Page 86 of The Reluctant Siren
“He’s talking about you,” Niall said and sniffed like he wasgetting a little…emotional. “You’re the one who can’t love himself.”
Jensen stood. He wasn’t going to do some weird therapything. His mind was made up, but he was now worried if he tried to plead hiscase, he would get hauled off. He didn’t trust the Dawson brothers to let himmake the choice himself. He got the feeling if they decided he was making thewrong one, they would lock him up until he changed his mind. “I’m fine. I’lltalk to Jack in the morning, and we’ll figure this thing out.”
“I hope you’re telling me the truth, but this has to be yourchoice,” Chase said, pushing his chair back. “I’m going to go apologize to mydaughter. You were right, Ben. I hate that.”
“I’m always right.” Ben moved to the door that led to thebackyard.
“Are not. You suck atJeopardy,” Chase bickered.“You can’t even answer theCelebrity Jeopardyquestions. They’resoftballs.”
Ben sighed as his brother walked through the door. “Yeah, soyou’re the trivia champ and I understand actual people.”
“Hey, only one of those things gets a big trophy and apayday, brother,” Chase snarked but he also stopped and turned to Lucas. “Thankyou for coming out. We’ll make decisions in the morning. Niall, you look like aman who can cook. I like my bacon crispy. Jensen, seriously, think this over.You’ll come to the right conclusion.”
“I thought you wanted me gone.” Jensen was confused. He’dkind of thought Chase would drive him to jail if given the chance.
“It’s been pointed out to me that I need to let my daughtermake her own mistakes. Sometimes mistakes have a way of turning out okay,”Chase said solemnly. Then his lips quirked up. “Like Ben being born.”
Lucas groaned. “Jensen, we’ll talk more in the morning.Jack, I’ll be in Dallas on Monday. I’d like a sit-down with your boss.”
Jack gave his dad a salute. “I’ll look forward to theexperience.”
Lucas looked at his son like he wanted to say more, but heturned to follow the Dawsons.
“Papa, I’ll be way happier to introduce you to my boss ifyou brought me some of Mom’s snickerdoodles,” Jack offered.
Lucas nodded. “Oh, I think your mom might bring themherself.”
“Good. I’d like to see her,” Jack replied. When the doorclosed he turned to Niall. “Is there a second bedroom or am I on the couch? Iwon’t be here long. I need a couple hours sleep and I’ll be out of your hair.”
Everyone looked to Niall when they wanted hospitality. Heneeded to rehab his image. Of course he’d have a lot of time to think about itsoon. “It’s the second door on the left. We’re in the primary bedroom and it’sgot its own bathroom, so you can use the small one across from your room.”
Jack nodded. “Tell Harlow good night for me and that I’dlike to sit down and talk with her sometime. I don’t want to lose my whole damnfamily over this. Call me when you’re ready to make a deal.”
And then he was alone with Niall.
“What are you planning?” Niall asked, a worried look on hisface.
He felt like a shit, but this was for him. For him andHarlow. “I’m planning on getting our girl and taking my mind off the fact thather uncle is a lawyer who is going to be a pain in my ass, and her dads aregoing to be ten times worse. I didn’t get to spend time with her mom yet. Wasshe the super smart one or the reasonable one?”
Niall’s head shook. He put a hand on Jensen’s shoulder. “Weare so lucky you’re pretty.”
He wasn’t sure what that meant.
Shit. Niall was the reasonable one and Harlow was thesupersmart, genius one, and that meant he needed therapy.
That might be accurate.
But it didn’t matter. When Niall moved toward the backyard,he followed his friend.
One last night and then he would do the right thing.
* * * *
Niall walked into the yard where Harlow sat with hermom, holding her hand as she talked.
“The sex is incredible. That’s not the problem. The problemis I’m always waiting for it to fall apart,” Harlow said.
Chase groaned. “Does she have to talk about the sex? Ithought we agreed to never do that.”
