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“As unbelievable as it may sometimes seem, I am a capable man. But along with it comes extreme introverted tendencies and the remnants from my childhood growing up with an overbearing, bullying father and a stepmother who wasn’t interested in having children in her life,” he paused, gatheringhis thoughts before he continued, “my personality and the way I need time to get used to new situations, my mind… well, how do I explain this?”

Brushing a strand of hair away from his face, needing to see his expressions, I savored his soft skin against my work-hardened knuckles. Every inch of this man appealed to me, but along with it came the desire to protect him from the world.

Over the years, I’d worried about B’s reckless ways. He was an act first, thinkwaylater kind of man, and while it worked out on most occasions because he was personable and capable, it still didn’t keep me from being uneasy from time to time.

With these two men in my life, it would be easy to fall for them and have my primal instincts take over. But I needed to bide my time and not scare either of them off with my neediness and protective impulses.

“It hasn’t happened in such a long time. I’d forgotten how fast my reactionary thoughts overwhelm me. On a day-to-day basis, I can prioritize and compartmentalize my thoughts. But when I get excited or upset or I get an influx of information, I have to calm myself down or, according to my doctor, my blood pressure drops, I get dizzy and lightheaded, before I faint.”

He shrugged, as though it wasn’t a big deal.

“What the fuck?” B blurted out.

Rather than taking offense to B’s outburst, Phoenix let out a chuckle, which made me smile.

“Why are you laughing? This is serious.” B demanded.

Phoenix leaned back and said, “When I was younger, I’d stress the day before school started or when there was tension at home, but since I’ve been an adult, it’s happened twice.”

I cleared my throat. “I take it there was always tension at home.”

With a definitive nod of his head, Phoenix said, “My very existence was a disappointment to my masculine, stoic fathersince birth, I suppose. My favorite color was pink or glitter because it contains all the colors. I mean, I still love glitter. Who doesn’t? I use it when I decorate pots at home, which benefits me because he’s disgusted by my choices and would never visit me there.

“Then there are the things he hates about me that are out of my control. My hair is too blond, I’m too skinny, I laugh too loud, and enjoy artistic things. On top of all the other offenses he’s added over the years. You name it, he hated it about me.”

I swallowed the resentment, but didn’t realize I was shaking with rage.

Phoenix fisted my shirt and pulled me closer, and we grew silent as we cocooned him in our arms, offering comfort. But when his stomach rumbled, I lifted Phoenix and placed him on B’s lap, and started for the kitchen.

If I was inadequate with emotional aid and I couldn’t track down his father and beat some sense into him, the least I could do was to feed him.

CHAPTER 3

BURTON

“Where’s he going?”Phoenix asked as he tensed in my arms.

I rubbed my hand up and down his back until he relaxed into me. His essence matched that of his bakery, and all I could detect was cinnamon, vanilla, and sunshine.

“He’s going to start lunch and feed you until you beg him to stop. It’s his way of taking care of you without murdering your father or figuring out a way to invent a time machine to save you from your childhood.”

“Is this why you brought me to your house? Because I’m incapable of taking care of myself?”

Instead of using tact, I chuckled before leaning back and capturing his gaze. I reached up and thumbed his bottom lip away from between his teeth.

“No, Petal, that’s not the reason we want you in our home. While Luka needs to take care of people, the moment I spotted you in a chocolate smeared apron with your hair tied back, looking like the embodiment of temptation, you were it for me. And other than my attraction to Luka over the years, I’ve never wanted someone of my own. Until now.

“For Luka, who I’ve known since we were seven, I’ve never once seen the practical, logical man react to anyone with anything other than polite indifference. But when I noticed you, he became so enthralled, he?—”

“Yes, B? Let’s try not to say anything to embarrass me before we can prove the truth of our words.”

I shook my head. “Oh, I’m sure I drooled a bit when I noticed Petal here. I may have even stumbled over my words.”

The younger man chuckled and as I heard the melodic sound, my entire being relaxed.

“There’s your gorgeous smile, Sunshine. Are you ready for lunch?”

When he nodded, I stood and lowered him on the floor, forcing myself to let go of him as Luka led the way to the kitchen.