What to Do With a Bad Boy

by Marie Harte

Colin stared at him. “Jethro Tull?”

  While his father explained about the band, J.T. ate the pie Del kindly handed him.

  She didn’t say a word, even tried to wipe the smirk from her face. The same one sitting on Mike’s fat mouth.

  “More pie, Mike?” she asked McCauley—her stupid, romance-cover boyfriend.

  A friggin’ model. J.T. could have had a field day with that. But leave it to his father to ruin things. What the hell good was blackmail material if he couldn’t use it?

  Then his father handed his cell phone to Colin, and the beginning of “Thick as a Brick” began to play. J.T. buried his head in his hands while his cousin, his sister, and her boyfriend laughed.

  ***

  Mike hadn’t had so much fun in a long time. With the exception of Rena’s discovery, the night had gone surprisingly well.

  After the dinner ended and he’d left Del with a kiss on the cheek, he drove Colin home. From the backseat of the truck, Colin asked, “Did you like kissing Del, Dad?”

  “I did.” Before they’d left for dinner at Del’s he’d given his son a simple explanation—that he and Del were dating. The boy hadn’t batted an eye, but Mike had been waiting for the eventual questions.

  “So are you going to get me a little brother now that I have a new mom?”

  Mike gripped the steering wheel tight and watched the road. “Colin, Del and I are dating. She’s not your mom.”

  “I know. But she could be my new mom.”

  How to answer that?

  “Dad, Brian didn’t have a dad for a long time. Then he got a new dad, but he still sees his old dad sometimes. I saw Mom with you at the cemetery, but she’s not really there. You and Grandma told me that. So why can’t I have a new mom?”

  Mike didn’t want to have this discussion. Not now, not later. How the hell did he describe a soul mate to a six-year-old? How to explain why he couldn’t settle for a cheap imitation when he’d known true love all too briefly? Not that he could classify Del as anything remotely cheap. An image of her smiling face and laughing eyes filled his mind, and he hurriedly wiped her from his concentration. Del… She wasn’t a forever kind of girl. She made him happy now. But she wasn’t Lea. Could never be Lea.

  And part of him hated how much fun he’d had tonight, and how often he thought about Del instead of his wife.

  He said nothing while he figured out how to talk to his son about the sensitive subject.

  “Well, if I can’t have a new mom yet, can I at least have a puppy?”

  Relieved Colin wasn’t dwelling on the idea of a new mom, Mike answered, “You know, you’re getting older. Maybe we could see about getting a dog.”

  Colin cheered.

  “But you have to show you can handle that kind of responsibility. I’m not going to be cleaning up its mess all the time. That’ll be your thing. Dog poop, walking him, feeding him. That’s a lot to handle, boy.”

  “I know, Dad. I can do it. I swear.”

  Hearing himself agree to a dog made him want to smash his head against the dash. But it was too late now. “Well… How about if you watch Hyde for a month? If you prove you can be responsible with Ubie’s dog, then we’ll talk about getting you your own.”

  Colin might last a day or two, but a whole month cleaning up Hyde’s massive dog piles? No way. He didn’t consider himself cruel for crushing his son’s hopes for a canine. Teaching his kid to be a good dog owner made more sense than giving him a living, breathing creature to look after.

  Colin didn’t stop talking about the kind of dog he wanted the whole way home. Nor had it escaped Mike’s notice how often Del’s name came up in the conversation. Of what kind of dog she wanted, or how she said she’d find one she could take to the garage with her.

  He put Colin to bed with relief, cranky yet amused his son had somehow managed to make him commit to a possible pet.

  “More like Brody than I’d thought,” he muttered.

  Someone knocked on the back door. He walked into the kitchen and looked through the door window. Speak of the devil…

  He opened the door and found all three of his brothers standing on the back porch.

  “Hey.” Flynn smiled. “We were slumming and thought we’d give you a pity drive-by.”

  “Funny.” Mike stepped back, waiting for them to enter.

  Cam nodded, the serious-seeming one of the bunch. If you overlooked his laughing eyes. “We know it’s safe to be over since it’s not a school night.”

  “Smart-ass.”

  The others snickered. He let them enter, waiting for the third degree. That they’d waited this long to probe into his relationship with Del surprised him.

  “So,” Flynn started.

  Brody dug into the refrigerator for some leftover cake. Then he shared with the others.

  “Sure, help yourself.”

  Brody grinned. “Thanks.”

  “How did things go with Del?” Cam asked, his tone casual, nonthreatening.

  “Is this the voice you use with Vanessa, to keep the monster at bay?”

  Flynn chuckled.

  Cam took the teasing in stride. Hell, they all knew Vanessa was a handful. Personally, Mike didn’t think anyone else could suit his youngest brother better. A mega-brain for a mega-brain.

  Cam smirked. “Say what you want, guys, but my kid will be doing circles around yours in school.”

  “True.” Brody nodded. “But mine will be fleecing yours for milk money before he can talk.”

  “No doubt,” Flynn agreed.

  “You know, it’s getting late…” Mike tried. A mistake, because all attention focused on him again.

  “So,” Brody started. “I hear you and Del are now a couple.”

  “Couple of what?” Flynn asked, frowning. “I didn’t hear that.”

  “Probably because Rena isn’t obsessed with Maddie. Not like she is with your accomplice, Abigail D. Chatterly,” Mike drawled, pleased to see the flash of guilt that darted in and out of Brody’s eyes. “Yeah. I might be big and look dumb, but I’m not. Did you really think you guys could conspire to set me up with Del and I wouldn’t catch on?”

  “Conspire? What the hell?” Flynn looked honestly confused…for a split second. He’d always been tight with Brody, and the flash of smugness that passed over his face didn’t do him any favors.

  “Ha. I knew you were in on it too. Cam, I’m not sure.”

  “Oh, I knew they were setting you up,” Cam agreed.

  Flynn snarled, “Narc.”

  “Seriously, bro. No secrets with you, are there?” Brody frowned in annoyance. “And you wonder why we never clued you in on shit when we were growing up.”

  Now Cam frowned. “Yeah, about that, why did—”

  “This has been a long day,” Mike interrupted.

  “I heard.” Cam cleared his throat. “So your date… What’s going on with you and Del?”

  “Nothing serious. We like each other and we’re hanging out.”

  “You having sex?” Flynn asked bluntly.

  “No, moron. We like to paint watercolors together.” He snorted, amused when Brody shook his head, and even Cam rolled his eyes. “Of course we’re having sex. What’s the point of having a hot girlfriend if we’re platonic? And before you go all women’s lib on me, Cam, I enjoy her company too. Okay?”

  “Fine.” Cam grinned. “So you like-like her.”

  Brody laughed. “Classic.”

  Flynn slapped Mike on the back. “She’s kinda scary, but in an ‘I’ll kick your ass if you play me’ kind of way. You’re good with that?”

  Mike grinned. “Hell yeah.”

  “Oh.” Brody nodded. “Big guy likes being handled, I see.” He paused. “A lot different from Lea though, isn’t she?”

  They all grew quiet, and Mike tried to stem his annoyance. “Um, guys? I know Lea’s dead. We can move on.”

  Cam studied him. “Normally you get all emotionally shut down when someone talks about Lea. I think Del is good for you.
”

  Flynn groaned. “Please don’t go all touchy-feely on us, Cam. Leave the therapy to Dr. Rosenthal.” Their parents’ shrink.

  “Maybe you could talk to her,” Brody suggested. When everyone stared at him, he flushed. “What? Abby made me go to her once, and it helped. You know, after Seth passed.” At their amazement, he murmured, “It was just one time. Assholes.”

  “No, man. That’s great.” Flynn smiled. “Your head was never on straight to begin with. I think you should use any help you can get.”

  “Dick.” Brody sneered.

  “Anyway,” Flynn continued. “I just meant Del wants more than the typical sex all your other ‘girlfriends’ wanted. You slept with them and that was it. Del’s probably more of a relationship, knock-your-socks-off-with-sex girl.”

  “Uh-huh.” Amused at Flynn, Mike waited to hear more.

  Brody added, “Yeah, what numbnuts said. Like when I was with Abby, I was finally in a good headspace. You look good with Del. Not that we’ve seen you guys together or anything. Well, not since that one time we went bowling and you couldn’t stop staring at her ass.”

  “There was that,” Flynn agreed with a smirk.

  “This might be a good time to ask if Colin’s in bed,” Cam reminded them.

  “Oh, er, right.” Brody looked around. “He is, isn’t he?”

  “Yes.” Mike sighed. “Look. I like her. A lot. She’s funny, mean, sexy. All of it. And yeah, she’s way different from Lea.” He mused, more to himself than them, “Never thought I’d like that, but I do.”

  “She’s a good person too.” Flynn nodded. “Maddie and the girls love her. Grace…not so much.”

  Curious, Mike asked, “Do any of you like Grace?”

  As one, they all frowned.

  “No.” Brody first.

  “Hell no. She’s too nice—and I don’t trust anyone who smiles all the time.” Cam second.

  Flynn snorted. “You’re kidding, right? Watching her play my big brother at Abby’s party was embarrassing. She led you by the nose, man.”

  “I was trying to be polite, like Mom asked me to be,” Mike growled, not appreciating Flynn’s comments.

  “We all know how polite you are.” Brody took a huge bite of cake and talked with his mouth full. “But there’s such a thing as too nice.”

  “You really think I’m nice?” A four-letter word no man liked to be associated with. It was the kiss of death with women. Though Del seemed to think he had more going for him than manners.

  Flynn answered, “You’re kidding, right? How many times growing up have I heard—have we heard—to follow your example? Because Mike always holds the door for the ladies. He always says please and thank you. He always washes his hands after he takes a piss.”

  “It was hell for Cam growing up with you,” Brody said sadly.

  Flynn laughed. “True. Bro, you were Mr. Perfect. Not as smart as Poindexter,” he paused and thumbed at Cam, who gave him the finger, “but you were like the perfect son. It was even hard for Brody to keep up.”

  Brody swore. “Fuck you. I was the golden boy. You were always in his shadow. And that’s also why Cam turned, sadly, to book learnin’,” he said in a Southern accent. “So our littlest could stand out among his nerdy peers. Not the beefiest McCauley, but the bookwormiest.”

  Mike laughed, because his brothers were idiots. “You guys are so weird. So you paled in my glorious shadow.” He struck a pose, outlining his muscular biceps. “I understand it can be difficult being raised around so much excellence, but you tried. I give you credit for that.”

  Flynn gagged. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

  “Figures. Weakest link and all.” Cam buffed his hands against what was probably an expensive sweater. Brody and Flynn were dressed in T-shirts.

  Mike glanced down at the button-down shirt he’d washed so he’d look decent at Del’s. It had been important that her family like him. So… “Mom is having this barbecue tomorrow.”

  “No, it’s next week,” Cam corrected. “It’s supposed to rain tomorrow, so she moved it. She texted me earlier, so you should have that on your phone by now.”

  “So no barbecue tomorrow, but next week,” Mike said after checking his phone. “Fine. I need your help though. Be on your best behavior with Del.” He smacked Brody, then Flynn, in the head.

  “Hey.” Flynn glared.

  Brody shot him the finger.

  He didn’t worry about Cam, who knew how to behave. “Look, Del likes the girls. You two, don’t be obnoxious. Cam, maybe you can help with Mom. She doesn’t seem to like Del much.” He’d noticed. And he didn’t like it.

  “Sure. But I don’t think it’s that she dislikes Del, so much as she’s worried about you,” Cam offered.

  “How’s that?”

  Cam shook his head. “Nothing that can’t keep. Come on, guys,” he said to Brody and Flynn. “It’s late. Let’s let Mike off the hook.”

  “For now,” Flynn warned. “Poker, Friday night. Brody’s place. Come see how great it looks now that we’re helping him fix it up.”

  Brody scowled. “I resent that.”

  “Dude, you know it’s true.” Flynn sighed. “It’s a good thing Maddie’s taking pity on you and Abby and helping design your place. Because, sadly, Abby’s taste sucks.”

  “Ass.” Brody glared.

  Cam, wisely, said nothing. Now living with Vanessa full-time, he seemed to be taking impending fatherhood and life with Van-zilla in stride.

  “Okay. So Friday night at Brody’s.”

  “Brody’s and Abby’s, as soon as she moves in,” Brody corrected with pride. “And Hyde’s if you want to get technical.”

  Mike groaned. “Oh, about your demon dog. I need to borrow him.” He explained the deal he’d made with Colin, leaving out the reason behind it, and accepted the laughter and sucker insults thrown his way. He knew he deserved it.

  “That kid.” Brody wiped away an imaginary tear. “What a manipulator. I’m so proud.”

  “Figures.” Mike herded the three of them out the back door. “Remember, be nice to Del when you see her. And get Mom off her ass,” he directed to Cam, who was right about being her favorite. Considering he was most like her, Mike figured Cam had earned his due.

  “I’ll do my best.” Cam smiled, and Mike had to admit his brother looked good wearing happiness like a second skin. “Mike, I like Del. She suits you.”

  Mike nodded. “Yeah, yeah. Now all of you, go home to your women. And you call me a sucker?”

  They laughed at him knowingly. Because he’d just joined their ranks, still not sure how he’d become so enamored of a woman he had no idea what to do with. His girlfriend.

  He savored her image as he settled into bed. Not even Lea’s memory could keep him from dreaming about Del and what he planned for them the next day.

  Chapter 17

  Del glared at Foley who wouldn’t stop smirking at her. “What?” she snapped.

  “Nothing, boss. You’re looking pretty good today is all. Pretty…satisfied.”

  Across the garage, Lou coughed to no doubt muffle laughter. Then Johnny entered, giving her a telling once-over, and whistled “Here Comes the Bride.”

  Her stupid brother must have talked, because she couldn’t see her dad spreading rumors about her love life.

  “The next one of you assholes who thinks he’s funny—before I’ve had my coffee—goes on desk duty.”

  The garage grew silent in a heartbeat.

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

  Her father entered, took a good look around, and sighed. “Bullying the guys again? Really, honey. That’s no way to treat valued employees. Even Foley.”

  “Thanks a lot,” Foley muttered and disappeared under the hood of a ’69 Mustang coupe.

  “You’re hilarious, Dad.” She stormed back into her office and settled in for a few phone calls.

  Some time later, her father brought her a steaming cup of coffee from a local shop down the street
, and she finished her call and guzzled it, sighing with pleasure as the perfect amount of creamer and sugar lit her up from the inside. “Thanks. Gino was in this morning, wasn’t he?”

  “You can tell?”

  “He always makes my coffee perfect. Nell adds too much sugar.”

  Her father shrugged and sipped from his own cup. “Take it black, like me, and it never matters who’s serving.” He studied her while she typed up a few back invoices she’d been meaning to get to last week but hadn’t. “So. We missed you last night at dinner. Rena made lasagna.”

  She nodded, focusing on the monitor and not her dad’s shit-eating grin.

  “Expect you were with Mike and Colin.”

  “Yeah.”

  “What did you do?”

  The rain had in fact made the barbecue a wash, so it was a good thing it had been canceled.

  “You really want to know?”

  “I’m curious.”

  “I met Mike at his place for dinner, then spent the evening getting my ass handed to me at Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, and Monopoly, though I’m pretty sure they cheated. I ended up landing in jail an awful lot. Pass Go and collect two hundred dollars, my ass.”

  Her father choked on his coffee.

  “What?”

  “Just surprised you spent the evening playing board games.”

  “Well, it’s not like we could have sex with Colin watching.”

  Her father cringed, and she allowed herself a mean smile. Nosy bastard. “Do you hound J.T. each time he goes out on a date?”

  “No, but only because your brother’s a pig.”

  “True.”

  “I’m glad to see you with Mike. But…”

  “But?”

  “Is the kid too much? Colin’s cute, but it can’t be easy dating a guy with baggage.”

  Mike’s baggage had less to do with the living. She didn’t tell her father that, though. “Colin’s great. I like him. I think it would be harder dating a guy whose kid wasn’t so well behaved. Like Jenny’s brood.” She shuddered. She loved her neighbor, but her children were undisciplined monsters. She couldn’t see Mike ever letting Colin get away with so much.

  Her father nodded. “Yeah, you have a point.” He glanced at the stacks on her desk. “Need help?”