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CHAPTER ONE

NICO

He was a Daddy.

I knew Owen and Barrett from my work with them on Barrett’s new lodge, but I didn’t know the lanky brown-haired man beside them. He was long and lean with an easy smile. His halo of hair was too shaggy for me, but I liked it on him. His slacks were serviceable, but the leather patch on his sweater had a retro vibe. And he knew something about Daddies if their conversation was anything to go by.

“Since I can’t find a date for Christmas, does this mean I get to be your third?” he asked Barrett. The response he got was somewhere between a growl and a snort. Owen’s twinkling laugh indicated they were close friends because Owen wasn’t one to laugh around strangers.

“Levi, you need to get your own Daddy.”

“Daddy? Nah, I need a boy.”

As much as I loved my job and had one of the most fantastic, if not the most amazing, bosses in the world, settling down wasn’t for me, unlike the couple getting engaged tonight. I was much more interested in a good time, and right next to me was a man who looked like he could provide it with sprinkles on top.

I got a better look when I sidled my way over to him. Besides being tall, which I was jealous of, his expressive gray eyes were serious and thoughtful. The gleam of mischief was clear. Anyone who would tease the mountain that was Barrett took their life into their own hands, and he was doing it with a laugh. It had to mean he was up for a bit of risk-taking, and I had just the thing for him.

“I don’t think the throuple situation is gonna work out for you,” I whispered when I positioned myself next to him at the dessert table. He glanced at me and then returned for a longer look. He was interested.

“You’re right. It’s not looking good. I’ll have to spend my evening alone.” His crooked smile hinted at dimples. He gave me a once-over, and the heat in his eyes was evident when they returned to mine. I squirmed under their intensity. My usual hookups were quick and casual, which was exactly how I liked them. This guy didn’t look like quick and casual was his thing, but here’s to hoping I was wrong. He had serious and long-term written all over him.

“That’d be terrible. Maybe you can find someone to occupy your time?”

“You know anyone who might be available to spend an evening with me? Owen and Barrett are wrapped up in themselves.” We glanced at the couple as if a shared invisible string pulled us. After pining for more than a decade, they were finally together. Happiness looked good on them. They were also two steps away from making out in the dining room. That wasn’t the typical MO for either of them, but it was the holidays. The lure of Christmas tree lights was infectious and festive, and mistletoe was everywhere . This house was practically a mistletoe forest.

And what a gorgeous house it was. Being a personal assistant at an architectural firm, I could appreciate the elegant and ornate restored Victorian lines. Gabe had allowed me to manage the entire renovation project, so it felt like my baby. Since it was his and Rory’s house, it was a labor of love for my boss. His boyfriend—soon-to-be fiancé, assuming Rory said yes—technically owned it, but this was their shared treasure in all the ways that mattered. They’d agonized over every moved wall and replica window. The landscaping would be another bucket of angst, but that was a problem for spring me.

They were a perfect match, which, honestly, good for them. It wasn’t for me, but I appreciated the desire others had to settle down. There was comfort in knowing there was always a safe place to land at the end of the day. When you knew someone signed up to listen to you, hold you, ensure you got a decent dinner and a good night’s sleep, and got everything done on your never-ending to-do list. Someone who rooted for you and was always in your corner. There was a lot to be said about the idea that another person wanted nothing more than for you to be the best possible version of yourself while fully loving you in your current version.

I had zero desire to claim any of that for myself because all coupling-up comfort required commitment, and that’s where I drew a hard line. No tragic backstory, only an allergy. I’d never once looked at a man and said, “ Damn, I wanna wake up to them every single morning for the rest of my life .”

“Are you offering to occupy my time?”

“I might be,” I answered, “But we gotta have some rules.”

“All right, let’s hear them.”

“For one, we can’t share our names.”

“No worries. I’ll come up with something to call you, Sweet Boy.

“If you’re a good Daddy, I’ll let you call me that.”

“You’re already causing trouble.”

“I haven’t even gotten started yet.”

After filling our plates, the sexy man and I went to a private corner of the living room. Without asking, he held my plate while I situated myself on the couch before he handed it to me and joined me there. When I realized I’d forgotten utensils, he produced them from somewhere with a quick smile and gave them to me.

“No worries, I got you.”

“Thanks.”

The likely Daddy encouraged me to take some bites of the food. He offered me a sausage roll from his plate with waggling eyebrows and a fake leer, which I am slightly ashamed to admit earned a giggle.

He was so concerned with caring for me that I was almost sure my assumption he was a Daddy was accurate. It needed to be confirmed, but that could wait until after our bellies were full. I figured I might as well get that question out of the way because we couldn’t keep playing if he wasn’t one. I knew my limits, and vanilla was one of them.

When we went back to choose our desserts, I decided to bite the bullet. “Just to be clear, you’re a Daddy, right?” His eyebrows shot up at my bold question, but it was easier than discovering that what I thought would work out was actually a waste of time. After eavesdropping, I was pretty sure of the answer.

“I am. Are you a Daddy?” That earned an eye roll from me.

“I’m no one’s Daddy. “

“Does that mean you’re a boy?”

“I am.”

“Do you know what kind of boy you are?”

“The middle kind of boy.”

“It’s my lucky night.” His quick grin had me believing it might be true.

We made our way around the table, choosing the best desserts. One of us would pick one, and then the other would share. Once our plates were full, we found a quiet corner by the front bay window in the living room. We set our plates on our knees and began eating off each other’s plates.

It had been a long time since I’d felt so at ease with someone. The stranger at my boss’s home didn’t know my name but knew how to manage me. I hated being told what to do but didn’t mind a suggestion.

“Am I breaking the rules if I ask how you know Gabe and Rory?”

“Well, if I tell you that, then you’re gonna know everything about me, so how about I say I’ve seen them around a club.”

It wasn’t a lie. I had seen them at Wilde Dandies, and I’d marched my ass right back out the door when I did because I didn’t need to see my boss while I was working on getting lucky.

“How do you know them?”

“I don’t know them at all.”

“Are you a Christmas party crasher? A Grinch in disguise who’ll steal all the presents? Naughty, naughty, Daddy.” I wagged my finger at him, and he captured my hand but didn’t let go. Instead, he entwined our fingers and used his free hand to feed me a bite of chocolate.

“Careful, you might get more than you bargained for.”

“Is that a threat, Daddy?”

“Nah, it’s a promise.”

When Jakob came through and gathered everyone in the foyer in preparation for Gabe to pop the question. My temporary Daddy set our plates aside and tugged me out there after we got to our feet. I thought he’d let go of my hand, but he squeezed my fingers tighter and grinned.

Rory appeared, looking as pretty as he always did with his red curls and happy smile. Gabe waited for him with the goofy smile he always got when he looked at Rory. In a surprise to no one, Rory said yes when Gabe asked for his hand in marriage. Everyone, including Rory’s parents, surged forward to offer their congratulations while Daddy and I hung out at the back of the crowd. They were so wrapped up in each other that they’d never notice we hadn’t shaken their hands.

“They look happy together,” Daddy said as he watched them kiss at the bottom of the stairs.

“Rory and Gabe are absolutely in love. I think they were made for each other,” I answered with a smile. “Well, that was what I was here to see. What are we going to do for the rest of the evening? You got any ideas, Daddy?”

“As much as I love dessert and finger foods, I haven’t eaten all day and need a real meal. Greasy food. Fattening food. Would you like to join me?”

“Oooh, is this a date?”

“Yeah, let’s call it that.”

“Deal, Daddio.”

“Did you drive?” Daddy ushered me out of the living room into the empty foyer. “And your coat?”

“Uber, and I forgot it at work.” His mouth firmed into a straight line at the answer. “It’s not that cold. I’ll be fine.”

“You’re right about it being fine but agree to disagree on the temperature not being too cold. It’s in the high thirties.” Rather than argue, he unceremoniously slid my arms into his coat. “Here, use mine.”

“It’s not a big deal,” I muttered quietly.

“Then it won’t matter if you use it.” Daddy’s smirk made it difficult to pretend to be annoyed, and it wasn’t worth fighting about anyway. “It’s dry tonight. Want to walk?”

“Won’t you be cold?”

“Nah, it’s not that bad.”

“Isn’t that the exact same thing I said?”

“Hush. It’s different for me. My Daddy powers protect me.” His laugh was deep and easy. Daddy buttoned the coat, then opened the door for me. Once we were on the porch, he reclaimed my hand. “Walking, yeah?”

“Let’s go, Daddio.” Oof. I quickly discovered the first problem with keeping up with his long strides. He walked. I jogged. Then I panted. It took every ounce of control I could muster to keep my whines to myself, but my short, pudgy legs were about to detach from my body. I was sweating. And not in a good way.

“Shit. Sorry. I forget that not everyone has long legs.” Daddy stopped abruptly. My legs and lungs were beyond grateful. “Next time, just chuck something at my head or trip me.” The next time comment was ignored.

“I keep waiting for my growth spurt, but I’m beginning to think it might not happen.”

Daddy let go of my hand to wrap his arm around my shoulder and draw me close. When I was tucked under his arm, he booped my nose and said, “I hope it doesn’t happen. Good things come in small packages.”

“Small packages? More like chubby ones,” I retorted with a self-deprecating laugh. “Lucky for me, I’m fab enough to make up for it.”

“There’s nothing to make up for. You are hot as hell, boy.” I preened under his praise and plastered a smile on my face. It wasn’t entirely true, but I wouldn’t call him a liar.

“C’mon, Daddy, we need to get a move on.”

* * *

“Here’s your water. Give me a few minutes, and I’ll be back to take your order.” Our server, Margaret, plunked down two water glasses and hustled back to the kitchen. I’d been coming here since high school, but nothing about this place had changed. The food was always delicious and greasy and the booths had been covered in faded red leather since dinosaurs roamed the earth.

“I think hot chocolate is a must tonight.”

“With sprinkles?”

Daddy pretended to be deep in thought before he answered, “I didn’t know any other way was possible.”

“Glad you know what’s what.”

He grabbed the menus from behind the sugar dispenser and handed one to me. “Here you go, Sweet Boy. What sounds good?”

“Oh, I always get a patty melt: easy on the onions, extra sauce, and crinkle fries.”

“Good call. And hot chocolate.”

“And hot chocolate.”

When Margaret returned, she pulled out her pad and waited expectantly for us to order. Daddy nodded at me to go first.

“The hot chocolate with sprinkles and a salad with dressing on the side, please.” Daddy’s eyebrows knitted together while his mouth turned decidedly downward.

“Margaret, I’m sorry, but can you give us a few minutes? We’ll both take that hot chocolate with sprinkles though.”

“Sure thing, hon. I’ll go work on those and be back.” He stayed silent until Margaret was well out of earshot.

“What was that about?” he asked in a calm and reasonable tone. I hated it.

“What was what about?” On the other hand, I sounded defensive, but I wasn’t expecting to be called out. It was for his benefit. Daddy ought to take the win and call it good.

“You said, and I’m quoting here, that you always get the patty melt from here. Why not this time?”

“Well, Daddy, I hope to get lucky in the next little bit. Since you’re hosting, I need to keep things….uh…tidy.”

“Is that what you think is happening?”

“I sure as hell hope so.”

“Language,” he shot back with a single raised brow. It spoke volumes.

“Sorry.”

“So you think you can’t eat so you’ll be ‘tidy?’” He put the word “tidy” in air quotes, and I cringed.

“Shit happens,” Sexy Daddy said with a shrug and waved Margaret over. “Thanks for being patient. We’ll each have a patty melt, easy on the onions, extra sauce, and crinkle fries.”

“No problem, honey. I’ve got all night. Anything else?”

“Yes, a side salad for each of us.”

“Dressing?”

Daddy looked at me and waited for a response.

“House, please.”

“Me too.”

“All right, boys. It’s pretty quiet tonight, so it should be ready quickly.”

“Thanks, Margaret.”

I stayed quiet while Daddy ordered dinner. It allowed me to observe him without being super obvious. He was polite to our server, which was an absolute must because I’d walk out before I ate with someone who was an asshole to the waitstaff. Jerks were the worst.

When she was gone again, Daddy covered my hand. When I looked up, his crooked grin gagged me. This man could look directly into my core. “Starving yourself is never going to be the solution. I hope we both get lucky tonight, but unless it’s my cum, I don’t want you thinking about how much you need a snack.”