Page 55 of Coming Home

“Perfect. If you ladies will excuse us, I’m going to let you catch up while Ben and I talk.”

I nodded, but I wasn’t happy about being left out of the conversation.

Ben

Chapter 18

I closed the bedroom behind me as Patrick took a seat on the little couch in the corner and I grabbed the desk chair and rolled it over to sit across from him.

“You haven’t really talked about any of this with Shelby yet, have you?” he asked.

I shrugged. “A little. She knows I’m looking into my options.”

Patrick shook his head. “Let me give you a little advice, don’t exclude her while you try to figure it all out on your own. If she’s your mate, Ben, then the decisions you make going forward directly impact her, too. You’re two parts of a whole. I can’t have one of you and not the other. Which is why I prefer single guys if I’m being honest. I’m only here as a favor to the Collier family. If you were mating any other person, I would have passed you over quickly.”

“With all due respect, Patrick, who I mate has no bearing on my ability to fill the position you’re looking to hire,” I said, feeling on edge and defensive.

“I noticed you haven’t marked her yet. May I ask why?”

“Because with everything going on, we’re both adjusting and I don’t want to rush it and deal with the frenzy of bonding I’ve heard about while dealing with watching my brothers, and having my parents stuck in the hospital. It’s not really any of your business, but I assure you, Shelby is mine, marked or not. She always has been. I was just too stupid to realize it.”

He nodded. “Elizabeth filled me in a little on your history with Shelby. Are you going to want some downtime with her, once you’re out? Maybe start a family or something?”

I cringed and shut my eyes not wanting to face that reality.

“I hit a sore sport. You’ll learn quickly that I have no personal boundaries with my guys. I need to know everything and anything that could comprise a mission.”

“Lucky for me, I’m not one of you guys,” I reminded him.

“You don’t want kids?” Patrick guessed.

I glared at him. “Of course I want kids, and a family with Shelby, but that’s not in the cards for us,” I growled, not meaning to let that information escape, but at the same time needing someone to know.

Patrick sighed and nodded. “Tell me,” he said and there was something about this man that made me want to, so I did.

“I just found that I’d gotten Shelby pregnant prom night our senior year. She hid her pregnancy, then lost the baby in an accident.”

“I’m so sorry, man. I can’t imagine how much that’s tearing you up. But you guys still have a lifetime ahead of you. You can have other children,” he said.

I shook my head sadly. “Actually we can’t. Doc had to do an emergency hysterectomy to save Shelby’s life, so you see, we literally can’t have children.”

“Shit! I’m so sorry. Is that why you haven’t claimed her?”

“What? No!”

“Does she know that? Sorry, I feel like I’m overstepping even for me, but the look on your girl’s face out there didn’t look like someone confident in your future.”

I thought about that seriously. I had been trying to handle things on my own. Hadn’t I told her I would be here for her this time?Why would she believe you after the way you left her the last time, idiot?a little voice in the back of my head reminded me.

“Shit!” I sighed. “Would you be opposed to having the ladies join us for this conversation? The actual job talk, not this,” I said.

He smiled and nodded. “Yeah, sure. I have no secrets from my mate. She’ll likely feign boredom, but if we’re going to seriously discuss you working with me, then you’re going to have to open up about what you’re really doing in the army. Are you okay with Shelby knowing that?”

I cringed, knowing I definitely hadn’t shared those details with her, but I nodded.

“I think I have to,” I told him honestly.

“Now that’s the right fecking answer as a mate.” Patrick grinned, and stood up to walk to the door. He opened it. “Ladies, would you mind joining us for this?”

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