[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]like the perfect dad with his sleeves, beard, and build, but tattoos weren t taboo to him. Maybe he d
show Leif that too.
Sometimes. It depends on the design and timeframe. A huge design might take more than one
sitting. Plus, I like for the people I work with to go home with something like that and think about it
just in case. I don t want to ink them and have them freak out that they made the wrong choice.
Because tattoos are permanent.
Austin nodded, holding out his arm. Yep. I can do cover-ups, and there s tattoo removal if they
really need it, but that hurts like a bit It hurts a lot. Plus, you re just scarring the tissue then, so it s
not really the same.
Leif studded Austin s arm intently. So you have it all tattooed?
Yeah. Both arms. I did some of it. Maya did the rest. They re called sleeves.
Leif looked up, his eyes wide. You tattooed yourself.
Austin grinned. Yeah. I can t do big ones on my own because the pain gets to me in a way that I
get a little tired, and most angles are too hard, but I like to know I have my own artwork on my body.
That s cool. Leif held out a hesitant hand. What s this one? It s the same thing on your sign.
Austin sucked in a breath. It s the Montgomery Iris. Wes and Storm s company has the same
logo. It s our family logo or crest. All of us Montgomerys have the same tattoo, just in different places
and in different colors sometimes.
Really? Even Marie and Harry?
Austin grinned. Even Marie and Harry.
So what do you have to do to get one? Leif asked, his gaze on Austin s ink rather than his face.
Austin swallowed hard. Be family. And eighteen.
Leif looked up and grinned. Do you think&
Austin sucked in a breath. I think when you re eighteen and if you want one, then sure. But not in
a place that shows if you want to work in a place that doesn t like tattoos. We might like them and
have no problem with them, but some people judge, and I d rather you not have to deal with that when
you re eighteen.
Leif blinked, his eyes wet. Austin knew his were the same. Must be allergies. Only eight years
then.
Holy shit. Only eight years. He d lost so fucking much. Yeah, it sucked, and he shouldn t blame
the dead, but he did. Maggie had taken something precious from him for one reason or another. She d
put his name on the birth certificate so yeah, he could be traced eventually like he had been, but she d
kept his son from him. Maybe deep down she wanted him to know about Leif, but he didn t know if
that was the case. She d hidden him. Most likely because she thought he was a freak, but right then, he
didn t care about the reason. He just cared about the fact he d missed Leif s birth, missed his first
words, his first steps, his first day of school.
He d missed so much, and now he was missing more because they had a long road to figure out
how the two of them would work together as a unit.
Life was short, and Austin didn t want to lose any more time with his son.
Hey, you two, I brought dinner, Sierra said from the doorway, a box of chicken in her hand.
Austin stood and took the box out of her hands, leaning down to kiss her. Thank you, Legs.
She grinned up at him then looked under his arm at Leif. You hungry, Leif?
Uh huh. Did you get the beans and rice? That s my favorite. He ducked his head and blushed.
Hell, he was falling for his own kid.
Austin looked into Sierra s eyes, and he knew she was falling too.
They needed to talk.
Soon.
Yeah, she said after clearing her throat. I got the beans and rice. It s my favorite part too.
Mine three, he added, noting how they were acting like a family.
The three of them.
He wasn t sure how he felt about that, but he would take it one day at a time. It was all he could
do.
Is he asleep? Sierra asked, running her hands over her hair.
Austin walked into the bedroom, closing the door behind him. Leif had taken the room upstairs
and across the hall, meaning it was the farthest from Austin s first-floor master bedroom. It worked
for now, and knowing what Austin wanted to do that night, he was grateful.
Yeah. He went right out. Apparently, he had a field day during gym so he was tired.
Sierra cocked her head to the side. Did we know he had a field day?
Austin shook his head. No, at least you and I didn t. I don t think Mom did either, or she would
have mentioned it. Leif said it was a small one though, just during gym and not a whole-day thing like
we used to have when we were kids.
She frowned. If you re sure then. That sounds like something we should have known, right?
Austin ran a hand over his face. I honestly have no idea, but we know now, and I think he s
opening up enough that if he has one in the future, we ll know. At least he hoped so. At this point it
was a gamble if he got Leif to open up about what was going on in his life. Their talk about tattoos
and family on the porch, though, had been decent, better than most of the talks they usually had.
Sierra stood next to the bed wearing one of his shirts and a pair of volleyball shorts. Shorts that
made her legs look even sexier. His cock perked up at the sight, and he swallowed back a groan. It
had been a long while since they d made love. They d been too afraid to do anything in the house with
Leif around. Sure, it wasn t a problem for most couples with kids in the house, but this was a first for
him, and he didn t want to fuck it up.
As it was, he and Decker had quietly taken down the dungeon in the basement. It had been pretty
easy considering Austin hadn t had that much of a setup, but it was a little like saying goodbye to a
part of him in the process. He couldn t risk having a place Leif could easily find. What he and Sierra
did in private wasn t any of his business, but it was still irresponsible not to find a way to shield him
from things he didn t understand. In addition, nothing had been formally finalized when it came to Leif
staying there. Yes, the kid was his blood, but the courts had to put their rubber stamp on it. People
feared what they didn t understand, and considering the reasons Maggie had left him, he wasn t about
to do anything that could disrupt Leif s life yet again.
What s going on in that mind of yours? Sierra asked, walking to him slowly.
He opened his arms, and she sank into him, her head resting on his chest. I ve missed you, he
whispered.
Sierra pulled back, her brow furrowed. I ve been here the whole time, Austin. How could you
miss me?
He let his hand fall through her hair. You have been with me this whole time. I don t know how
to thank you. He frowned. Have I thanked you at all? Or have I just taken your help, guidance, and
generally kick-ass attitude for granted?
She smiled softly then cupped his cheek. He turned into her palm, kissing it gently. You ve said
thank you. You ve also worked your butt off in an impossible situation. You have a son, Austin. That
is so freaking scary, and yet you raised your chin and said, okay, let s do this.
He shook his head. I was only able to say that because you were there every step of the way.
Sure, there was no other answer when it came to Leif. I wasn t about to leave him in a group home
when I had plenty of room here, but you did the same, Sierra. You put everything on hold and then
changed your life for him. And for me. You accepted him without argument. I don t know how I ll
ever repay you.
She sighed. You had room in your heart for him too, Austin. I believe that even if you can t see it
yet.
Austin swallowed hard. He didn t know what to do with his feelings when it came to Leif. It was
all a little too surreal to contemplate.
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