Page 26 of Boss with Benefits

They sat in silence for a few minutes, and Brady focused on his breathing. He needed to get his emotions under control. What was Jessica doing to him?

“Anything else bothering you?” Deacon asked. “Work going okay?”

“Work is awesome.” Brady stood and motioned for Deacon to take possession of the couch. “Your turn.”

Deacon raised an eyebrow. “You’re done already?”

“I’ve had enough, yes.”

They changed places. Deacon stretched out on the couch, and Brady sat in the vacated chair. He glanced at the notebook Deacon had been using and smiled at the doodles. Deacon hadn’t written anything about Jessica. Good.

Deacon didn’t need any prompting. He always launched into his litany of problems like a drunken sailor on leave. Anything and everything spilled from his lips without any sort of coercion or bribery. “Samantha has been on me all week about having her parents visit. Can you imagine me locked in a small house with those people for two whole weeks? That’s how long she wants them here. Two freaking weeks! Give me a break. I can feel the ulcer starting already.”

Since Brady didn’t have a degree in psychology, he didn’t give advice. He just listened while Deacon ranted. That was all Deacon ever seemed to want anyway, a safe place to bitch about his wife, his job, his neighbors, and whatever else was on his mind.

Brady usually didn’t say a word, but he had a question for his friend today. “Do you ever regret getting married?”

“Every day.”

The flippant answer didn’t fool Brady. “Seriously, Deke. Do you regret getting married? Do you think you’d have a better life without Samantha?”

Deacon remained silent for an abnormally long time.

Then he cracked a smile and rolled his eyes. “Nah. Samantha is my life... even when she’s being a huge pain in my backside. Maybe I’d have more money if we weren’t married and more time to do what I want. Maybe. But I’m happier with her than I’d be without her.”

Brady felt like a drowning man without a lifeboat in sight. Marriage wasn’t for him. He was sure he and Deacon could agree on that. Because of his messed-up childhood he was absolutelyone-hundred percent positive he wouldn’t be able to make a relationship work.

Deacon’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you suddenly interested in the institution of marriage?”

“Curiosity. Some people seem happy with their spouses, but almost all the marriages I’ve seen are train wrecks. I’m not interested in being miserable or in making someone else miserable. Why do people even bother?”

“If you meet someone you can’t live without, it’s the logical next step.”

“That’s just plain stupid.”

Deacon chuckled. “Perhaps you won’t think so someday when you meet your special someone.” There was a pause. “Or perhaps you already have met her. Jessica?”

“Trust me. The last thing I want to do is get married, and I don’t see Jessica as a potential wife. She is my business partner. End of story.”

“Oh? So you’re going to all this trouble for a simple business partner?” Deacon’s voice took on a mocking tone. “Tell me another bedtime story, Uncle Brady. I’m sleepy.”

Brady headed for the door. “I’m sorry I came here for advice.”

“Advice on what?” Deacon popped up off the couch. “You haven’t told me anything. If you want good advice, give me solid information. What is the problem?”

“I’m thinking of doing something that could potentially ruin my life.”

Deacon’s eyes widened. “Don’t do it.”

“You don’t even know what it is I’m thinking of doing,” Brady said.

“Doesn’t matter. I know you. If there is the slightest risk of ruining your life, don’t do it.”

Brady leaned his back against the door and considered how much he wanted to share with his best friend. Deacon could be an ass, but he was also highly intelligent. He had helped Brady avoid some bad situations over the years.

A heavy sigh parted Brady’s lips. “I have an idea how to make sure Jessica doesn’t lose her son, but it might be too high a price for me to pay. For the first time in a long time, I have no idea what to do.”

Deacon’s voice softened. “Give me details, and I’ll help you make the right choice.”

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