Searching for Beautiful(122)

“I appreciate you finding out for me.”

“After we were able to confirm what happened to your mom, other items fell into place. We tracked down some necessary documents, and it’s been in the legal system for a while. But we have our answer.”

Wolfe cocked his head, still confused. “What answer?”

“Your adoption. We can legally adopt you as ours, Wolfe. And we want to, if you’ll accept us.”

The simple statement pierced through the shield of his heart and buried deep. Raw emotion exploded within him. He glanced back and forth, seeing the hope on Julietta’s face, the tension in the way Sawyer clenched his jaw. They were nervous? Nervous he wouldn’t want them? The shaking began, beginning with tiny goose bumps and breaking into shudders that began to wrack him from the inside. He’d been nothing before them. They’d done him a favor, taking in a smart-assed street kid with issues, and they were asking him if it was okay?

“We love you,” Julietta whispered. “But if you don’t want to go ahead with this, we understand. We won’t be hurt. You’ll always be ours, in every way that counts, but this would make it legal.”

Sawyer put up his hands. “You can think about it as long as you want. If it’s a no, we won’t talk about it again, and there’s no need to feel guilty. Understood? Whatever you want is what we want.”

The word stumbled over his tongue and shot out into the world. “Yes.”

His almost-legal parents stared at him. “Yes?” Julietta choked out. “You want to be ours?”

Wolfe let out a shaky laugh. “Hell, yeah, you think I’m crazy? I had no idea you were still pursuing it. I’ve always thought of myself as your son, but to finally have the papers to back it up? Hell, yes.”

Sawyer grinned, joy lighting up his face. “Hell, yes!”

Julietta hugged him, and Sawyer just kept grinning like an idiot, too overwhelmed to try and hug it out, which Wolfe was grateful for. No way did he want to bawl like a pussy. But inside, he felt . . . different. More whole.

He really belonged to a family now. Legally. They belonged to him, just as much as he did to them.

Hell. Yes.

Sawyer pushed the folder over with a pen. “There’s a ton of stuff to sign, but the lawyers already looked over everything. You’ll have to get used to your new name though.”

“Wolfe Wells.” He repeated the name. “Umm, yeah. Not the best, but it’s not like I have to get through middle school anymore.”

They burst into laughter.

And he signed the papers.


GEN LAY ON TOP of the covers, staring at the gorgeous ceiling with the painting of the Madonna and Child overhead. Probably not cool if you wanted to have dirty hot sex, but since that wasn’t happening tonight, maybe she should say a rosary instead. Her mother would be happy. Kind of.

Ugh.

She’d been exhausted from the trip, but also sensed Wolfe needed some time alone with his family. After a nap, she was now wide awake and buzzing with energy. Didn’t feel like reading. Her brain kept misfiring over the mixed signals Wolfe threw out. One minute he treated her like a buddy, bringing her on a trip to be nice and protect her from the big bad wolf. The next moment, he touched her and sexual electricity buzzed, and his eyes darkened with that hungry look as if he’d like to feast on her for hours in a really good way.

Unfortunately, he’d clearly set her up in a bedroom way down the hall from his. Like a sign he didn’t intend to visit. Julietta and Sawyer obviously believed they were just platonic friends. Guess no benefits this week. Which was good. They’d decided to keep it open and flexible, even though she’d fallen in love with him.

A slight tapping echoed in the room.

She shot up from the bed and opened the door.

Wolfe stood in front of her, looking delicious in sweats, a tank top, and bare feet. His hair was mussed like he’d been dragging his fingers through the curls. He smelled like soap and a bit of liquor. “Did I wake you?”

“No. Can’t sleep.”

He shifted his feet. Those blue eyes flamed to life as his gaze raked over her, but he remained safely out in the hallway. “Wanna go for a walk?”

No. She wanted him to get naked, and get busy on her bed, but Gen nodded. “I’ll change.”

“You’re fine.”

She hesitated. Not expecting a late-night sex call, she’d sported flannel pants with pink flowers, and a matching pink V-necked T-shirt. Her hair was crazy from lying on the pillow, and she had no makeup on. Gen wrinkled her nose. “I’m a mess.”

He reached over and linked his fingers with hers. The heat jumped like a live wire between them. She barely held back a hiss. “You’re a beautiful mess,” he said softly. “Just come walk with me.”