Page 40 of Boss with Benefits

“If you love a woman and have a child with her, it will be hers. I don’t understand your brand of logic.”

Brady shot to his feet again. He felt like he had a nuclear power plant’s worth of energy coursing through his veins, and he couldn’t contain it much longer. He paced like a caged tiger despite Deacon’s objections.

And he still didn’t know what to do about his problem.

So far, Deacon hadn’t said anything helpful.

Brady sighed. “Maybe I should just avoid the kid. I can start working late and going in early. We don’t need to eat meals together.”

“Avoidance doesn’t solve anything.” Deacon shook his head. “Jessica will get upset if you suddenly change your routine, and she’ll probably think you don’t like her son. Maybe the boy will think you don’t like him.”

It was the last thing Brady wanted to hear. He was trying to keep from hurting Axl. If staying away from the boy was going to hurt him or his mother, Brady needed to think of another way to keep himself under control.

“You cursed at him,” Deacon said. “It’s not the end of the world.”

“I didn’t curseathim. He was just in the room when I lost my cool. I cursed in front of him. Big difference there.”

Deacon tapped the end of his pencil against his notepad a few times before asking a question. “Did you come close to hitting him?”

“Of course not.”

“Did you think about hitting him?”

“No.”

“Did you want to hit him?”

Stopping next to Deacon’s chair with his hands on his hips, Brady said, “The thought of hitting a child is beyond repulsive to me. You know that. I would never—”

“Then what are you worried about?” Deacon asked.

Brady threw his hands up in frustration. “Haven’t you been listening all these years? Do you just sit there and doodle? I’m worried I’ll lose control and hurt someone someday.”

Silence descended on Deacon’s office.

Brady felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. A deep sadness filled his heart at the thought of life without Jessica by his side. Maybe he should cut ties with her completely after the custody hearing. He could hit the road and take photographs of endangered species. That was what made him happy. He should pursue it.

“Do I ever annoy you?” Deacon asked.

Brady rolled his eyes. “You mean like when I’m trying to talk about something serious and you change the subject?”

Deacon grinned. “Yeah. Do I get on your nerves sometimes?”

“You know you do. What’s your point?”

“Remember when I was messing around in your darkroom and I accidentally ruined the photos you needed for an important client the very next day?”

Brady took a deep breath as Deacon continued to test his patience. “Of course, I remember. Because of your clowning around, I had to call the model back in that night and pay her double. I didn’t get to bed until four in the morning.”

Deacon kept grinning like an idiot. “You were so angry. I thought you might take a swing at me. But you didn’t.”

Brady repeated, “What is your point?”

Deacon leaned forward in his chair. “My point is, you are not the type to lose your temper and hurt a child or a woman or even an exasperating friend. Case closed.”

“I’ve read research on the subject of people raised by abusive fathers. The girls generally grow up to marry men like their fathers, and the boys grow up to be their fathers. They repeat the cycle.”

Deacon shook his head. “That only happens if the person has no self-awareness and chooses not to get help. You’re seeingme. We talk at least once a week, openly admitting our faults. Ihate to tell you this, buddy, but you are an enlightened modern male.”

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