Page 1 of His Stepdad Wears Leather

Prologue

Fourteen years ago…

“Have you got any…kings?”

“Gofish!” Noah cried at the top of his lungs.

The four-year-old’s delighted giggle that came after was infectious. Brody struggled not to follow suit, especially after lifting his stare and seeing the maniacal smile on Noah’s face. There was nothing better than a child’s joyful sound, especially when he was suffering. Brody winced, stretching out his slowly healing knee. What he wouldn’t have given for something,anything, to shove down into his cast and scratch away for an hour or three. Geena had already confiscated his ruler and hidden it somewhere. He had a week to find it while she and Stacey were away on their vacation. With his luck, she’d packed it away in her suitcase and taken it with her, the evil wench.

“I said, go fish, Brody.”

Boe-di.Brody chuckled inwardly every time he heard the boy say his name. He reached for the deck, which wasn’t all that easy to do with his full-leg cast holding him back. “You’rekillingme, kid.” Offering a smile, he winked. “Your turn, little man.”

“You got any eights?”

Damn. This kid’s a card shark. Brody pulled out the three eights in his hand and tossed them over to the gleeful child. “How’d you get so good at this game?”

Noah shrugged with his whole body and wiggled his eyebrows. Brody barked with laughter, shaking his head. “Still your turn.”

“You got anyqueens?”

“Go fish!” Brody chirped. Noah heaved an adult-worthy sigh and took his lumps. As soon as he had the new card added to his precariously held handful, Brody continued. “Okay… my turn. Do you have anysixes?”

“Oh man,”Noah cried… before he could lay down his cards, a knock came. The kid’s head swiveled, and Brody heard the expectant pause, heavy with anticipation, before the exclamation to come.

“Daddy’s here!” Distracted, Noah tossed his handful to the coffee table—the game already long forgotten—and went running for the door. “Daddy’s here!”

Brody steeled himself a moment before using his crutches to rise on both feet. He then started the slow shuffle toward the door. Before he arrived, Noah had it whipped wide open. Subzero cold crept into the house, its icy fingers clawing at Brody’s bare arms and leg—at least one leg was covered with the cast and still piping hot.

But that cold hadnothingon the icy glare coming from the other side.

Bordered inside the doorframe stood Noah’s father, Walt, scowling at him.

“Soyou’rethe new one, hmm?”

Brody had been warned about the glacial reception he’d likely receive. Luckily, he owed Geena and Stace. Luckily,for them. Not Walt. “Yep, I suppose I am.”

After giving Brody the once over, Noah’s father glanced down at his son. “Go grab your bags. Abbie Lee’s waiting out in the car for you.”

“Awww… why’sshehere?” Noah asked, his little face screwed up in disappointment.

“We’ve discussed this, young man. She’s your mother now, and you’ll be spending a lot more time with her. Be respectful.”

“She’s hisstepmother,” Brody challenged, lifting a brow. He knew it really wasn’t his place, but by the same token, it was really uncool for the guy to make light of Stacey’s role in their son’s life. “Kid’s already got a mom.”

Walt took an aggressive step inside the house. “And he’s already got a dad.Me.So stay out of it.” He returned his focused to Noah. “Go get your bags so we can get out ofthisplace.”

As soon as Noah raced up the stairs, Walt turned that scowl back at Brody. “If I was you, I’d get the hell out of this place, too.”

Brody narrowed his eyes. “Good thing you’re not me.”

Walt ignored him, glancing around. “Stace and Geena couldn’t bother to stay around and say goodbye to him?”

He clenched his jaw, trying not to be baited. “Youknowthey had an early flight this morning. You were supposed to be hereyesterdayto pick him up. Remember?” Brody already regretted volunteering to watch the kid until the guy arrived.

“They could’ve made other arrangements instead of leavingyouhere alone withmykid.”

Rage swept through Brody. “Meaning?”

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