Page 27

Leaning on the edge of the mantlepiece, I stare out at my family. I’m blessed to have every single one of them. I never take for granted what life and Tina gave me.
Could Penelope take on me and my family? Would she want to? Perhaps seeing Atlas was a reality check for her.
I could fall in love with a man like you.
God, I’m going insane trying to get inside her head. Mine is enough to work out.
When I head into the kitchen, Atlas follows me.
“You going to tell me who that woman was?”
“As you said, it’s pretty obvious, son.” I pour myself a glass of water from the jug on the counter and watch him as I take a long drink.
I drop it on the counter.
“But I am sorry you had to walk in on that.”
“Please. I’m a grown man.” He scoffs. “Glad you weren’t naked—that would have taken some therapy.”
I cringe inwardly.
He means seeing his father being sexual—he’s seen me buck naked over the years. If it had been his mother, I’d hate it enough, but that it was another woman is exactly the thing I’m trying to protect my children from.
“It won’t happen again,” I say firmly.
Knox walks in.
“What won’t happen again?”
I cross my arms and press my hip into the counter, waiting to see what Atlas does. He stares back at me in question.
Fucking hell.
Why did I breed smart kids, not dumb ones?
I can’t lie.
I’d also like to keep this to myself. It is my private life, after all. But the reality is, my sons are close, and they’ll talk.
“I had a friend over for breakfast,” I reply, and Knox begins to tune out. Until I say, “A woman.”
His brows shoot up.
“And that’s all you need to know. It’s nothing serious,” I add.
I could fall in love with a man like you.
“Is it the woman you were talking to on the phone at the Super Bowl party?” Levi asks from the doorway.
I glance over Knox’s head.
Shit.
I am not ready for this conversation. But Tina and I always promised we wouldn’t lie to our children. Unless it was for a damn good reason to protect them.
“Yes.”
“She seems nice.” Atlas slides his hands into his pockets as my heart pounds.