Page 5 of Bossy Baby

Mac wanted his house perfect for when he brought his boy home.

Now he was doubting himself.

A soft meow drew him from his thoughts. He leaned down and petted the tiny head of the black kitten. He’d grown in the months since Mac had first seen him. There was no sign of the second kitten, but Mac wasn’t surprised. He knew the kittens well. And the other one liked his sleep. This one was Mac’s favorite. She was adventurous.

Mac hadn’t ever been an animal person, but he’d found that he really liked cats. In fact, he liked them so much that he now had three of his own. He’d gone to the shelter for one and had walked out with three. He still didn’t know how that happened. Oh well, he had plenty of room for the kittens and everything that came with them.

He picked up his little friend and carried the kitten to the counter as he waited to make himself a cup of coffee until it finished brewing.

Then he sat down at the table to wait.

It was a long wait. He only rose, kitten still in his arms to make and refill his mug.

He’d gone through with the entire pot of coffee by the time he heard movement in the house.

Sun now shone through the kitchen window bathing him and the kitten in light. He stayed still as he heard water running farther back in the house. He followed the sounds mentally, already knowing every inch of the house.

He was fully prepared when the kitchen light was flipped on.

“God damn it!” Byron yelled when he spotted Mac at the table.

Mac continued to stroke the top of the kitten’s head. The kitten barely looked up from Mac’s lap at her master’s shout.

Byron stood in the kitchen doorway, half-naked, and fuming.

Mac kept himself from smiling. Barely. “Good morning.”

Byron huffed. “What the hell, man? Did you really break into our house? Again?”

“I did not break anything,” Mac retorted. “I simply let myself in.”

“Maybe we should just give him a key?”

Mac grinned at the sexy lawyer behind Byron’s huge form. “Good morning, Mitch.”

Mitch sighed. “Good morning, Mac.” He pushed past Byron and sat next to Mac at the table. “It’s good to see you again.”

“We’re getting a guard dog,” Byron muttered as he stalked across the kitchen. “The biggest and meanest dog I can find. Maybe he’ll eat burglars instead of crawling up in their lap.”

Mac leaned toward Mitch. “I’m not a burglar.”

“I know.” Mitch patted the back of his hand. “He just needs some coffee.”

“Oh.” Mac looked over to where Byron was picking up the empty coffee carafe.

Mitch chuckled as he shook his head.

“He drank all the coffee,” Byron said very quietly.

Mitch glanced at Mac and lifted an eyebrow.

Mac shrugged. “I had to wait a long time for you two to wake up.”

“Of course you did,” Mitch agreed.

That was why Mac liked Mitch so much. He always agreed with Mac. Never yelled like Byron or threatened him like Grant. Mitch just accepted that Mac was now part of their lives.

Byron slammed things around in the kitchen as he remade the coffee.

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