1
Connor Westin parked his BMW in the garage and climbed out, his phone switching from Bluetooth to speaker automatically. “Agree to fixing the window and the lock on the back door, but the kitchen appliances are as-is, and we’re not painting anything. That’s ridiculous.”
“You want me to say it’s ridiculous?”
Connor reminded himself that although Kit was a great paralegal, he was young. “That would be fun, wouldn’t it?”
“So, no. Got it.” Kit was also way too serious.
“Thank you. I’m around if they come back with anything tonight. Gotta run.” He hung up, dropped his phone in his pocket, and went into the house. “Smells good in here.” He made his way to the kitchen, where he knew his handsome husband would be cooking dinner for their family.
“Chicken parm. Your sons had a request.” Early wore a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, button-down shirt draped over one of the dining room chairs. Pretty-pretty. “How goes it?”
“Good, another day another house sale. And there’s some easement dispute downtown that I’m supposed to be talking to someone about tomorrow.” He slid a hand around Early’s waist, fingers spreading out across killer abs and kissed his nape. “Mysons? What did they do now?”
“Which one?” Early shot him a quick, easy grin. “Jaxson climbed behind the bleachers and found a mouse, which he proceeded to keep in his lunch box until he got ready to come home, and he showed it to Jenny Franklin. It’s now living in a cage in his room, his lunch box has been bleached, and I made him apologize to the teacher and Jenny. And Jayden…”
Oh god.
“He apparently climbed into the ceiling of the school using the pipes in the boys’ bathroom. Did you know he’s allergic to fiberglass? He is. He looks vaguely like he’s been boiled. I’m calling him Lobster Boy. He isn’t amused.”
Oh, the poor kid. That had to itch. “Good. Great. They’re both still alive and taking after you.” Truth be told, Jayden was more like him in this case, but he wasn’t going to admit it.
“Dad! I got a mouse. You wanna see?”
“Has it had its shots?”
“What?”
He glanced at Early. “We’re keeping the mouse?”
“You going to poison it?” Early shrugged, altogether too unconcerned about a possible disease-ridden rodent in their house.
“Daddy! His name is Dennis. You can’t kill it if it has a name.”
Connor sighed. “I didn’t mean we should kill it. Geez. But maybe Mrs. Mouse misses him?” It was worth a shot.
“He’s not married. He’s a DJ, and he’s going to be all about the bass.” Save him from smartass sons.
“DJ Dennis Mouse?” He ruffled Jaxson’s hair. “Fine. But he’s going to the vet.”
“Okay! Wanna meet him?”
Early shook his head. “After supper. Y’all have fifteen minutes. Go wash and tell Lobster Boy to get his butt down here.”
Jaxson bounced up and ran for the stairs. “Lostber Boy! Daddy says get your butt butt butt down here!”
“Stop calling me that!” Jayden came slumping down the stairs and shuffled into the kitchen. “Hi, Dad,” he said opening the fridge door and hiding behind it.
“Hey, kid. So, what was the endgame here? After you made it into the ceiling?”
“Endgame?”
“What were you trying to do?”
Jayden closed the fridge door and looked at him, clearly confused. He was definitely red and swollen. “I don’t know. I just did it.”
“We’re raising monkeys.” Connor shook his head. “Set the table, boys.”