Hostile Resolve - BK3 TPBS 1st Draft Complete

-15-

Not edited. Small chapter.

"Josie! Come in." Maxon met her at the door and throwing it open he hugged her tight.

"Maxon. I never realised you were here."

"My daughter and her mother live in Jessers so I fly in every chance I get."

She looked at him surprised.

"You have a daughter?"

Maxon smiled proudly "Sure do. Her name's Claire. I'm afraid she thinks that Nicholas is her little doll. She's been wanting to pick up the bubba ever since she woke up."

"Oh... wow. I never expected..."

"Don't worry about it. None of us did."

"You're not with her mum then?" She dropped her gaze "Sorry, that's none of my business."

"Nah it's ok. We're not together now but who knows... one day I hope." He felt sad and it showed in his face.

"Well... um... good luck I guess."

"Hey there! You made it." Grayson walked into the room carrying Nicholas while holding the hand of a very upset Claire.

Maxon knelt down "Oh baby girl what's wrong?"

He opened his arms to her and through her mumblings as she walked to him they quickly worked out that she wanted the bubba and something about tunkle tay. They couldn't help but grin as Maxon picked her up and she continued her rant.

"She looks just like you Maxon."

"She does. But as much as I'd like to stay her mum would have my head if I don't get her home now."

A round of goodbyes and sloppy kisses for the bubba left Grayson and Josie alone.

"Son, you go to your mum and dad'll finish getting dinner set up."

He walked over to her and Nicholas bounced excitedly in his arms as they got closer.

"Woah there bud...." he handed Nicholas over and watched as he immediately settled into her.

"You're a good mum Josie."

"Thank you. Grayson I really am sorry about not telling you."

Grayson shook his head as he walked over to the fridge and took out the salad he'd made up earlier. He placed it on the table and walked to the stove where the steak was slowly cooking.

"I get it. It hurts to know that I missed out but... I get it. The way I was I'm actually surprised you came back now. I was a..." he stopped as he remembered and looked towards his son "well I wasn't a nice guy."

"You weren't all that bad."

"Yes I was. You're right Josie. I took charge of everything. There's no excuse as to how I controlled everything that you did." He looked up at the wall behind the stove as the tongs he held stayed in mid air. "Then what I did today..."

"I understand why you did what you did today Grayson. It scared the hell out if me but I don't want to dwell on that. We have a son together and I'm just glad that you were joking".

"Please Josie, don't make excuses for what I did. It was wrong on every level imaginable... and on top of everything else" he gulped down a lump the size of Uluru before looking down at the steaks in front of him "I'm sorry Josie... so damn sorry."

"I'd like to understand why you thought you needed to be like that Grayson because honestly when you weren't all medieval I would have followed you to the ends of the earth."

"Really?"

She nodded and his heart collapsed.

"I want to tell you Josie. I want to tell you everything."

**********

well have you worked out the differences between Grayson and his brothers yet? I really love this guy!

Sooooo have you read the beginning of my new story  "He Told Me"?

Have a read, let me know what you think, vote your little hearts out and you may just be rewarded with a very emotional chapter on another story. you know the one about........

damn I'm evil lol