When he’d packed to come home, he’d not been thinking about a night out at a club with a guy he’d just met. Blake stared at his closet and sighed. His options were limited to those he’d thrown in his suitcase. He’d only managed to get by with work clothes because the offices at Bartlett Construction were so casual. No one had blinked when he’d shown up in the company T-shirt and jeans.

“Daddy, what’s this letter?”

Caroline held up his phone, which she’d commandeered for a game while they waited on Claire to arrive for her promised babysitting duty.

“That’s a P. Puh puh P. Puh puh peanut butter.”

She sounded out the picture cards and looked up with a grin. “Puh puh pickle!”

“That’s right, Mouse! Good job!”

“Knock knock!”

“Auntie Claire!” Caroline dropped his phone and scrambled off the bed. She ran full force down the hall and he heard them greeting each other for a minute before they headed his way.

“Hey, you.”

Claire had Caroline on her back and gave him a questioning look.

“Hey,” he answered.

“What’s going on?”

Blake gestured toward the clothes on his body, then the closet, before he dropped back onto the bed with a groan. “I’m not ready for this. What was I thinking?”

Claire plopped Caroline onto the bed next to him and his daughter crawled onto his chest. “Daddy. You need to get ready to go.”

He opened one eye and peered at her. “I do?”

“Yes. Because Auntie Claire said we could watch Elsa after you left. She said!”

“That’s very nice of her.”

“I like Auntie Claire. So hurry and go. And Uncle Kale sent us apple boats and cheese!”

“He did?”

“Yes, silly. And Grammy left chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs so she and Aunt Paula could go play bridge. What’s play bridge mean, Daddy? Can I play bridge?”

“It’s a game grown ups play with cards. Your Go Fish cards are in your room if you wanted to ask Aunt Claire to play with you.”

“Okay. After chicken nuggets and apple boats and Elsa.”

Claire threw a shirt and pair of pants on the bed. “Here,” she said. “Wear that.”

Blake glanced over and frowned. She’d laid out a short sleeve, blue chambray shirt and a pair of his work chinos. “Seriously?”

“Yes. The blue looks good on you. And those pants fit you like a glove. You were wearing them the other day.”

“But for a club?”

“What, you wanna look like a prosti— uh, like a… I got nothing. Just wear it and stop arguing with me.”

“Fine. Go away and I’ll get dressed. Hey Mouse, you ready for dino-nuggets now that Auntie Claire is here?”

“Yes! With ketchup!”

“I’ll go warm them up,” Claire said.

“Thanks. She waited on you.”

“Because I’m the only one around who can appreciate the delicacy that is chicken nuggets. I’m surprised Kale didn’t make her some home made with organic grass fed chicken with bread crumbs he made from wheat he grew in his garden and then ground and made into bread and—”

“Dear God, please stop.”

She grinned. “You know it’s true.”

“Maybe, but I’d have to argue that you’re the only one who can stomach dino-nuggets. I’ve grown quite accustomed to them in the past couple years.”

She laughed. “I bet you have.”

Once they’d headed into the kitchen, Blake closed the door and changed his clothes. He’d worked on his hair a little after his shower and had made sure to shave. God, it had been so long since he’d done any of this. He dabbed a little of the oil he used instead of cologne into his neck, then slipped into his boots. They were way too hot for Florida, but they looked good with his outfit.

After giving himself one last check in the mirror, Blake went to meet the girls in the kitchen. Linc would be arriving any time, so he scooped Caroline up and snuggled her to him.

“You’re going to be good, right Caroline?”

“Yep. Them’s the rules, Daddy.”

Claire snickered.

“That’s right. If you eat your nuggets and your apple boat that Uncle Kale brought you, you can have some of the pudding Grammy made.”

“Yay for pudding!”

“But only if you eat your food, right?”

“I will. And you’ll be here when I wake up?”

“I sure will. And so will Grammy and Jeep.”

“Okay, Daddy. Jeep said he’d come home if I got lonely without you. But it’s girls’ night, Daddy. Auntie Claire said!”

“But if you want Jeep, you can call him, okay?”

She pondered for a moment before nodding. “I love Jeep. He reads the best except you. And Uncle Micah.”

The doorbell rang, so Blake pressed a quick kiss to her forehead before going to answer the door. He about swallowed his tongue when he saw Linc. He’d dressed in a tight, V-neck black T-shirt and dark washed jeans that, impossibly, fit even better than his normal ones.

“Hey, Mr. Linc,” Caroline chirped beside him the moment she saw their guest and saving Blake from the embarrassment of being non-verbal. “I’m having girls’ night and dinosaur nuggets!”

“Well, that sounds like fun,” Linc said.

“It is. And Uncle Kale made apple boats with cheese and Daddy said I could have pudding and Auntie Claire said we could watch Elsa!”

“Sounds like you’ve got your whole night planned!”

“I do! Now go, Daddy! I want to watch my movie!”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll see you in the morning. Claire, call if you need me.”

“We’ll be fine.”

Blake followed Linc out to the truck, laughing at the almost immediate sound of his daughter’s favorite princess movie emerging from the house.

“What’d I miss?” Linc asked.

Blake nodded his head back toward the sound. “The dulcet sounds of princesses singing.”

“Can’t say I know much about them. Um, but I might have done something for Caroline’s room to surprise her. I was telling a buddy of mine about it and he said I should have talked to you first.”

“I guess it depends on what you did?”

Linc opened the door for him and waited for him to climb in before closing it. He hurried around to his side and pulled the door open. After he hopped in and started the truck, he explained.

“So I know you said she liked princesses and had picked the pink paint. So I built a little thing that looks like a castle on the open wall. It’d be where her bed would have to go and… well, I can take it down if you want. I wasn’t thinking. I should have asked you if it was okay first.”

“That sounds amazing. I bet she’ll love it.”

“Yeah? I just figured… you guys have been through a lot lately. Your, uh, Uncle Henry told me what happened. So… you know, no pressure tonight or anything. I don’t want you to think… I mean, I’m really glad you said you wanted to come. But I didn’t want you to think I was just—”

“Hey, stop. Panicking is my job,” Blake said. “It’s fine. Michael and I were separated for a year before he died. I’m sad, yeah. And grieving the loss of my friend and my daughter’s father. But I would have said no if I didn’t want to come, okay?”

“Good. Wow, that got heavy fast.”

“Yeah. Subject change time. How long have you been working for the company?”

“Five years this year. Your Uncle David stole me away from a company a few towns over. They were short a foreman and he’d heard good things. I’ve been doing construction since I was in high school. We did a Habitat for Humanity project for community service and I was really into it. I’ve always liked working with my hands. What about you? I mean, I know Henry roped you into the family business but what were you doing before?”

“I’ve been taking care of Caroline since she was born. My degree is in business, though. I like working with numbers. They make sense to me, probably the way hammers and nails make sense to you.”

Linc groaned. “Man, doing those budget quotes is my least favorite part of the job. Henry makes us take an active role in it. He wants us to understand more than just what the materials cost to do a job. The labor, what the office provides in support, all of that goes into it.”

“I think that’s just his way of not having to do all the paperwork himself,” Blake said with a laugh. “I’ve never seen a man avoid paperwork like he does.”

“You may be right. So, you want to grab a bite to eat or just head on to the club?”

“I had a snack earlier, so we can head on to the club unless you’re hungry. I know we have to make an earlier night of it than you’re used to so I can be home for Caroline in the morning.”

He’d sent Linc a text the day after the invite explaining the situation. He didn’t mind leaving her with Claire for the evening, but he’d wanted to make it clear he wouldn’t be out all night. Linc had seemed fine with it and had promised to get him home before dawn. Since he’d accompanied that statement with a winking emoji, Blake had decided to put his worry aside and focus on having fun.

They chatted a bit more as they continued to drive, and by the time they pulled up in front of the club, Blake had completely relaxed. The music wasn’t as loud as Blake expected, but then again, it was barely nine. It would probably pick up after eleven, when most of the other men would turn up for their Friday night out.

Inside the bar, men sat on stools around high top tables while servers in shorts delivered drinks and food. Linc found an open table and they ordered beer and a couple appetizers to get them going. Before Blake knew it, he had a decent buzz going and was out on the dance floor plastered up against Linc.

He hadn’t been out in so long he’d forgotten how the music throbbed through you and how the flashing lights and sweaty bodies added eroticism to what could otherwise be just a wild party. Linc was a fantastic dancer, his body moving in tune with Blake’s, their bodies fitting perfectly together no matter which way they were facing. Currently, Linc had his chest to Blake’s back, his crotch grinding into Blake’s ass. Blake responded by arching back into the touch. His head rested against Linc’s shoulder, his body still moving in time with the beat.

The music changed, the beat slowing and Blake pulled away with a laugh before they drifted into the next song. He spun around, and Linc pulled him in close.

“Where you going?” Linc purred.

“I really have to pee,” Blake laughed.

“K. Meet me back here in a few?”

Blake nodded and weaved his way through the crowd of bodies to the bathroom at the back of the club. After he did his business, he headed back out, pausing when he noticed a glass door leading out to a covered patio. Several guys were out their smoking, but Blake only wanted a breath of fresh air. He walked over to the railing, out of the way of the others. He breathed in the crisp ocean air and couldn’t fight his smile. He hadn’t had this much fun in ages.

“Did you see Linc’s new piece?” A guy on the other side of the patio slurred his words. Blake glanced their way, but they hadn’t noticed him.

“I haven’t seen this one around before. He always does get the prime catch of the day.”

Blake frowned. At least he was considered a prime catch, for what it was worth.

“Must be nice. I’ve never seen him with the same guy twice, though.”

One of the others shrugged and took a drag from his cigarette. “Why bother? He tosses them back to the pond and goes on to a new one. He’s a great fuck, though. You’re just jealous he didn’t come back for seconds with you.”

Blake had heard enough. He slipped back inside, trying not to let their words ruin the happy buzz he’d been building. When he found Linc on the dance floor, he was surrounded by guys grinding up against him. He had that smile going again, the one that drew Blake in like a moth to a flame.

And damn it, Blake wanted to get burned.

He threw caution to the wind and pushed his way back through the crowd of dancers. The moment Linc caught his eye, he moved away from the others and pulled Blake close again. Not willing to let the moment pass, Blake dove in and plastered his lips to Linc’s.

Linc pulled him closer, opening for Blake’s questing tongue and they began moving with the beat of the music again.

This. This is what he’d been missing.

Linc clearly wasn’t interested in anything serious, if Blake could take the men outside at their word. And that’s exactly what Blake needed. Their careless gossip could have ruined his night, but instead, it gave Blake the permission he needed to let go and have fun. He didn’t have to think about his daughter and their future for once. He could think about his body and the want that throbbed through him with every touch of Linc’s body against him. His entire body heated, responding to Linc’s hands grabbing his ass and hauling him impossibly closer. He looped his own arms around Linc’s neck and tangled his hands in Linc’s hair.

He only pulled away when the crowd of men around them began cheering. The music had stopped, but they hadn’t. They’d caught the attention of everyone in the room. The MC stood on the stage, ready for the evening’s entertainment to begin.

Blake had a feeling he and Linc had just stolen the show.

“Come on,” Linc whispered. “Let’s get out of here.”

Blake didn’t need to be told twice.

Linc grabbed his hand and drew him toward the door.

“You sure about this?” Linc asked once they stood at his truck.

“Yeah,” Blake answered. He leaned in and kissed Linc again.

After a minute, Linc pushed him away.

“Fuck. You keep that up and I’m going to bend you over the seat and fuck you right here in the parking lot.”

“That a threat or a promise?” Blake teased.

Linc growled and pulled him close again. “That’s a guarantee.”