Page 90 of The Science of Attraction

I laughed and ruffled his hair. “Oops indeed. Now quit it. And will you please get out of my hair and do some study?”

“Fine.” Connor toed my shin. “If I promise to open my books, will you at least tell me what’s up? How am I supposed to learn about love and shit if no one actually talks to me. It’s not like Mum has a love life worthy of consideration.”

“Because she’s too busy keepingyouin line,” I pointed out. “Besides, you’re straight. What exactly are you going to learn from my gay love life?”

Connor sat back and folded his arms. “I refuse to engage with such a heteronormative declaration. Isn’t it you who’s always telling me not to confuse sex with love?”

I stared at him. “How convenient of you to remember that one thing, as opposed to all my other brilliant advice, which is regularly ignored.”

He waggled his brows. “I’m a teenager. I’m supposed to be an unsolvable mystery.”

I barked out a laugh. “All right then. I give up. What do you want to know?”

I expected him to jump in with some inane comment or question, but instead my nephew afforded me a serious look, and I felt something shift between us, like he’d suddenly sprouted some adult feathers while I hadn’t been paying attention.

“You like him a lot, yeah?” He watched me closely.

My smile was out before I could stop it. “Yeah, I suppose I do.”

He considered that. “I like him too.”

I huffed in amusement. “Good to know. I’ll send out the wedding invitations.”

He didn’t laugh. “Does that mean you’re going to move up here?”

I blinked, wondering what he’d seen or heard to put that idea in his head. “What makes you ask?”

“I’m not a kid, Uncle Liam.” His tone verged on scolding. “I’ve seen you with guys before, and you’re different with him. More... you, I guess. Do you think Mum and I don’t notice the way you push men away? That too-cool, never-pin-me-down attitude that reels them in. They all think they can change you, but you never let them get close, even the ones we’ve really liked. You’re not like that with Jules. When you’re with him, you’re the same guy you are with us. It’s... nice.”

Holy moly.I wiped the faltering smile from my face and took his hand. “When did you become so wise?”

He shook his head. “You can’t spin me. Just answer the question.”

I sighed and sat back. “We... well, we don’t really know what we’re doing yet. Yes, we like each other a lot. And yes, he’s different from the others. But you’ve met his dad. You must’ve figured out things aren’t going to be easy. And then there’s my business, and you and your mum?—”

“Don’t you dare let us stop you. Or me, I guess.” His gaze flickered over my face. “Because that’s what you really mean, isn’t it? It’s me you’re worried about, not Mum. Well, you can stop worrying. I’m going to be fine.”

I rested a hand on his shoulder. “Those concerns won’t stop me, no,” I reassured him. “But I can’t pretend I’m not worried about next year.”

He sighed. “Why does everyone want me to go to university? There are other things in life, you know? Other ways to make a living. I’m good with my hands. I could get an apprenticeship.”

“You could. You’re right,” I quickly agreed. “And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Have you looked into it?”

“Not yet. But I will when I get home,” he insisted with a flicker of excitement in his beautiful dark brown eyes. “Brent says I’m a good worker, and his brother is a builder somewhere around Nelson. He said he’d put in a good word for me if I wanted.”

“Did he now?” It was the first time I’d seen Connor show interest in his future in a long time. “Well, Brent would know what he was talking about. He doesn’t give praise lightly. Do youwantto be a builder?”

Connor shrugged. “Probably not. But yesterday, I watched Spencer and Jules working some merinos through the yards, and Spencer let me enter the weight and things into his laptop as he called them out. He said there were training programmes for veterinary assistants, and I really like animals, you know that. There’s a one-year program, or you can do a diploma if you really want. But I could start with the one year and see how it went.”

I studied my nephew. Hedidlove animals. He’d needed zero encouragement to tag along with the shepherds and he relished being around the dogs and the other animals. For whatever reason, Ten seemed to have taken him under his wing. In the short time Connor had been on the station changes were already apparent. He was blossoming. The country life seemed to suit him.

“All right then,” I began. “If you’re genuinely serious about doing something like an apprenticeship or veterinary nursing, then I’ll help you talk with your mother about not going back for your final year. But there are two conditions.”

Connor grumbled, “Always with the conditions.”

I punched him lightly on the arm. “First, you pass these exams. Your marks are good. There’s no reason you can’t. So, no slacking off. And second, you do some legwork on your own. Investigate your options. Decide what it is you want to do and what you need to have in order to apply. I’m telling you right now, your mother will never agree to you finishing school with nowhere to go, understood?”

“I know. But it’s so stupid. The last year is mostly for those going to uni, anyway.”

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