Henry (The Beck Brothers) Read Online Free PDF

actually
blushed. He cleared his throat and held up the grocery bag in one hand. "I
brought dinner, ” he said,
then held up his other hand, "and a little get-well present for
Ethan."
     
    Claire's hand came up
to press against her heart as she fought off tears. She moved aside to let
Henry in. He stepped into the apartment but stopped just to the right of the
door. Claire closed it and took the grocery bag from Henry. He looked tense and
uneasy, like he wasn't sure if he was going to be welcome or not.
     
    Claire turned to her
father, who had stood. "Dad, this is my boss, Henry Beck.   Henry, this is my father, Frank
Russell, ” she said in
introduction.
     
    Claire moved towards
the kitchen but watched as the two men shook hands and said hello. Henry gave
her father a tight smile while her father gave Henry a more relaxed one. Claire
put the bag on the island that separated the kitchen from the living room.
Henry's gaze landed on her son, where he sat on the couch staring at Henry.
     
    Henry's smile softened
and his eyes warmed. Claire rolled her lips in. She wasn't completely sure why
seeing Henry soften because of her son made her want to cry, but it did. He
already amazed her by being here and bringing dinner. But now he was looking at
her son with something close to affection in his eyes, and it was doing crazy
things to her heart.
     
    "Ethan, say hi to
mommy's boss, Henry, ” Claire called from where she unpacked the bag that Henry brought. It was filled
with sandwiches and soups from the deli down the street that they liked.
     
    "Hi, Henwee, ” Ethan chirped, making the “ r ” in Henry's name sound like a “ w. ”
     
    Henry chuckled,
"Hi, Ethan."
     
    "Why don't you
come in and take a load off, Henry, ” Frank said, moving back to the couch, to sit down next to Ethan again.
     
    Claire went back over
to Henry as he unbuttoned his suit jacket. He must have left work early and
came straight over. "Here, give me your jacket, ” Claire murmured and went around behind him,
helping him shrug out of his jacket.
     
    Claire took it and
hung it up in the coat closet. Henry muttered a "thanks" as he went
to work on his tie, pulling it down just enough to unbutton the top button of
his shirt. Henry glanced at her before moving into the living room and sitting
down on the love seat, putting him adjacent to Ethan.
     
    "How you feeling,
buddy? ”   Henry asked, his voice gentle.
     
    Ethan scrambled up to
stand on the couch and lifted his shirt to show Henry his stitches. "I got
boo boo."
     
    Henry frowned.
"Aw, that's not so bad.   You ’ re tough right?"
     
    Ethan smiled and
nodded before plopping back down on the couch. Henry smiled. Claire couldn't help
but notice how his eyes crinkled at the corners. She'd never seen him smile so
genuinely before. Apparently Henry had a soft spot. Claire never would have
guessed.
     
    "I brought you a
little present, ” Henry
said, holding up the gift bag.
     
    "Me? ” Ethan asked excitedly.
     
    Henry nodded and
handed him the bag. Ethan grabbed the back and looked inside. He shoved both
hands inside and pulled out a one of those old-fashion looking sock monkeys.
Ethan stared at it in awe for a minute before clutching it to his chest and
hugging it.
     
    "You like it? ” Henry asked. Claire could hear
the hint of nervousness in his voice. She found it cute as hell, too.
     
    Ethan nodded
furiously. "Uh huh!"
     
    Henry smiled, and
Claire thought her knees were going to give out. She never thought he could be
more gorgeous then he already was, but when he smiled like that, he was
breathtaking.
     
    "Ethan, what do
you say to Henry? ” Claire
prompted the little boy clutching his new best friend.
     
    "Tank you Henwee, ” Ethan said sweetly to Henry.
     
    Henry nodded.   "You ’ re
welcome, little man, ” he
murmured quietly, and patted Ethan's leg.
     
    Claire was seeing a
whole new side to Henry. She never thought he could be so sweet, caring, and
thoughtful. At