Mark's Not Gay [Brac Pack 11] by Lynn Hagen Page B

wanted to be around him. He was everything he had dreamed a dad should be. “Thank you for understanding.”
    “Just so you know, since you’ll figure it out anyway, there’s no females in this house except little Melonee, Tangee’s little sister.
    There are a lot of couples here.”
    Curtis nodded. So maybe he wouldn’t be judged by everyone.
    That was a relief. He still didn’t know what to think. His sexuality had baffled him, but it would be easier to figure out with a house full of understanding people. It may have just been curiosity. He wasn’t sure yet.
    “I’m going to head to bed. Would you like to come to the shop with me tomorrow?” Mark stood and stretched.
    Curtis’s felt his face lit up. He nodded. He was happy his dad wanted him around.
    “I’ll wake you up in the morning.” Mark walked over, kissing Curtis on his forehead before heading toward the door. “Do me a favor. If a guy name Cecil tries to talk you into going anywhere with him…run.” With that, Mark left him to settle in for the night.

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    Curtis held his fingers over the kissed area, his heart light and his chest bursting with joy. He was going to be the best son ever and make his dad proud of him.

    * * * *
    Mark and Caden, along with Curtis, met Sandy and her husband at the airport. It had been years since he’d seen her, but she didn’t look as though she had aged that much.
    “Mark.” Sandy hugged him, and then turned to Curtis. “You have a lot of explaining to do, young man.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Curtis and Terrance grabbed the luggage as they stood there.
    “This is Caden.” Mark introduced his mate. “He’s my partner.” Sandy’s eyes widened slightly but smiled warmly at Caden. “It’s nice to meet you, Caden.”
    “Likewise.” Caden smiled at Sandy as they walked toward the exit.
    “I never would have thought.” Sandy shook her head as she smiled. “He’s a nice-looking man, Mark.”
    “Thanks.” Mark was still unsure if he was pissed at Sandy or not.
    Although he had relocated when he opened the tattoo shop, and hadn’t left a forwarding address, he felt she should have tried harder to find him.
    He set that feeling aside. This was about Curtis. It still felt too surreal to believe, and he was going to concentrate on bonding with the young man. If there was friction between him and Sandy, that may make Curtis uncomfortable, and that was the last thing he wanted to do.
    “A friend of mine has agreed to lease his apartment out to you while you’re here.” Lewis, the detective, still had the keys to his apartment, and Maverick thought it best that Curtis’s mom and Mark’s Not Gay
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    stepdad not stay at the Den. It was going to be hard enough keeping the secret from his son.
    Something Mark didn’t like but understood.
    He drove them back to Brac Village, giving the couple a tour of the house Curtis wanted to stay at. With Sandy and Terrance’s approval, Mark took the couple over to the apartment.

    * * * *
    Caden chuckled as he watched Curtis follow Mark around the shop as if he were studying his every move. He could see idolization in Curtis’s eyes. His mom seemed to have raised him well.
    His mate was patient, and he explained things to Curtis as he moved around. Mark almost seemed just as excited to show his son the trade. Caden knew they would be all right. Curtis seemed to be adjusting. He had been here a week, following his dad around like a puppy.
    He even came to Caden one day this week, asking him questions about what he did here. Curtis confessed to being worried that he wouldn’t like the young man for monopolizing his dad’s time. Caden assured him it was fine, encouraged Curtis to get to know his father, and he promised Curtis things would settle into a routine. Curtis seemed to accept that, and he started talking Caden’s ear off every chance he got.
    “Is Mr. Forester here?”
    Caden looked over his shoulder. Billy had shown up ten minutes early for work.