Page 87 of Single Mom's Mountain Men
Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed that he would rather be doing something else than working lumber?" I raise an eyebrow. "He loves cars, if you haven't noticed."
He sighs. "I thought that was a hobby."
"It is. Because he's not letting himself think about it as a real career because he doesn't want to have to hurt you."
Mitch's face tenses and he looks like he wants to argue but I just stand there waiting patiently as he runs his hand over his scalp.
"It's their legacy," he says, a tad weakly.
"Yes. And it can still be. I’m not saying it’s not important, but I think your parents would be happier seeing you all pursuing something that makes you happy, rather than just doing things you think they want. Or am I wrong?"
He shakes his head. "You're not wrong." Although I still see the struggle on his face.
I stand there waiting patiently as he expels a breath of air.
"So, what do I do now?"
"You can start by talking to them. Not at them. To them."
"Yeah, talking... has never been my strong suit."
I shrug. "It's like your PO said. ‘You don’t gotta like it, but you gotta do it anyway.’"
CHAPTER 30
Charlie
The knock on the shed door later that evening interrupts my musings and breaks my concentration. I lay down my hand plane, assuming that it’s Patty coming to tell me that dinner is ready.
But instead, Mitch opens the door and walks in. "We need to talk."
I raise an eyebrow, trying to gauge the nature of the conversation from his expression. The problem is that that’s pretty difficult to do with Mitch. He always has that same permanent scowl on his face and there’s usually no way for me to tell when he's happy or sad.
Except when he was staring down at Patty as he fucked her. Then there was a change.
I wonder if my brother had any idea how he looked, gazing at her with such devotion as though she held the key to the moon. I wonder if he knew that some people could misinterpret such a look as love.
Mitch probably loves her too even though he’ll probably deny it for as long as possible. Nevertheless, I know he’ll eventually give in again, just like he gave in that first time.It’s only a matter of time. As to what he came to talk to me about it probably has to do with Patty and what happened. Maybe he’s coming to apologize out of some misguided notion that I may be feeling betrayed. Or maybe he’s come to assure me that it won’t happen again.
In which case I can simply let him know that I don’t mind sharing Patty with him too. But only with my brothers. If any other man so much as breathes near her, I'll see red, but it's different with Mitch and Wes. Maybe because I care about them and can see how much they love her. We’ve always had a bond that surpasses even my understanding sometimes. In any case, I’m not scared of losing her to them so I’m comfortable with them being a part of the relationship.
More eyes to protect her. More hands to pleasure her.
It makes sense once you think about it like that.
Besides, I smile to myself. There is something undoubtedly arousing about watching someone else bring her pleasure. When it's just the two of us, I’m distracted by holding back my orgasm, but seeing Patty without that distraction will always be a heavenly sight to me and I’ll crave it for as long as I live.
"Charlie?"
I tune back in to find that Mitch is standing directly in front of me now, and I’ve probably been staring off into the air and smiling to myself like a maniac.
"What is it you wanted to talk about ?" I ask.
He runs his hand over his scalp and that’s about the only sign he gives that he’s uncomfortable with this conversation.
"I don’t know how to broach this, so I’m just going to come out and say it. Do you like working here?"
I blink, stunned by the sudden question. That was not where I was expecting him to go with this. "What?"
