Page 25 of Bossy Baby

It was all a little fuzzy. Hayley shrugged his good shoulder.

Mac stepped closer. “What do you need?”

Hayley closed the remaining distance. He pressed his forehead against Mac’s wide chest and closed his eyes. He really didn’t need anything. Comfort maybe? He didn’t even know.

Mac seemed to understand. His arms came around Hayley gently as Mac embraced him. “It’s okay, boy. Everything is going to be okay.”

God, Hayley hoped so. Leaning on Mac like this made him feel like everything was okay, even though that was far from the truth. There was so much he should be doing. He shuffled his feet so he was flatter against Mac.

Mac moved back but didn’t release Hayley. Slowly, Mac drew him down to the couch. He sat, pulling Hayley down onto his lap.

Hayley immediately cuddled closer.

Mac rubbed his hand up and down his back.

Hayley didn’t cry. Didn’t have the need. Even the pain was tolerable. But being held was wonderful. He couldn’t remember ever feeling so safe with someone.

“Okay?” Mac asked softly.

“If I say no, will you still hold me?”

“How about if you tell me the truth and no matter what the answer is, I continue to hold you?” Mac responded.

“I’m feeling okay,” Hayley answered. “A lot on my mind. I have no idea how I’m going to work. But it doesn’t seem like such a big deal when I’m being cuddled in your lap.”

“Don’t worry about your shop. We’ll figure things out. Just as long as you’re feeling okay.”

“Thanks.” Hayley left his head on Mac’s chest but opened his eyes to peer around the room.

All the furniture was big and expensive. What he remembered about the house screamed that Mac had money.

“What do you do for work? I can’t believe I never asked.” Although now that he thought back, Hayley was pretty sure that hehadasked. Several times.

“I’m retired from the government,” Mac said.

That could mean so much.

“Are you hungry?”

And there Mac was back to changing the subject. Did he just not like talking about himself or was it something else?

“I made soup. It’s an organic vegetable soup I found the recipe for online. It should also help if the pain meds upset your stomach.”

Hayley’s mouth dropped open. “You cooked for me?”

“I made soup. It wasn’t really that difficult. I just had to follow the directions.”

“I thought you didn’t have any groceries?”

“Well…I…”

Was that another blush? “Mac?”

“I ordered from the organic grocery store we have. I had the groceries delivered while you were resting.”

Hayley knew what store Mac was talking about. While he preferred to eat organic—it was how he’d been raised—Hayley could rarely afford that grocery store. But Mac had not only bought groceries but had also cooked for him. How sweet was that?

Now that Mac mentioned food, Hayley could smell the soup. “It smells good.”

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