for.

Turned out she had a new grandbaby on the way. Number 3, no less.

Jude had almost entirely lost his early grumpiness and general lack of manners and was now a true ambassador of small-town life.

Wonders never ceased.

---