Page 101 of Seductive Scoundrel

He shrugs a shoulder, but I can tell the answer.

No.

He doesn’t want it confirmed, and wants to hold onto hope. Maybe I do, too. I’ve already done the salvia swab, but I don’t have to take the call when the clinic tries to relay the news.

I’m not sure if I can live with knowing or not knowing.

“Would it change things for you and Mom?”

I’m not sure that I’ll ever forgive her. But the last thing in the world I want to do is cause any problems in my parents’ marriage. They’re entering their golden years, and that isn’t exactly the best time to get divorced. I had an incredible childhood because of the man in front of me. The least I can do is let him have peace in retirement.

“I knew your mother was cheating on me,” he admits, and based on his facial expression, it still tears him up. “You always know, deep down, when something isn’t right. When the person you love is stepping out on you. I overlooked it even though a lot of people couldn’t. And when she got pregnant…Well, part of me has always known. But I wanted a son. I wanted you.”

Emotion burns my eyes and clogs my throat. “And that’s what you’ll always have.”

“Just do me one favor. Please.”

“Anything.”

“Don’t hate your mother. I know your moral compass is leaning towards it, but she loves you more than anything. If I can get past it, so can you.”

I nod once. No matter what’s brewing inside me, I won’t show it to my parents. Their marriage is none of my business. And biology means a lot less to me than it did in Florida now that I’m with the man who I used to believe was Superman.

Hell, I still believe it.

“Tell Mom to make her famous roast for Sunday dinner. I’ll bring my girlfriend over to meet you guys.” My dad’s eyes light up and I groan. “I said girlfriend. Not wife. And no, she’s not pregnant.”

“But you’ve never had a girlfriend. This is big news.”

I spend the next twenty minutes waxing poetic about Mia, and my dad’s smile means the world to me. It’s what he always wanted for me – not to be alone with my Monopoly money, as he likes to say.

“Happy looks good on you, Dean.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

We spend the remainder of our time together talking about anything other than the Dexters and I’m reminded – as I always am after spending time with loved ones – that I need to make a point to turn work off a little more often.

Mia will be sure to remind me of that fact because she doesn’t let me get away with anything and family is everything to her. We’ll be visiting both of our parents a lot more often.

And I’m grateful.

* * *

My next meetingis with a man who looks a lot more like me than my dad.

Dex.

My housekeeper lets him in, and he joins me on the couch, taking the seat that my dad just vacated. There’s an assortment of sandwiches, pastries, coffee, and juice on the table across from us, but neither of us touches it.

Maybe booze would be more appropriate.

“You could have given me a heads up,” I say.

“We found out when we were in the air. My dad chose the last possible second to call and tell us. I didn’t have a chance, or I would have. I’m sorry.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway. I don’t want to know the results.”

Dex doesn’t even look surprised. “I would do the same. It won’t change anything, so who the hell cares?”

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