Page 30 of The Paternity Puzzle
Royce was just about to warn Eddie that the dog had most likely licked her ass at some point that day, but a light-hearted laugh caught Royce’s full attention. Eddie’s friend was tall and willowy, the antithesis of Eddie’s usual type. He typically went for women who were short and curvy with bawdy laughs. The playful sounds coming from the lady who watched Eddie with heart eyes were infectious. She wore a sage-green sleeveless dress with scalloped edges ending just above her knees. Her sandals were the wedged kind and made from that material thatlooked like frayed rope. He couldn’t remember what it was called but knew they were popular and often expensive. Kelsey didn’t find it funny when Royce offered to make her the same pair of shoes for less money. He’d even shown her the different rope options he had in his garage, but no go.
“I think she likes you,” the woman said as she lifted her hand to pet Dolly.
The little dog tensed, flattened her ears, and narrowed her eyes at the interloper reaching for her. Royce’s eyes widened, and his lips moved to yell “nooooooooooooo.” Sawyer’s arms appeared in Royce’s periphery as he reached for the dog. But neither of them was quick enough. Their little darling Dolly turned into the Yorkshire Terror right in front of their eyes. Her warning bark was high-pitched and terrifying. Eddie’s new friend snatched her hand back and giggled nervously, but that wasn’t enough to please the six pounds of pissed-off fur. One corner of Dolly’s mouth curled up, and she growled viciously, her tiny body vibrating with jealousy.
“Oh my.” The lady held up her hands in peace and backed away a few steps. “My bad.”
“She doesn’t mean any harm,” Eddie told her, though Royce wasn’t sure how his lips could form words with that wide, cocky grin taking up so much real estate on his face.
“I’m so sorry,” Royce said, extending his hand. “Our dog is just a bit possessive about Eddie, which is really irritating.”
Eddie’s smug grin faded into a scowl. “Because I’m not worthy of her devotion?” His dad’s voice was gruffer than usual, and he sounded highly insulted. He no longer looked like the carefree man who’d arrived just minutes ago.
Royce reacted the way he always did at the first sign of conflict with Eddie. He tensed from head to toe and went straight into fight mode. “No,” Royce replied tersely.
Sawyer’s hand landed at the small of his back, a gesture Eddie’s dark gray eyes didn’t miss. Would his father recognize the act as love and comfort, or would he view it as Sawyer trying to tame him like a wild animal? Maybe both things were true at the same time. Eddie knew how to raise Royce’s hackles better than anyone on the planet, but Sawyer’s soothing touch reminded him that neither he nor his father were the men they used to be.
Royce forced his shoulders down and softened the tension in his face. “I just meant that we’re doing all the work, and she loves you the most.”
The good-natured smile returned to Eddie’s face. “That’s just the perks that come with grandparenthood. I’m just the good-time guy who gets to show her all the love without having to train or discipline her. Isn’t that right, Doll Doll?” The dog yipped her agreement and licked Eddie’s cheek.
“The same phenomenon happens with my grandcat.” The woman smiled at Royce and extended her hand. “Hello, I’m Jolene, but my friends just call me Jo.” She rolled her eyes. “Or they sing certain lyrics to me.”
“Royce,” he said, shaking her hand. “No wonder Dolly doesn’t like you.”
Jolene giggled and winked at the outraged dog. “I’m not looking to take your man.”
“Forgive my sh—um—crappy manners.” Eddie’s stammered apology was awkward and oddly endearing. “Royce is my second-oldest son.”
“The problematic middle child,” Royce teased.
Eddie scoffed and shook his head. “Don’t listen to him. He’s been a great kid, always looking out for everyone he cares about. I’m not at all surprised he became a cop.”
Royce glanced over at Sawyer. He had to be dreaming, right? Sawyer’s features formed a brief “I told you so” expression before he turned his attention to Jo.
“Oh, and this is Royce’s husband, Sawyer,” Eddie said. “Jo is the new friend I told you about.”
Royce shot his husband another disbelieving look as he introduced himself to Dolly’s nemesis. Then he looked at his father with objective eyes. Eddie’s polo shirt was different than the one he’d worn to the graduation ceremony. Were they buy-one-get-one-free purchases? Did Eddie have a closet full of preppy clothes now? His jeans didn’t have a single hole in them, and the brown leather belt at his waist didn’t feature a wallet chain or metal ornamentation. Royce was oddly comforted by the familiar leather biker boots on Eddie’s feet. He understood his father was trying to become a better version of himself, but he didn’t want the man to become unrecognizable. And was this a change Eddie wanted or one he thought he needed? OneJolenethought Eddie needed?
“You’ve got smoke coming from your ears, kid,” Eddie said. “Don’t overthink it?”
“That’s my fault,” Sawyer said. “He picked up that bad habit from me.”
Eddie clapped Sawyer on the shoulder and looked at Jo. “My son-in-law doesn’t have bad habits. The world would be a better place if more people were like him.”
Jo grinned at both Royce and Sawyer. “Just so you know, he’s said that about both of you more than once.”
Eddie grimaced, then asked, “Do I repeat myself obnoxiously?”
Jo shook her head. “You’re a proud father. I think it’s wonderful.”
“I’m trying to be the father my kids deserve.” Eddie might’ve responded to Jo’s comment, but his steely gaze was locked on Royce, as if willing him to believe the words. “It’s long overdue.”
And Royce wanted to trust him. Sawyer had faith in Eddie’s intentions, and that should’ve been enough for Royce. His husband had exceptional intuition, but then again, he’d never really witnessed Eddie during his darkest hours. Royce struggled to see anything else when he looked at his father. He sometimes woke in the middle of the night after nightmares of becoming another Eddie. Royce and his dad had taken positive steps forward, only to shuffle backward more times than he wanted to count. Could this time be different? The expression in Eddie’s eyes said it was, and he’d sure dressed the part and brought the right accessories. Royce immediately scratched that thought. It was cruel and disrespectful to a lovely woman who didn’t deserve it. He was sick to his stomach that the thought had even crossed his mind.
Royce wanted to blame Eddie’s past influence, but this was all him, and he mentally apologized to a person who thankfully couldn’t read his thoughts. Royce dreaded telling Sawyer the path his thoughts had taken, but he would. He told his husband everything—the good, the bad, and the freaking ugly. Sawyer was his salvation, the shiny beacon of what good people could be, and Royce really wanted to be good people. He’d surrounded himself with the finest humans on the planet since meeting Sawyer Key, hoping their decency would rub off on him. Why couldn’t he allow himself to believe Eddie wanted the same? Couldn’t Jolene be his shiny beacon of hope? Why the hell did he sound like the sappiest dickhead to live? Because he was, and he loved the person he’d become. Just maybe Eddie saw something in Royce that made him think he could do it too.Cue the moody classical music. Someone just had a breakthrough.Snarky quips aside, a weight had been lifted off Royce’s shoulders withthe epiphany, which was why he decided to extend an olive branch to Eddie. Well, maybe not a branch. Perhaps a fragile twig that would snap easily, but it was a start.
Royce turned to Sawyer. “Why don’t you show Jo around and introduce her to everyone? I already know Evangeline will adore her. Eddie, Dolly, and I will take the food inside.”And find a private place to talk.