Page 52 of Bossy Baby

There were so many questions.

Mac liked learning and figuring things out. He just wasn’t sure if he would be able to this time.

He also wasn’t certain that it mattered.

They weren’t hurting anyone. Hayley was over twenty years of age. Hayley consented and Mac would never take Hayley’s choices away from him.

Reading books and articles online had helped Mac accept that this need inside him, to take care, to protect, and care for Hayley, didn’t make him sick in the head. This wasn’t something Mac needed to worry about. He’d done bad things in the past but not this.

“Daddy! Look!” Hayley whispered loudly.

Mac turned just as Socks stuck a paw around the kitchen doorway. Socks wasn’t going for the treats, though. The tiny kitten was swatting at Hayley’s toes.

Giggling, Hayley wiggled his toes again.

And the kitten tried to reach out once more.

Hayley and Socks were going to get along just fine.

With a smile, Mac began to plate the food. This was more than just a routine. It was the beginning of something special.

“How about after dinner, you call home and check in with your parents? Maybe ask your mom about the flowers you want to plant?”

Hayley beamed at him. “Can I tell her about you? You know, not everything, but that we’re dating?”

“Honey, you can tell her whatever you want.” Mac might not have a good relationship with his father, but he wouldn’t deny Hayley his connection to his family.

“I won’t tell her everything right now,” Hayley responded with a laugh. “I don’t want her to show up on our doorstep. And she would. She’d be so excited that she wouldn’t be able to stop herself.”

That…that was not what Mac expected.

Meeting the family. No, no, no. He’d have to put that off for as long as he could.

Eight

Hayley

Hayley watched as Mac walked out of his shop and onto the busy sidewalk out front. He was just running across the street to get them a couple of drinks. With Avery not working at the coffee shop anymore, Hayley was missing his chai latte fix in the afternoons. He enjoyed watching Mac’s muscular ass walking away, but he already missed him. How silly was that?

A couple days ago, Hayley hadn’t even been sure that Mac was into him.

Now he was the only person who got to see the soft and sweet side of the big guy. Hayley was certain of that at least. The way Mac gently touched Hayley and cared for him—Hayley had no doubt he was the only one who received such special treatment.

The special playtime the previous night followed by dinner, then cuddling on the couch watching television, had left Hayley seriously thinking about their future. There were still a lot of things they needed to discuss and work out, but Hayley knew in his heart that they both were willing to put in the work.

With his Daddy across the street, Hayley grabbed the micro-cloth and bottle of cleaner from under the counter. He could sneak in a few good minutes of cleaning before he had to hide his tools again.

Giggling, Hayley raced over to where he kept the pet supplies. He sprayed the shelves next to the dog treats before rubbing it in. He had to use his left hand to both spray the bottle and use the cloth. That slowed things down. Still, Hayley was happy.

He was able to get four shelves done before he heard the bell.

Dang, he’d thought he’d have more time. There must not have been any line in the coffee shop.

“Hayley!”

Wait, that wasn’t Mac. “Caleb!” he called out to his friend.

Caleb appeared around the counter with Mitch following behind. “We saw your shadow going into the coffee shop. He finally left you on your own?”

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