“She also said you haven’t been with a kitten in nearly a week.”
I got to my feet, on the defense. “If you have nothing else to say, I’m out.” Who the fuck did these people think they were to be talking about my sex life?
“You fell for the mom and kid.”
“No, I didn’t.” Was he out of his mind? I didn’t fall for anyone. Not ever. And definitely not this time. Jaynee was a single mom with a kid. It hit too fucking close to home for me.
Storm sighed. “Sit.” He flicked his dark eyes to the chair.
I sat, throwing my hands up. “What?”
“Don’t lie to me. I’m the one person you can be straight with. Nothing you say ever leaves this office.”
I relented just to get out of here faster. “Fine. I like her. She’s a nice woman, and the kid is cute. None of it matters, though. I won’t get involved with her.” Jaynee and Sadie deserved someone better than me. I wouldn’t mar their innocence.
“Three years ago, you said there was genetic testing to determine if you carried the hereditary genes. Why haven’t you done it?”
Fucking Storm had to go there.
“Boy, you’re just all over the fucking place tonight, aren’t you?”
“Just answer me.”
“Would you want to know your fate?” No sane person would want to know if they’d die before they were fifty or would need round-the-clock care in their forties.
“Yes.”
“Bullshit, Storm.”
“I’d want to know what the future held,” he said through gritted teeth. “To prepare if needed.”
“Why? Before Angel came on the scene, you didn’t want to be tied to anyone. Well, neither do I.”
He shook his head and lifted his tumbler of whiskey. “I wasn’t fighting the urge to be a family guy. I never wanted it. You do.” He swallowed the amber liquid. “You’re fighting it because you’re afraid of the unknown.”
“Hell yeah, I’m afraid. I’m fucking terrified. I’d rather live my life blissfully oblivious.” I didn’t wanted to be a burden to anyone If I ended up like my mom, my affairs would be in order. No one I cared about would need to worry about taking care of me.
“That ain’t gonna happen, brother. You’ve met a woman you like. She’s changed you.”
“Has not. I don’t even know her.” I couldn’t believe we were discussing Jaynee. I’d only spent a few hours with her and Sadie. All this talk was crazy.
“Just ask the kittens if you’re different. Your brothers notice it too.”
I scrubbed my hand against my cheek, wishing I could choke Track for opening his big mouth. “She’s moving. It’s better this way.”
“I think you’re wrong.”
“That’s fine. Think what you want. I’m keeping my distance. I just need some time to work through shit.”
“Get tested. Maybe it’ll give you peace of mind. Maybe you can have the family you want instead of just fucking around.”
“There ain’t nothing wrong with fucking around.”
“You hide it well, being Mr. Ladies’ Man and shit. But it’s all an act.”
I shot him a shit-eating grin. “I love women… all women. That’s the honest truth.”
“Deny it all you want, but the real Lynx is the man who drank half a bottle of tequila to ease his pain when he locked Angel in a room after she beat the crap out of Carla.”