Page 41 of My Boss's Sons

“Don’t question me, young lady! I can go wherever I want.” She was still standing in the shadow of a tree and it felt like the darkness was shouting at me. “Who are those men? What are you doing in that house of yours? First your sister litters all over the yard and that boyfriend of hers spends his days playing with chainsaws, and now you’re having parties with lots of random men?”

Noah called back to the shadows. “There were more men earlier. Did you miss them?”

I gasped. “Noah!”

He laughed. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Johnson. Your reputation suits you, it seems. Have a good night.”

“Rude!” The shuffle of her slippers faded as she went back home.

“She’s going to think the neighborhood is going down the drain when you show up with a tattoo.” Jogging back up to me, Alex swept me into his arms and dipped me backwards. He kissed me and then swung me back up. “Tell your friend that I dip better than him. Now, go inside.”

34

***Sophia***

Adelivery driver dropped off a brand new phone first thing Sunday morning. After turning it on, I had a text waiting from Alex, telling me to be ready by noon. As much as I felt like I should be irritated at him for not considering any plans I might’ve already had, I wasn’t. While married to Davis, I’d always been the one making plans and rearranging plans. I never got to just get ready and be taken places. I never got to take a backseat and relax.

Of course, Ava had plenty to say while I got ready, but it was all positive for a change. She liked the guys and thought any reservations I felt about the age gap were silly. She didn’t even blink an eye about the idea of me sleeping with three guys at once. She just cheered me on. The only thing making her sad was that she couldn’t come and watch me get tattooed.

Davis even managed to make my day easier by picking Lily up for an afternoon out with his parents. He didn’t say much to mewhile Lily got herself together and I left the interaction feeling positive about the direction we were going.

When Alex pulled into the driveway, I was on the porch waiting for him. He stepped out of his truck and met me halfway. He cupped my face and kissed me before saying anything. His leather and citrus scent was something he didn’t wear during the work week, I’d realized. It was still there, but I liked when I could press into him and that scent lingered on my clothes for later.

I stepped back and gestured to my outfit. It was a dress shorter than anything I’d normally wear, but I’d tried to think through the best clothing for where I wanted the tattoo to go. “Is this okay? I wouldn't typically wear this in public, but I want my tattoo on my thigh so I thought being able to just pull this up would make it easier.”

He fingered the hem of the dress and then tipped his head back to the sky. With a groan, he glanced back at me. “A thigh tattoo. You want to kill me today, don’t you?”

I was still painfully turned on from the night before and the idea of his hands all over my thighs had been driving me slightly crazy, too. I pressed into his chest and brushed my hand over the bulge in his pants. “I could take care of this first.”

His pale gray eyes grew heavy with lust but his full mouth was set in a firm line. “Tattoo first. Once I start touching you, I’m not going to want to stop.”

I shivered and nodded. “Sure. Okay. Makes sense.”

Grinning, he took my hand and pulled me to his truck. “I’m glad you were able to get away today.”

Once we were in the truck and headed towards his tattoo studio, I turned so I could watch him. His tattoo covered arms were strong with a couple of prominent veins that shifted when he fisted his hands. Those hands were also an aphrodisiac. Huge and rough, they felt good on my skin.

“What are you staring at?” He knew what I was staring at, if the playful tone in his voice was any indicator.

“Nothing.” I grinned and pulled the phone he’d given me out of my purse. “You didn’t have to do this.”

“How else was I supposed to tell you when I was picking you up?” He merged onto the highway and seamlessly joined the traffic. “It’s fine. Don’t try to give it back. I won’t take it.”

“Oh, I wasn’t.” I laughed. “I assumed it was Anderson money that bought it and I’m not above taking back some of the money I helped make.”

He didn’t laugh or even acknowledge that I’d said anything. His mouth did seem to tense, though.

“I’m joking, Alex.” Not sure which part of what I said upset him, I went quiet, not wanting to make it worse.

“I don’t use his money.”

“Whose? Your dad’s? I’m sorry, Alex. I wasn’t trying to imply that you-”

He glanced over at me and the frustration in his gaze cut me off. “Don’t apologize. I shouldn’t be so touchy about it. It’s just…I can’t say anything around my brothers. Noah has idealized Dad since we were kids and Ethan is a perpetual peacekeeper so he just goes along with Noah. Our dad’s a piece of shit, though.”

I opened and shut my mouth, unsure of how to go forward. I had plenty of thoughts about their father, but it wasn’t appropriate to talk to them about him.

“I saw the way you looked at him the day he introduced that asshole Bill Trent as the new manager. You think he’s a piece of shit, too.” Alex blew out a rough breath. “I don’t use his money. I especially wouldn’t use his money to send a gift to you.”

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