His Secret Child (Slade Security Team 2)

Jason banged the back of his heels against the bed. “Slade, how come you never came to see my mom when she was sick?”

“I didn’t know that she was sick until a few days ago. Your Aunt Bethany called me, but I was in a place called Jawhara making sure some very important people were safe. Now, how about that lunch? And don’t tell me you aren’t hungry because I can hear your stomach growling like a tiger.” Slade reached over and poked Jason’s stomach.

Jason gave a laugh, but he got up and headed for the kitchen. He wolfed down his sandwich, asked if he could have juice. Bethany started to tell him they didn’t have any, but Slade got up and produced a can of grape juice. “Why don’t you go out and shoot a few hoops,” Slade said.

Face scrunched up again, Jason shook his head. “I’m not very good at it.”

“Go on.” Slade put a hand on Jason’s shoulder. “I’ll be out in a few minutes to give you a few tips.”

Feet dragging, Jason headed out. Slade turned to Bethany. “I want you and Jason to come to San Diego with me for a few weeks. I’ve set it up so that we can leave tomorrow.”

Chapter 11

Bethany stared at him. “Are you insane? I can’t just pull up and go.”

“Why not? Your work goes with you. Jason is homeschooled. What’s stopping you?”

She blinked. What was stopping her? Eyes narrowing, she said, “I think the biggest stop is that I just met you. I know next to nothing about you, and—”

“Okay, hold it right there. “What do you need to know, other than that Jason’s my son and I’m willing to let you adopt him?”

The air lodged in Bethany’s chest. “You are?”

Slade nodded. “Before we get there, I’d like to find out just how Jason might fit into my life. I’d like to see him on my own turf and I can help him. Not just because he very well could be my son, but also because he is Tayra’s son. She became part of my family when she married Brock, and that’s never changed. But I also—Bethany, I’m here to help you, too. I don’t walk away from someone who could use a hand.”

She tipped her head. She wasn’t sure what to do with this macho guy. He was like a force of nature. She could protest all she wanted that she could look after herself, and she knew he’d listen, and then he’d fill her fridge and cook her food to eat. He’d shown that. Voice dry, she told him, “Your armor’s showing again.”

He touched the front of his shirt. “Damn, I thought I had that buttoned up. Come on. It’s bull that you don’t know me. Tayra knew me—and you knew me through her. So what else do you need to know?”

She let out a breath. She knew him, but he was still a complete stranger to her. How could she trust him with what was most precious to her?

“How about just a little more than that you once slept with my sister?”

***

Slade wanted to roll his eyes. She was making this tough on him. Intentionally. Okay, if that was the price, he was willing to pay. He picked up the plates, carried them to the sink, and left them there. Coming back, he sat down. “What else do you want? Resume? Net worth?”

“Family background,” she said.

“My people are my family. I’ve got a couple of guys, brothers—Trent and Travis—you’ll meet them in San Diego. They’re good folks. Computer geeks. You’ll like ‘em. They’ll like you. You know Brock already. He’s part of the team I’ve got in the Middle East right now. You already know I was a SEAL.”

She propped her elbows on the table. “Why’d you leave?”

“One too many missions of doing the wrong thing for what I hoped were the right reasons. But I wasn’t sure. When it gets so that you can’t tell if you’re one of the good guys or the bad guys, it’s time to step out. It was time for me. I took Brock with me, called in some favors, and opened my own security firm. Brock never wanted to run the business side of it, so that’s how it became my firm, not our firm. Now I get to vet my clients, know for sure if they’re in trouble because of someone else or because they’re doing things they shouldn’t be doing.”

“Is it dangerous?” Slade gave her a flat look, and Bethany said, “Okay, dumb question. I already know it pays well.”

Slade nodded. Reaching out, he put a hand over Bethany’s. “Something else you should know—I don’t want to take Jason from you, but I’m not going to let you shut me out either.”

She pulled away. “This is where I get the bad cop part of the lecture.”

“It’s not a lecture—it’s me explaining how it’s going to be. Yes, I’ve got the money to hire lawyers who could take Jason from you. That’s not in Jason’s best interest. But if you make this a fight, I’ll fight. I’d rather find out if we can work together on this—if…dammit, Bethany, I want to see if this spark between us is something that could be more.”

Standing up, he took her by the wrist and pulled her to her feet. He kissed her until his heart was pounding harder than it had on his run. He held her face between his hands and kissed her until she opened to him, and softened, and gave a groan that told him all he needed to know about how she felt about him.

Stepping back, he asked, “Any more questions?”

She licked her lips. It took all of his control not to sweep her up and carry her off to the guest room where he could take his time with the next kiss. She nodded. “Just one. What’s the weather like this time of year in San Diego?”