Page 44 of Control Freak

“Hope you like ham with mayo,” Bailey said nervously. “I like mustard better, but everyone else likes mayo, so that’s what yougot. If you tell me what you like, next time, we’ll make it however you like.”

Flynn’s forehead creased, seeming a little overwhelmed by Bailey’s rambling. “Anything is fine. You all didn’t have to feed me. I’m not about to be picky about it.”

“Still…”

Flynn smiled faintly, and it transformed his face from stern to ruggedly handsome. “I like mayo, kid. It’s fine.”

“Don’t call me a kid,” Bailey protested, sounding appalled. “I’m an adult.”

“Sorry.” Flynn shrugged. “You remind me of my little brother, is all.”

Bailey wrinkled his nose in distaste, and it only made him look younger, poor guy.

“I’m Shiloh,” I said, extending my hand. “Friend of the family.”

Flynn engulfed my hand, giving it a gentle shake. Well, his similarities to Brick ended with his size, it seemed. He oozed a sort of calm steadiness that put me at ease. Brick always contained a certain violent energy that thrummed just below the surface. I’d sensed it from the moment we met.

“Shiloh wanted to see the junkyard,” Bailey said. “We’re just gonna come in and have a quick look around.”

Flynn stepped back. “Sure. I’ve got a fire going. It’s cold as fu—er, heck.”

I chuckled. “You can swear around us.”

“Although Shilohisa schoolteacher, so you might end up with detention,” Bailey added.

Well, look at that. The kid had jokes.

Flynn chuckled. “Oh, shit, I never did do good in school. My teachers hated me.”

“Same here,” Bailey said morosely. “College is gonna be brutal.”

Flynn’s eyebrows shot up. “A college boy, huh? That’s awesome, man. My brother’s in med school.”

“No shit? He must be smart as fuck.”

Bailey sure was cussing a lot more now. Was he trying to impress the big, bad ex-con?

Flynn smiled like the proudest of older brothers. “He got all the brains in the family. He’s gonna have a great life.”

“What about you?” Bailey said. “Axel said you’re pretty good with cars. You got any interest in training over at the auto shop?”

Flynn’s eyes lit up. “Is that an option?”

“Might be.” Bailey dropped into a chair by the fire, leaning forward to warm his hands. I did the same, eager for any spark of warmth. The rottweiler trotted over and laid her head on my lap.

“Aren’t you sweet?” I murmured, stroking her ears.

The German shepherd and a border collie chased each other around the chairs, occasionally tripping over Bailey’s feet and jumping up for pats and scratches. Bailey did it on autopilot, used to the dogs that lived here.

The Chihuahua, Taz, leaned against Flynn’s ankles, quivering from the cold, until he bent down and scooped him up. Flynn held that tiny dog against his chest, and Taz curled into him.

Okay, this was a good guy. A dog wouldn’t trust him like that otherwise.

Taz lifted his head and bared his teeth at me. Yeah, he didn’t even trust me. People obviously had to win him over.

Bailey and Flynn were talking shop, talking about college, about having brothers. I sat back, watching them both, content to listen and observe, to be part of a group without having to lead it.

Whether teaching or camming, I was always center stage. Responsible for other people’s education or entertainment. For once, I could just relax, decompress, and think about all the ways I could make Holden come without a single touch.