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about its impending cancellation.
It ll be a good family event then, Mikey teased, rubbing his eyes
with the backs of his hands. He always needed a little bit to wake up
in the morning. But when he got going, look out. The man was a
machine when it came to his morning workouts. Thankfully, a few
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days resting his knee and icing it in the evenings had allowed him to
get back to his regular routine.
The coffee should be almost ready. You want toast?
So many questions, Mikey rumbled. You know I m useless
pre-protein shake.
Collin smiled. He knew. But he d been up for a little while since
he had an early client meeting, so he had the advantage. I ll leave the
toast on the counter. Enjoy your workout, huh?
Hmmm, why don t you just come back to bed?
Because this new client could double revenues at Three s
Company, Collin said, straightening his tie.
Mikey grunted. My dick says its profits are more important.
Don t tempt me, bull. And he was tempted.
He walked over to the glass dish on the dresser where he d started
stashing his wallet, keys, and whatever other items and then put them
one by one into his pockets. As loath as he was to leave his lover
behind, he needed to get going.
Work would be done soon enough, and then he had a few hours to
clean his place before Mikey came over for a romantic evening
together. They d had plenty of them, but Collin was looking forward
to playing kinky playmate with his big bull of a man. Des really did
have a few fantastic ideas when it came to dealing with Mikey.
Though they weren t friends quite yet, they were working toward that
end.
It took forever for his car to defrost, but he listened to the radio
while he waited. He finally got to hear the radio ad the shifter
coalition put together for the petition for shifter athletics awareness.
The campaign that Mikey put together to go along with speaking at
schools on the university s behalf was really impressive. Collin might
have done a little of the legwork, but Mikey had taken on the project
with the same dedication as he did everything else. It was a really
admirable quality.
108 Jana Downs
His cell phone rang as he pulled out onto the highway. What s
up, Des? he answered as he saw Desmin s number on the caller ID.
Hey, Collin. Mikey isn t answering his phone. Can you swing by
and pick up Adam?
He frowned. Sure. What s wrong?
He s got a teacher work day today, and my nanny just called in
sick. I have a really important client I ve got to get to, and I would
really, really appreciate you watching him for a couple of hours.
Poor Des sounded downright panicked.
Sure. He ll have to hang tight for a little bit while I take a
meeting, but I m pretty sure Jude can watch him during the meeting
and then we can color the rest of the afternoon. He had time to run
by Des s place and pick up the kid. He d left early enough. Do you
have a bag ready for him?
I ll throw it together now. I ll meet you out front. In a hurry?
Just to get to my meeting.
He signaled to get off on the next exit. Going the back way would
shave off five minutes or so. This time of morning the traffic on the
freeway was a bitch.
Thank you, Collin. I really appreciate it.
Not a problem, Des. I ll see you in ten.
See you then.
They hung up.
* * * *
Oh my god, he is so freaking adorable! Evan declared as Adam
devoured the orange they d peeled as part of his lunch.
Collin smiled, his chest puffing out the littlest bit as Adam colored
away on the printer paper they d rounded up for his crayons earlier in
the day.
He was as proud of Evan s praise as if Adam were his own, which
was a downright strange sensation. He d never pegged himself as a
Thrice Bitten 109
father figure, but watching over Adam, taking responsibility for his
well-being, was a very empowering experience.
He told me that he s the best artist in school, Collin said as
Adam colored on, oblivious.
A grin split Jude s face. Look at you playing proud papa and all
that. He patted Collin s arm. You seem happy.
Between landing their biggest client and project to date, he was
freaking happy as pie. I m a pretty happy guy, Collin agreed.
Happier now that we are officially on the map. We rock.
Mr. Green, Adam piped up, holding up a picture. Look.
Three deformed stick figures in small, medium, and large stood on
a blue ground, a circle that could ve been a soccer ball in the
foreground.
Ooh, very nice, Collin praised. Is that you, Papa, and Daddy?
Adam s eyes narrowed, a frown turning his expressive mouth
down into a frown. No. He didn t add the stupid, but it was
definitely implied. It s me and Daddy and you at soccer practice.
My mistake. Collin chuckled. Last time I checked, my hair was
not blue. I see now. He didn t but whatever made the kid happy.
That s really cool.
He took the picture from Adam s outstretched hands and held it as
the break room door opened to admit Logan and Brandon. They were
carrying subway bags filled with sandwiches for the respective mates.
You re supposed to put it on the refrigerator, Adam said,
sounding like Collin was being stupid again.
He had a lot to learn about being a parental figure. Not that he was
arrogant enough to consider himself one. It wasn t like he and Mikey
really discussed it in depth. He frowned. In fact, they hadn t really
discussed what his designated role in Adam s life was. He made a
mental note to talk it over with Mikey tonight. Des was supposed to
be picking up Adam at four.
110 Jana Downs
Who s the squirt? Brandon rumbled, staring down at Adam as
Collin crossed to the fridge to put it on with a Three s Company
magnet.
Something slammed into his leg, nearly sending Collin tumbling.
He looked down and saw Adam plastered to his side, staring at
Brandon like he was a poisonous snake. His tiny hands clutched
Collin s pants leg so tight his knuckles whitened.
Collin s heart turned over. Aw, Adam. It s okay. That s just
Evan s mate, Brandon. He looks big and scary, but he s a good guy.
He s sort of like Daddy that way.
Can we go eat in your office, Mr. Green? Adam whispered,
staring at Brandon with outright fear.
Collin frowned. That couldn t be a normal reaction, could it?
Okay, kiddo. We can move it to my office. His new assistant would
field calls until he was ready to be bothered again. Not for the first
time, he was pleased that Mikey had convinced him to hire a
secretary.
What s wrong, bud? Logan asked.
Adam hid his face in Collin s leg.
Hmmm, give us a minute. Collin bent down and collected
Adam before heading down the corridor that led to the lobby and his
office.
When he was safely ensconced in his office with Adam, he sat
down his little passenger in the chair opposite his seat. Now, he
said. What has you all scared of strangers, huh?
Adam shifted in his chair, uncertainty showing all over his
expression. Strangers take boys away from their daddies. I learned it
in school.
Ah, that explained a lot. When your daddies introduce someone
to you that means they re not a stranger anymore, Collin explained,
sitting down on the edge of the desk. If your daddies say that the
person is okay, they re not going to hurt you at all. I promise.
Thrice Bitten 111
Adam gnawed on his bottom lip as if mulling over what he d said.
Is it okay to ask you, too? You re gonna marry my daddy, aren t
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