Page 99 of His Stepdad Wears Leather

“And Lex is there, keeping an eye on things,” Noah said.

Brody smiled. “He is.”

“Sounds like you’ve got all the help in the world,” Noah replied.

“How’d you get this smart at eighteen?” Brody asked as he crossed the gap between them.

“How’d you get this blind at… forty?”

Brody put a hand to his heart, feigning a wound. “Thirty-nine, thank you.”

Noah placed a hand over Brody’s. “I think you should open this place, if it’s truly your dream. Then I’d have somewhere to work until I turned twenty-one.”

Brody drew Noah closer. “So now the truth comes out. You just want a job.”

“I do,” Noah said, settling into Brody’s embrace. “And I want to be close to my daddy, too.”

“Oh, you do, do you?” Brody asked. “I like the idea, but is that what you want to do with your life? Live with me and work in my restaurant?”

“Maybe one day I’ll be the one running your restaurant,” Noah replied, lifting his chin defiantly.

“Oh? You think so?”

“Mom popped the news that I can get free tuition at her university. We spent the morning reading over their courses and classes. I’m planning to take that opportunity and start in the fall.”

“Yeah, she said something about that for Parker. I’d almost forgotten.” Brody caressed his boy’s cheek. “I think that’s averygood plan.”

“Nothing really screamed at me when I scanned the degrees—but who knows—maybe I eventually get my degree in business so I can help my daddy with his dream.”

Brody sighed. “You should live your own dream, Noah. Not mine.”

Noah spread his palms over Brody’s chest. “Who says those two things are mutually exclusive? I’m young. I don’t know what my dream is yet. But I’ve got time to figure that out.”

“Yes, you do,” Brody replied.

“One day at a time?” Noah asked him.

Brody nodded before pressing his forehead to Noah’s. “Sounds wonderful.”

“Daddy?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“Take me upstairs.”

“I thought you’d never ask,” Brody murmured.

* * *

Brody nearly dragged Noah up the stairs to his apartment. He whipped open the door, pulled them inside, and shut the outside world away. Noah leaned back against the door and smiled up at his daddy. “Hey.”

“I love the way you say that,” Brody said with a smile. “All syrupy and sweet.” He pressed a palm to the door beside Noah’s head and leaned closer.“Hey.”

Noah smiled before lifting up and pressing his lips to Brody’s. The kiss soon consumed them both. They broke apart a few minutes later, panting. Brody stepped back.

“I’ve got something for you.”

Brody disappeared into the spare bedroom before returning with a box in hand. He sat it on the island and urged Noah closer. As soon as Noah saw the name of the company on the mailing label, glee filled him. Grabbing the scissors from the tool caddy on the kitchen counter, he attacked the box, ripping it open.

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