Page 9 of Challenging Jayce

"As I wastryingto say, life with me wouldn’t have been bad. Sure, I moved around a lot but I never would've joined the Secret Service if I was still married to your mother."

"Wait, you worked for the Secret Service?" Michael's eyes lit up. "Did you get to meet the president?"

"I did. Two different ones in fact. Plus, vice presidents, senators, and a ton of dignitaries. It was pretty cool actually."

"That's awesome." Michael’s look was close enough to hero worship that Jayce actually cracked a real smile.

"So tell me more about you.”

“Well, I’m in tenth grade. I like school but some of the kids in my grade can be immature. I play basketball. Wait, no, Iloveto play basketball. I’m hoping to make it to the NBA someday. There’s this girl Katie in my grade that I think is cute. She cheers for the team but I have yet to ask her out. Mom always wanted me to but I don’t know.” Michael shrugged. “Ummm . . . I have a few close friends. Mostly guys on the basketball team.”

This went on for an hour; him listening as Michael spoke. He had so many questions but most got stuck in his throat. There were times it took a lot of restraint not to throw something or scream at the top of his lungs at the unfairness of the situation. He’d never hated someone as much as he did Jasmine, but he kept those emotions locked down tight, and soaked up the time with his newly found son.

CHAPTER6

They had resortedto walking the neighborhood in hopes that would lead them to Michael sooner when Shaun's phone pinged with a text.

It was clear that whatever news her brother received was of the good variety, based on the sudden relief that appeared to consume him.

"Well . . ." Patience was never one of her strong suits.

"Jayce found him. He's going to talk to Michael and then bring him home," Shaun answered as he turned around to head back in the direction of his house.

“That's it? He didn't tell you where he found him or if he was okay?"

What the hell was wrong with her normally overprotective brother? This new calm behavior was starting to freak her the fuck out.

"Jayce is a man of few words, but I can promise you, if Michael was hurt, he would've let me know. He deserves this time to talk to the son he didn't know existed."

Well, shit, when he put it like that. But it didn't stop her from playing devil's advocate. What kind of sister would she be if she didn't challenge him? "You haven't see the man in fifteen years. How do you know he hasn't changed?"

Shaun stopped and let out an annoyed sigh. "Men like Jayce and me don't change. Not when it comes to how protective we are of those we care about. He might've just learned he had a son, but there’snothingthat will stop Jayce from protecting Michael. It's in his DNA. Like I said before, Jasmine already took too much away from him. I won't take any more."

It was hard to continue arguing with a statement like that.

"Fine, but I want to talk to Jayce when he and Michael get back. You might trust him, but I still need to form an opinion."

It was over an hour before Michael finally came home, and surprise, surprise, her brother didn't let her speak to Jayce.

In fact, he banished her once again to the kitchen. It was no surprise considering she was acting like a mean girl in one of the books she wrote. This wasn’t normally like her. She was the first person to usually give someone the benefit of the doubt, but the thought of losing Michael scared the crap out of her.

* * *

Eavesdropping to discoverJayce's location? Easy peasy.

Schmoozing the young desk clerk to give her Jayce's room number? Surprisingly easy.

Everyone wanted to take part in a love story and convincing the college woman that she was there to surprise her boyfriend on a work trip didn't take more than batting her eyelashes and a promise that she wasn't here to cause trouble.

That last part would depend on how Jayce reacted to her just showing up at his hotel.

She rapped her knuckles on the hotel room door and waited for him to answer. And waited. And waited some more until the thought that he might not be in his room crossed her mind.

Kennedy was about to turn around and walk away when she heard grumbling on the other side of the door. Seconds later, it opened to a half-naked Jayce.

And by half-naked, she meant he only wore a towel around his waist.

“You!” he snapped.

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