Harkham's Corner (Harkham's Series Book 3) by Chanse Lowell, Lynch Marti Read Free Book Online

He’s a bad, selfish man! There’s no bigger dickhead than him on this planet!”
    She cupped his cheeks. “No, he’s a confused father. He’s trying to reach out but doesn’t know how.”
    “This isn’t reaching. This is stealing. He wants money, and I’m giving it to him.” He swapped spots with her and rinsed the baby off carefully. His grip tightened so the slippery wiggler wouldn’t fly out of his arms.
    Button made a raspberry noise. It was adorable, so Adam kissed his temple.
    “ Adam . . .” She took the baby so he could wash himself. “Think about it—what happens when you push our kids away even a little bit, even if it’s just for a few moments?”
    “Meg gets whiny, Button gets clingy. So what?”
    “So, what happens if I say I don’t wanna make love or pleasure you? How do you react?” She pursed her lips.
    “I want it more. I get more demanding, or you say I’m a bear to deal with because then I won’t stop touching you at all. So. What?” His voice was tight.
    “Grown-ups are the same as kids. We all have needs, and if they aren’t met, then things can get ugly. If you push him away, he’s going to get desperate and go after something else he knows is important to you. He’s trying in his own odd way to show you he wants to be involved. You both like music, and you’re both really talented. What else does he have in common with you? We haven’t let him see the kids again other than briefly when you gave him that present. Did you see how his eyes lit up when you handed him the CD with the song?” She played with the few little curls at the nape of the baby’s neck.
    “I didn’t even give him the others I made. I didn’t know if he’d like it,” he said, his breath catching in his throat. “What if I’d given him the rest? Would he have tried to steal those, too?”
    His head was pounding, and he could feel numbers at the back of his brain.
    “Breathe . . . I’m not gonna discuss the what ifs. We don’t know what he would’ve done, so don’t worry about that. Maybe you need to ask him point blank what he wants instead of assuming he’s out to get you and make money off what was supposed to be a kind gesture.” She rocked the baby. He was squeaking a little now with his fist pushing into his mouth.
    Adam groaned. “I don’t know how to talk to that man. I try, but he’s . . . He confuses me. I feel like a child when I’m around him, and I don’t like it. I’m a man.”
    “I know you are, sweetie. You’re the best man.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “The best man I’ve ever known. Now, show your dad that’s who you are, and you’re not intimidated by his presence.”
    A gallon of peace swept over him with the water. “You’re right. Why are you always so smart and sweet? I wish I was more like you.”
    “God, I don’t, but thanks for saying that.” She smiled, and her eyes were softer than the baby’s skin.
    “Why wouldn’t you want me to be like you?” His eyes lifted, and he ignored the water trying to get into his eyes.
    “Because then you wouldn’t be a man, now, would you?” She smirked.
    “You are silly. Sex in a the garage makes me feel better, and talking in the shower makes you silly.”
    She giggled. “I love you.”
    “I love you, but I still don’t like that man.”
    “I know.” She stroked his shoulder. “It’s okay. Sometimes we love our family because we have to, but we don’t always have to like them.”
    He shrugged. “Good, because I don’t know if I’ll ever like him, and it makes me feel sick about it. The only time I feel worse than when I think about him is when I guzzle down too much soda—that’s how awful he makes me feel.”
     
    * * *
     
    Dustin answered the door. “Hey, Son, what’s going on?”
    Adam leaned into the door frame. “Do you have a few minutes between clients?”
    “Yeah, a few minutes. You look like you’re not feeling well. Do you need to leave for the day?” His dad motioned