Page 29 of Bossy Baby

“What?” Mac narrowed his eyes. Hayley was teasing him? Only Mitch ever teased him.

“Nothing.” Hayley stumbled over to the couch. “It’s cute.”

“You need to eat.” And stop thinking that Mac was cute. Mac was scary. Dangerous. He wasn’t cute.

“But I want to play with the kittens,” Hayley whined. Which was adorable.

“After you eat, I’ll let you feed them some treats. That’ll bring out Socks.”

“Fine.” Hayley gave him a pout before he kissed both kittens’ heads. He set the animals down gently before walking the rest of the way.

“Come here, boy,” Mac said. “You have to be hungry.” Hayley hadn’t gotten his sandwich from the deli earlier—their lunch had been forgotten on the ground. And Hayley had slept through dinner.

“There’s no way that I’ll be able to eat without making a mess.” Hayley held up his cast.

“It’s a good thing that I’m here to take care of you, then.”

Hayley bit his lip as he dropped his head.

“Hey.” Mac grasped Hayley’s sides, urging him forward. “Talk to me.”

“You’ll get tired of taking care of me.”

“I won’t,” Mac assured him.

“You don’t know that. I’ve never had a broken bone in my life. I have no idea how much trouble this is going to cause.”

“I’ve broken a few. Been around others that have. I’ll help you. That’s what I want to do.”

“Why?”

Mac rubbed the back of his head. It was time to be honest. But how much should he say? “Did you know we have mutual friends?”

“We do?”

“Yes, it was how I heard about your shop. I’d been at Caleb’s house. Pet sitting. Taking care of his babies. He used one of your products.” That wasn’t the entire truth though. Mac had seen Hayley long before he’d ever spoken to Caleb or Grant. He just used Caleb as an excuse if ever asked.

“You pets sit for Caleb?” Hayley bounced. “And you know…Avery?”

It was telling that Hayley would bring up Avery. Thelittleof the group. “Avery and Mitch, Jace, Grant, and Byron. Although I’m closest to Mitch probably.”

“I like Mitch,” Hayley said. “He’s really nice to me.”

Mac nodded. “Avery’s Daddy is a tad protective of him, so we’re not super close. But I respect both of them.”

“Youknow.” Hayley’s voice was filled with awe. “About Jace being Avery’s Daddy?”

“I do. I know about all of them having their Daddy or being boys.”

“And that’s okay with you?”

Truth time. Mac was going to put it out there. “That’s what drew me to them, I think. Their unique relationships. What drew me to you.”

“To me?” Hayley moving even closer.

Mac tried to keep his hold on Hayley’s hips light. “The moment that I saw you, I wanted to wrap you up in my arms and protect you. So that you always smiled. Never got hurt.”

Hayley laid his uninjured hand on Mac’s shoulder. “Like a Daddy.” His thumb caressed Mac’s shoulder.

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