Page 60 of His Stepdad Wears Leather

A cold chill raced up Brody’s spine.

Before he could barely finish, Stacey had her arms around the boy.

He got his first good view. Chris’ stare lifted to meet Brody’s… and they both frowned.

What the fuck?

“Oh, Noah, I’m so glad you’re here,” Stacey cried, taking Chris’ face in her hands.

Noah?

No… no, no, no!

Brody legs nearly gave out from under him. He clung to the edge of the counter, hoping his ass didn’t end up on the floor.

Stacey turned, beaming. “Geena! Geena, get in here.” She turned and practically dragged the kid through the door and closed the slider. She ruffled the curtains before leading the boy farther into the kitchen. She hugged Chris again, delight on her face.

Brody couldn’t take his eyes off the guy.

Chris wouldn’t look at him.

No.Noahwouldn’t look at him.

Noah.

Dear god…

“I hope you don’t mind. I had to sneak in the back,” Noah said, staring at the floor. “I saw Dad and Abbie Lee were out front.”

“Oh, I totally understand…”

Brody heard Stacey talking, but couldn’t concentrate on her words. All he kept hearing wasDad and Abbie Lee. There it was. There was no doubt, at that point. Chris was Noah. The floor fell out from under Brody’s feet. He kept walking backwards, needing space. His stomach turned in knots.

Geena walked into the kitchen, followed by Lex. She pushed on, getting in a big hug of her own.

“What’shedoing here?” Lex mumbled to Brody as the two mothers loved on their son.

Brody didn’t answer. He couldn’t.

“Lex, this is my son, Noah,” Stacey said chirpily as Geena hugged the boy tight. “This is a friend of ours, Lex.”

“Your son,” Lex repeated, the sound hollow. Lex turned to Brody, blocking everyone else out, and whispered, “Your stepson.”

Brody met Lex’s stare with wide eyes. Dear god. He’d fuckedhis stepson. His stomach turned, and he rushed for the bathroom, sure he’d lose the contents of his stomach. Parker and Riley flew past him into the kitchen as he stumbled out. Lex hooked an arm under his and led him to the bathroom and shut them inside together.

Brody lurched for the toilet, but nothing came out. He rested his hands on his haunches, afraid to move too far.

“You fucked your stepson.”

“Shut up,” Brody spat.

“Please tell me you didn’t know who he was.”

“Ididn’tknow who he was.” Brody paused a second, his mind roaring before his thoughts fell from his lips, rapid and frenzied. “He was in the bar. You carded him. I assumed he was over twenty-one. Helooksover twenty-one. Doesn’t he?Howwould I connectChriswith a just-turned eighteen-year-old kid I hadn’t laid eyes on in fourteen years? I had no idea Noah had returned.”

Lex sighed. “Itold youhe was hiding something.”

“I’m really not in the mood for anI-told-you-soright now,” Brody said, his stomach calming a little. Not much, but enough for him to no longer feel in danger of vomiting. He lowered the lid and sat down—his legs still wobbly.

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