Page 71 of Heal
"No, it's really not. We're friends for right now. We might date, but haven't really had time to worry about it since that one date. I've been helping him with an adoption. He's fostering two of the kids I work with."
"Oh, that's great. That man is just so wonderful. A rich doctor, a philanthropist, now he's adopting two children. That's a lot to take on as a single man." His mother reached over and touched Parson's arm. "Maybe you can help him with that?"
Parson rolled his eyes. "Don't push, Mom. I'm not sure where things stand with Beau right now. I'll let you know if anything changes, but as of right now, we are focusing on a fundraiser we're doing together. It's for the Children's Center. The current one is overcrowded with kids sleeping on the floor. Beau and I hope to raise enough money to find a new place to open that can take the overflow."
"Why the fundraiser? Between you and him, you could open ten of those places." His father reached for his coffee.
"Because it will raise awareness in the community. We hope to hold the event close to Christmas. Beau has a few bands who have said they'd play, and I was hoping you and some of your friends might show up, sign a few autographs, take a few pictures."
"When is this?"
"I don't have an actual date yet, but Beau was working on that. It will be within the next month. We're also using it as a donation drive to get gifts for the children for Christmas. We'll have Santa there and do the whole Christmas thing. We'll sell tickets for dinner and the concerts. Can you be there?"
His mother nodded. "We're free until the fourth of January, then we fly to Greece for a couple of months. Your father is directing a movie there."
"Rough place to work," Parson teased.
"You should take a week or two off work and come join us. Bring Beau with you." His mother looked at him with a hopeful gleam in her eye.
"We'll see, Mom. I don't have a lot of vacation time with it being the first of the year. I'll see what I can do, but Beau has the kids, so I doubt he'll join me." He wasn't about to tell her that if he went on vacation with Beau, it sure wouldn't be to hang out with his parents.
"You shouldn't let a man like Beau Maddington get away. If you don't stake your claim now, he's going to move on. You'll end up with some man who is with you only to get to your father." His mother started laughing.
"She won't let that go," his father grumbled. "She tells that story to everyone. I do have to admit though, if I had to have any of your boyfriends warm my bed, it would be Maddington."
"Honey!" His mother choked back another laugh.
"Seriously, Dad?" Parson shook his head.
"You know I'm kidding. I don't swing that way. I do agree with your mother on this, you can't let this one get away. Grab on tight and don't let go. He's rich, successful, handsome."
"Don't you think I should worry about happiness and love too?"
"Ah, that will come in time." His father waved his hand through the air.
Thankfully the cook started to bring dinner in, saving Parson from having to answer. But as he started to eat, he thought about what his parents said. They were right. He needed to call Beau and talk to him. He needed to decide. He couldn't let this hang between them any longer or he would lose any chance of having Beau if he decided that was what he wanted.
There was no denying the feelings Beau stirred in him, and they were more than compatible sexually so far. Parson had never found a man who had reacted as easily as Beau had to the sexual commands. Most men fought with him about it, claiming it made them feel weak or used. Beau had seemed to welcome it and even be turned on by it. He wanted to explore more with him.
The question was, could he handle knowing it could all end in an instant? Could he be the man who sat home worrying? Could he look past the danger and love Beau a hundred percent, no matter what the future might hold for them?
Beau deserved an answer, and Parson swore that he would find one. He just wasn't sure what that answer would be yet.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Beau waved to his father's secretary as he made his way to the office. He'd called, wanting to meet with his father, but he'd hoped to do it at the house, not at the office. He shouldn't have been surprised. His father never passed up a chance to drag Beau into the offices. There was always something his father needed help with or could use Beau's skills with. And like always, Beau was going to refuse.
This wasn't his life. He was happy being a doctor. He loved medicine. Being stuck in a suit and behind a desk all day would drive him insane. He wanted to help people, not just make money off of them.
He'd dreaded this meeting from the moment he set it up. It wasn't going to go well. Breaking the news about the kids needed to be done before Thanksgiving. He wanted to take and introduce the kids to his family, but he wouldn't spring them on them.
He'd already told his sister, and she'd been excited. She was working in New York at the moment and told him she'd be back for Thanksgiving and then spend a few days at the house with him so she could get to know the kids.
They'd spent the last week shopping and getting everything the kids could ever need. They fought him on everything, but he always won. It was sweet that they didn't want him to spend money on them, but they were now his kids, and they would have what they needed. Thankfully, Faith had been with them for many of the shopping trips, and helped him convince the kids that it was okay to get things.
He hadn't heard from Parson, and that was starting to bother him. He'd hoped after a day or two he'd show up and say he was okay with everything, but the longer he went without hearing from him, the more worried he was that it was over between them.
He understood. It was a lot to take in, and not everyone could handle the violence and activities that the team performed. Still, it hurt. He really liked Parson and was sure that if they just gave it a chance, things would work out between them.
