Easton

“Please, and a bagel if you have it. No meat, obviously,” Liam said.

Easton instructed his PA before entering the office again. “So, what would you change?”

“I don’t make it my business to assess companies for change. This is not my area of expertise, and I have no desire to change it. I’m not interested in the Four Kings Empire. Never have been.”

“You’re confident.”

“I’ve not gotten where I am by being anything less.”

“Did you know I was the father?” Easton asked, perched on the edge of his desk.

“Yes, I did. Scarlett and I have no secrets.”

“Why didn’t you come after me?”

Liam chuckled. “You think I’d come after you by the past you had with my wife?”

“Did she tell you all of it?”

“How you ended it? Yes. She did. I’ve got no vendetta with you, Easton. Scarlett and Junior are my priority. I saw you talking with her last night. I even saw the way you looked at her throughout the night.”

Easton tensed up.

Liam wasn’t going to back down. Scarlett’s reaction to him gave him hope. It was the first time she had ever shown any raw sexual desire, and one taste of her, would never be enough.

Last night he’d given Scarlett three orgasms before she passed out. For most of the night, he’d held her, thinking about how he was going to approach this little hurdle.

Having Easton come around more often would be the key—only, he’d want him around when Junior wasn’t always there.

“Scarlett is my wife, and I love her very much. Junior, as far as I’m concerned, is my son. I’m only his stepfather. Scarlett told me about your stint in rehab.”

“She told you?”

“We share everything. Be aware of that. There’s no media record of you going to rehab.”

“It was kept under wraps. I don’t feel comfortable explaining this to you.”

“Nothing to explain. You’re recovering?”

“Yes. Not touched a drop in a long time now. It’s no longer an issue.”

“And finding out about Junior?” Liam asked.

“I consider it a blessing. You can stop with the personal questions now. I don’t have to justify myself to you.”

“I’m getting an overall perspective. I made a vow to Scarlett to love and protect her always. It means I have to ask the uncomfortable questions, if you know what I mean.”

“I get it. I won’t do anything to harm either of them, I promise.”

“I know. I would like to extend an invitation out to you for the weekends.”

“An invitation for the weekends?” Easton asked.

“Yes. I know Junior would love having you around, and it will give you time to get to know your son. Weekends he’s not at school, and it won’t confuse him. Scarlett can also get used to having you around. You’ll have a room at my place. You won’t need to convalesce between drives. You arrive Friday after work, leave Sunday, or Monday to start your day. How does that sound?”

Easton stared at him for several seconds without speaking.

Liam waited.

“Let me get this straight, you came down here to not only invite me to see my son more but to also stay at your house, with my son, and your wife. My ex-girlfriend?”

“Scarlett was never your girlfriend. She described the event as a camp fling that resulted in her being pregnant.”

Easton’s face went bright red. “I still had sex with your wife.”

“Over ten years ago. Your point being?”

“Don’t you see me as any kind of threat?” Easton asked.

“No. I don’t. I’m offering you a chance here, Easton. A chance to know your son and to become friends with my wife. This will be amicable.” And it would also start what he wanted as well.

He didn’t know what Easton’s feelings would be, but something told him to keep trying. If it didn’t work, he’d still continue to allow father and son visits.

What he’d started with Scarlett couldn’t be undone, and he had no intention of doing so.

“You have my contact details. Let me know what you decide. I’ve already kept you enough, and now I need to go home. Lovely to see you.”

“Your coffee and bagel,” Easton said.

“Maybe another time. You enjoy them. You look like you need to eat something. You’ve got to stay healthy now, Easton. It’s important you do so.”

With that, Liam left.

It would appear he had another person to take care of. Easton wasn’t doing a good enough job of it, but Liam had no problem taking over.

****

The bagel and coffee arrived, and Easton sat on the edge of his desk, not moving. Did he really just have a conversation with Liam Knight?

“Do I need to go and fetch the lawyers?” Axton asked, entering his office.

Karson and Romeo came in behind him.

“I … no. It’s not about that. It’s about Junior, my son. He’s offering me the chance to get to know him.”

“Take it,” Romeo said. “What have you got to lose?”