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I smoothed back the soft hair that fell onto his forehead as I studied the younger man’s face.

His features were relaxed; beautiful plush lips were a lovely shade pink, the soft skin along his sharp jawline and elongated neck made me want to nuzzle my beard or my lips against it, but it was the dark circles underneath his eyes that informed me on how hard this man worked.

“Either he had a panic attack or he’s worked himself into exhaustion.”

Before I’d laid eyes on Phoenix, I determined B wastheperfect man. Athletic build, sandy blond hair he didn’t bother to tame on most days, and muscles from our early years of working outside as we built our business into the successful one we had today.

These days, we hired people for the manual labor while B worked with me as we designed landscapes for residential and commercial projects. But he worked out in our home gym at least five days a week, which kept him in peak physical condition.

Not that B lost any appeal since Phoenix came into our lives. My desire for the man had grown with the need to claim Phoenix as ours. The tight lid I put on my hunger for the man; especially with the knowledge of how he felt driving into me, holding me and kissing me as we found release together, broke open when I realized Phoenix captured B’s attention.

The morning it all changed for the two of us started with a simple business meeting.

We agreed to join Hale Aalto at a bakery we’d never heard of, Phoenix Rising. It was an odd name for a cafe andbakery, but Hale was an important commercial developer and we were bidding to be the landscape architects of several of his properties, so if he wanted to meet at an out of the way coffee shop, we would accommodate him.

But once we arrived, a sense of comfort washed over me, and I knew I’d found my new favorite place.

As you walked in, the bright white walls brought out the lush oasis inside. Indoor plants were hanging in front of the windows, placed on shelves in between books, baubles, and framed paintings along with sketches and drawings, and in colossal pots in the corners and next to the plush chairs and sofas. Each round table contained a coffee plant or a philodendron in a bright pastel hued pot. There were enormous bay windows on the south and west side of the building, which allowed in ample sunlight, and since the doors were open on one of Boston’s beautiful summer days, the ocean breeze drifted in and added to the ambience of the place.

The amazing, one-of-a-kind layout had me glancing around in wonder at the same time B noticed Phoenix.

“Fucking A, Luka. Have you ever seen anyone as perfect as he is?”

My attention snapped to B before I followed his gaze toward the glass bakery display. Unable to see anyone other than a customer who shouldn’t have drawn B’s attention, I opened my mouth to chastise him when a magnificent creature with bright white hair tied in a bun popped up with a smile as he handed over a bakery bag before disappearing through the swinging doors into the kitchen.

Stunned stupid, I stared at the closed door, willing the man to walk back through. It took a sharp elbow in my side to draw my eyes away and back onto my best friend, who stood with his arms crossed and a raised eyebrow.

“Um.”

B’s face broke into a huge grin as he slugged me in the chest.

I huffed and growled out, “Why B? Don’t your tastes run toward women?”

His face softened and with concern, he asked, “Did I hurt you, Luka?”

“No, B, that’s not it, I understood. I still understand. But…” My eyes darted toward the still kitchen door and said, “your reaction to the man is surprising, isn’t it?”

“Both yes and no, I think. The part of me who has craved a relationship and the possibilities of forever woke up the second that gorgeous man came into view and, based on your reaction to him, the picture only becomes clearer.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, still unable to admit to myself what I hoped he would say.

B shrugged and said, “We do everything together, Luka. For me, it isn’t surprising we’d experience the same attraction toward the same person. And before you start on the argument about my usual preference, I was young and ignorant when I told you I was only interested in women. Being with you scared me because the last thing I wanted was to jeopardize our friendship, so I took the chickenshit way out. However, as I’ve matured and gained wisdom, I’ve realized that what we need is a shakeup. He’s our catalyst for change.”

The white-haired, lithe man exited the kitchen with a massive tray of desserts and maneuvered it with skill into the bakery case before heading back for more.

“We can’t scare him off,” B said.

It was as serious as B’s ever sounded.

“I want to make sure we agree. You and I want an exclusive, romantic relationship with that beautiful and shy man. Not just sex, right?”

“Yes?”

“What?” I asked.

“I…” B trailed off and bit his bottom lip, thinking.

Even as I held him in my arms, I still didn’t know if Phoenix wanted a relationship with two men, much less if he found us appealing. But whatever answer Phoenix gave us, it would never drive a wedge between me and B.