Page 9 of His Temptation

No matter what I did, he stayed angry at me. If not angry, then irritated. It was a losing battle.

My phone vibrated on the counter, and I checked it. A text from my paralegal.

Becca:Remember, you have court at 9 Monday morning.

What was she doing texting me about work on a Saturday?

Me:Please tell me you aren’t working right now.

Becca:I’m not at the office. Don’t have a stroke. I just saw the date on my calendar and wanted to remind you.

Becca had been my paralegal for almost eight years, and though our relationship was professional while at the office, we had become friends over the years. She had a habit of going into the office on Saturdays when she felt behind on her work. I appreciated her dedication, but I wanted her to also have a life.

Me:Thank you. But stop thinking about work and worry about planning your wedding.

Becca:haha yes, sir

“Is that some dude you’re banging?” Ryan asked.

I looked up at him. “What? Of course not. It’s Becca.”

“Ah, your paralegal.” Ryan rolled his eyes and slid off the barstool. “Mom never liked such a hot young girl working for you.”

“Yeah, well, your mom didn’t like a lot of things.” I placed my phone back on the counter.

“Guess it wasn’t girls she had to be worried about, though, right?” Ryan said. “I still can’t believe my dad is fuckin’ gay.”

The breath left my lungs, and a whirlwind of sadness and anger swirled in my chest. “Don’t talk to me that way. I’m still your father, no matter how mad you are.”

“Whatever.” Ryan stormed down the hall, went into his room, and came out a few minutes later with his bag. He snatched his keys off the table where Cason had placed them last night and left the house, slamming the door on his way out.

I braced my arms on the island and hung my head, my eyes watering. I couldn’t make Ryan accept me being gay. I had hoped he’d come around as time passed, but he still held on to anger and bitterness.

I kept wondering if his reaction would’ve been better if I had actually gotten the chance to sit him down and tell him myself, instead of him walking in and finding out by accident. Thinking about it wouldn’t change anything, though. I’d never get the chance to find out.

I just wanted my son to look at me with pride in his eyes again.

***

Monday morning, I woke early and showered before driving to the courthouse.

My client had been picked up for possession, and I’d gone back and forth with the prosecutor to get her a decent deal since it was her first offense. Medical marijuana was legal in our state, but recreational use was still against the law. Fortunately, we were able to reach an agreement of fifteen days in jail and for her to pay a fine. The hearing today should be brief.

“Morning, Cross,” Jay Foley greeted me outside the courtroom. He was the prosecuting attorney assigned to the case. We’d always gotten along well in the past, despite us serving on opposite sides.

We’d gotten alongtoowell.

“Foley.” I shook his hand and nodded to the door. “Shall we?”

“After you,” he answered, winking.

Tall, blond, and fucking gorgeous—he could be a major distraction in the courtroom if I wasn’t careful. Especially when I looked at his hands and remembered them roaming my body, when I saw his lips and recalled them wrapped around my cock.

My blood pressure spiked, and I took calming breaths as I joined my client at the table and greeted her. She was only twenty-two and had her whole life ahead of her. I hoped she straightened up after this, but all I could do was get her the best deal and hope she made the right decision once she served her time.

As expected, the hearing didn’t last long since both parties were in agreement. Case was dismissed, and the judge went to his chambers.

“We should meet for a drink sometime,” Jay said after we left the courtroom and were standing outside.