Page 184 of His Boys to Protect

“Ward, I mean it,” Skylar insisted. “I won't live off of you. Iwon't.” He paused, his cheeks turning red. “I have no idea how I'm going to get a job, but I will get one. I promise. And I am going to help with rent.”

Charlie looked from Ward to Skylar and back, trying to figure out if something was wrong.

Ward took a deep breath. “Okay,” he agreed, then held up a hand before Skylar could say anything. “On one condition.”

Skylar visibly tensed. “What's that?”

Ward grabbed him by the shoulders. “Don't settle for just anything. You've spent enough time in a job that made you miserable. You deserve to do something that gives you some sense of fulfillment. I don't want you simply taking a job for the sake of an income. Promise me you'll try to get something you might enjoy. Or at least not hate. You've earned that much.”

Skylar opened his mouth, looking like he was going to argue, then let out a sigh instead. “Okay.”

“Good boy. And I'll help as much or as little as you want, trying to find something. Deal?”

“Deal.”

Charlie shrank back.

Ward looked at him. “Charlie? What's wrong?”

I need job?he asked.

“No,” Ward assured him. “No, not at all.”

But help rent?

“You could keep house,” Skylar suggested. “You like doing that anyway. Keep things clean and tidy, just the way you want them. Daddy and I can work and pay the bills.”

Ward's face broke into a beaming smile.

“What?” Skylar asked.

“Just hearing you call meDaddy. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed that, even after only a few days.”

Skylar grinned shyly.

“Does that sound okay, little mouse?” Ward asked. “Would you be comfortable here by yourself during the day while Sky and I are at work?”

Charlie nodded. He would! It was nice and quiet. And he could keep house, just like he'd imagined himself. Everything would always be clean. And things would go in their proper places. And he could read his books, once he figured out where to put them. Or play on his laptop, once he decided where that was going to go.

He gasped.I get Mouse Mouse?he asked.

Ward grinned at him. “Of course. Whatever you want.”

Charlie bounced with excitement.We move now?

Ward laughed. “Not right this minute. I need to give notice at my apartment, and then move the furniture over. Then go get your things and move them down.”

Charlie huffed. That sounded like a lot. He wanted to move now!

“Although, John said if I can get a deposit to him by Monday, we could start moving in this weekend.” Ward paused and looked at Skylar. “I still have all the money you left me. We could use that.”

Skylar opened his mouth, looking like he was going to argue, then stopped himself.

“It's either that,” Ward went on, “or I'm going to make you take it all back. It is yours, after all.”

Skylar squirmed. “Ward…”

“Think of it as contributing to our household.”

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