Page 22 of Controlled Burn

“Really? And who was that?”

Like I told Caleb, I would never spill his secrets to his father, but Abe didn’t know him at all, and I was really at a loss for what to do.

“It was a guy I saw at the club Friday night. He was curious about the Daddy lifestyle and just showed up by himself. Things didn’t go well, and now he’s decided maybe having a Daddy isn’t for him.”

“And you don’t agree?” He gave me a knowing look and took another bite of his wings.

I shook my head. “No, I don’t. But I don’t know how to help him realize that. He’s sweet, smart, and… I don’t know, soft maybe. He would be the perfect boy if he gave it a chance.”

“Hmm, the perfect boy for who, exactly? Like maybe for you?”

“For me?” I scoffed. “No, not for me. I like them bratty and difficult to handle, not shy and submissive.”

“Really? And how’s that working for you, Keith?”

I shrugged. “Good enough, I suppose.”

Abe gave me a disappointed look, but he let it go. “So this boy you ran into? It sounds to me like what he needs is a safe place to try things out. Especially if he’s shy and sweet like you say.”

I thought about Caleb and shook my head. “No, shy isn’t the right word, I don’t think. He’s actually pretty outgoing. Cautious. That’s more like it.”

“Okay, so then it’s even more likely that he needs a chance to experiment with someone who makes him feel secure.”

“I know what you’re thinking, Abe, but that someone can’t be me.”

“And why not?”

“Because he’s Robert’s son,” I admitted.

“Oh.”

“Yeah, oh. But you’re right. He needs someone he can trust. I could probably help him find someone, but I don’t really know what he’s looking for. I should talk to him and find out what he needs.”

Chapter 9

Caleb

“So much for my awesome plan to meal prep on Sundays,” I grumbled to myself on Tuesday as I pulled through the drive-thru at the Dairy Barn. Not only had I not meal-prepped for the last two weeks, but I also hadn’t even made it to the grocery store this time.

I stared hard at the menu, trying to convince myself to order the grilled chicken salad, but in the end, I caved to my baser needs and ordered a chicken-fried steak sandwich with an extra-large order of hand-cut fries and a side of gravy to dip them in. Seriously, who went to a place like the Dairy Barn and ordered a salad, anyway? Not me, that was for sure. At the last minute, I added a milkshake… cause why not? In for a penny in for a pound, right?

There had been a ladies’ luncheon at the library today, so I’d eaten an early lunch, and by the time I got home, I was starving. The smell of the food wafting off the brown paper sack in the passenger’s seat hadn’t helped.

I put the food down on the coffee table in front of my couch and grabbed the remote so I could turn on something to watch. I’d just gotten comfortable and taken the first bite of my sandwich when there was a knock on my door. I grabbed my phone real quick and opened up my digital calendar to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything. But no, I didn’t have anything for today.

I looked at my sandwich longingly before putting it down and going to see who was at the door. I looked through the peephole but couldn’t believe my eye, so I looked again. Still the same.

I opened the door and sure enough, there Keith stood.

“Caleb,” he said in that deep throaty voice that I couldn’t believe I hadn’t pegged as a Daddy voice.

“Keith. Did you need something?” He could be here to pick up something of my dad’s or something. I couldn’t think of any other reason for him to come by.

“Not really. I just wanted to talk to you if you have time. I should have called first, but I don’t have your number.”

“Okay. I mean, sure, I have time. I’m eating, though. I would ask you to join me, but I grabbed something on the way home, and I don’t have enough for two.”

“That’s okay. I’m not hungry.”

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