Page 47 of Heal
"Are we still talking kids?" Parson grinned as he linked his fingers with Beau's.
"No." Beau lifted their joined hands to his lips, kissing Parson's knuckles. "I meant with us."
"I think I could be. I'd like to see where things go."
"Me too." Beau glanced back at the kids before focusing again on him. "How about after I drop Faith back off at home later tonight, we spend some time together?"
"I'd like that. Want me to meet you somewhere or would you like to come to my place?" Parson hoped they could just stay in and spend the night together talking or doing whatever might happen. He didn't want to be in public tonight.
"Your place sounds perfect." Beau kissed him softly before moving and offering him one of the chairs in the room. "Care to keep me company for a bit? I think they're going to be distracted for a while."
Parson sat down. "We can start discussing that fundraiser if you want."
"Perfect. I have some ideas." Beau sat down beside him.
As they started talking, Parson felt part of something he hadn't in a long time. He felt like part of a family. He wasn't sure if that should scare him or not, but for the time being, he was going to just go with it and enjoy it. He, better than anyone, knew how quickly it all could end.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
After dropping Faith at home after dinner together, Beau headed to Parson's house, excited to spend some time alone with him. They'd talked a lot at the hospital about the fundraiser and a few other things, but had to keep it tame since the kids were there with them.
All he'd wanted to do was pull Parson into his arms and taste his kiss again. The small caresses, the teasing glances, and the knowledge that they would be alone later had driven him crazy.
Faith hadn't missed any of it. She'd teased him all through dinner about how he was acting like a teenage boy around Parson. Maybe he was. He sure felt twenty years younger when he was with him.
When Parson had agreed to let him take Lisa and Jeff in, he'd never been more relieved and more scared. He was really going to do this. He was going to be a father.
In all his years, he'd never dreamed it would happen this way. He'd always wanted children, but he figured that someday he'd marry and adopt or get his sister to carry a child for him.
Suddenly having an instant family was a bit overwhelming.
He wanted this more than anything. He was sure about what he was doing, but there was a part of him that wondered if he was good enough. If he would make a good, supportive father. Of course, he had the money to make things work, but he was very aware from his own upbringing that it took a lot more than money to make a father. If he'd learned anything from his own experiences growing up, it was that money didn't make everything perfect. He would have traded all the money his family had for a loving father who accepted and understood him. A father who would spend time with him instead of just buy him things all of the time.
He wouldn't be that man.
Beau forced his thoughts off the kids as he pulled into Parson's driveway. He wanted tonight to be about them. Not about the kids or the fundraiser or anything else. Tonight, he wanted to give Parson the attention he deserved.
After locking his car, he headed up to the door, ringing the bell, as he tried not to be nervous.
"Hey." Parson opened the door and stepped aside. "Come on in."
"Thanks." Beau walked inside.
"Want a drink?" Parson asked as they headed into the living room.
"Actually, what I want is to thank you. I didn't realize how much I really wanted to adopt those kids until you gave me hope that it can really happen. I know asking you to do what you did is wrong, but thank you for doing it anyway." Beau reached out and gripped Parson's arm gently. "I couldn't do this without you."
Parson smiled. "If I had any doubts before, seeing the happiness from Jeff and Lisa today erased them. You are meant to be with those kids. They already trust and love you. I'd be making a mistake if I kept you apart. I might not agree with your ways, but it got the job done and solved the problem. I have to admit, I'm impressed by your resources. Whoever you hired is good. Every angle was covered. I looked for any hole in your story I could and found nothing."
Beau laughed. "They are the best. I don't want you thinking I do this all the time. It was the first and only time I've ever lied or forged anything. I knew that applying normally would take months. We didn't have the time to wait."
"We didn't. The kids didn't. You're going to make a good father, Beau."
"I'm kind of hoping you'll be by my side to help me get through it all." Beau raised his hand so he could brush his fingertips down Parson's cheek.
"I don't know. I was thinking, if Lisa keeps the baby, that makes you a grandfather. I'm not sure I'm up for dating a grandpa," Parson teased.
Beau laughed. "I promise there is nothing grandfatherish about me, especially when I'm around you."
