Thankfully, three days later Win hadn’t mentioned Troy’s little baby slip up. He bit his lip every night when he told the older man goodnight. Their nightly talks, short as they may be, became the second highlight of his day. The first one being having Bella with him. It was going to hurt when Win picked her up Saturday night. He set his book aside and lay down on the couch. Bella was currently sprawled out taking up most of his bed. The girl was a bed hog, worse about taking all the blankets.

His phone beeped.

Win: Is our girl already asleep?

Troy: Yeah.

He was surprised when the phone rang. Troy answered knowing who it was. “I’m sorry. I tried to keep her awake.”

“It’s okay. We took a detour, and we just now found a motel. Was she upset?” Win’s down tone plainly conveyed his disappointment.

“I told her you’d call her in the morning, so you will call her when you get up.”

Win’s gravelly chuckle sadly went straight to his dick. “Yes, dear.”

“Smartass,” he mumbled with a roll of his eyes.

“You rolled your eyes, didn’t you?”

“No, I didn’t,” he answered and did it again.

“You did it again.”

“Are you peeping in the windows?”

“No, I’m in a bed that’s more like a cot in a town that didn’t even have a welcome sign.”

Troy threw his arm over his eyes. He almost opened his mouth to offer his bed instead. He needed to get laid and soon. “Sounds scary, good thing you have that bad-boy-don’t-fuck-with-me thing going on.”

“I’m not that bad,” Win protested.

“Repeat that for me…I don’t think I heard you right.”

“And I’m the smart ass?”

“Yes, you are, how was your day?”

“Long, two of the guys had to head back home, work emergency. A contract and design dispute, the owners are being assholes about the layout they themselves picked.”

“That just leaves you with Clay and Samson.”

“Yeah, Samson is determined to get his ass kicked, along with mine and Clay’s.”

“What’s he doing?”

“He’s trying to get in the bed of every straight or supposedly straight man on our route.”

“Not picky huh? One ass is as good as another?” Troy asked. He laughed at Win’s exacerbated sigh.

“He’s never been picky, but I think he’s looking for a fight more than anything.”

“You tell him I said if you get hurt he’ll have to deal with me.”

“That’s cute. Six-three of pure pissed off testosterone versus the cute, freckled kindergarten teacher.”

“I can be mean when I need to be.” He smiled at Win’s laugh. It was exactly what he wanted to hear. “When are you going to be home?”

“We already made the U-turn. Elsa, Clay’s surrogate…she had to make an appointment for Friday afternoon.”

“I hope she’s okay.”

“I’m sure she is, but Clay is a big guy, and the baby is taking after him. She’s having some pains and Clay wants to get home. I’m not complaining. I miss my”—Win paused, and Troy heard the squeak of bedsprings—“Bella. I didn’t realize how much I’d hate being away from her.”

Troy sighed and shifted to get comfortable. “Well, she had a great day. I dropped her off at daycare, and when I picked her up, she told me all about her day. She has a boyfriend now.”

“What!” Win shouted.

Troy bit his lip to control his amusement. “Yes, he’s an older man of five, and he’s going to kindergarten this year.”

“You said I had years.”

“What can I say, our baby is beautiful.”

“You find this too amusing. You hate me.”

“No, I don’t.” Troy frowned.

“What else did she do today?”

“Well, after I picked her up and we talked about the boyfriend”—Win groaned—“we went school shopping.”

“She’s not going to school.”

“No, but I am. I needed new clothes and other things. She was a great help in picking out my t-shirts. I have a four-year-old approved wardrobe.”

“I’m scared to ask.”

“Nothing major. Okay, she found me a rather lovely hot pink shirt with Coloring Happens on it.”

“Only you.” Win cleared his throat, and the silence lengthened.

“Win, did you fall asleep on me?”

“Almost,” Win whispered.

Something in the answer made him believe Win wasn’t telling him the truth. He didn’t know if he should call the man on it or let it go. To be honest, as close as they’d become over the last few months, he still wasn’t sure of his place. Was he friend or a close acquaintance? Troy knew what he wanted. It just wasn’t meant to be. “Go to sleep, and we’ll talk in the morning.”

“I wish I was home with y’all.”

His heart kicked into overdrive.

“Goodnight, Win.” He swallowed hard and listened to Win’s soft goodnight. Troy wished Win was there, beside him, but as much as he needed it, it couldn’t be. Laying the phone on his chest, he stared up at the ceiling and longed for his life to be different. People could think him pathetic, yet it didn’t change what he wanted—to have the right to call Win and Bella his family.

The stench of nail polish remover, dye and whatever else filling the air burned his nose. He watched Bella as she sat in the chair getting her pedicure and manicure. Miller was in the chair beside her. Troy shook his head and smiled at the two of them. His phone rang, and he answered it without checking the display. “Hello.”

“Where are you?” Win’s harsh question took him by surprise.

“At the salon with Bella, why?” Troy asked.

“I came home, and you two weren’t here. You’re not getting her hair cut.”

“Of course I’m not cutting her gorgeous hair. She’s getting a mani and pedi with Miller.”

“Really?” Win seemed to ask with shock.

“Yes, she is a girl, and I may be gay, but I can’t put on polish to save my life.”

“That’s not what I said.”

“No, you didn’t. Are you coming here?” Troy gave him the address even though he didn’t answer him.

“Be there in ten.” The call disconnected.

“Your baby-daddy home?” Miller asked. His perfectly arched brows rose to disappear into his shaggy bangs.

“Don’t be an a-s-s.”

“You know you’d jump that man at the first hint of a yes.”

“Um, can we not discuss this in front of Bella?”

“Honey, have you even looked at yourself this week? You’ve been like Troy, the happy little homemaker. Taking the daughter to daycare, picking her up, bedtime stories and late-night talks with your man.”

“Miller,” Troy hissed. “Stop, now.”

“Fine, but years of lusting after the man…” Miller stopped thankfully.

“Troy, is Dad coming here?” Bella asked.

“Yes, sweetheart, Dad will be here soon.”

She squealed and danced in her seat, “He’s been gone a long time.”

“Well, sit still so the nice lady can do your nails or they’ll get messed up, okay?”

“Okay,” Bella whispered.

He hated when her voice went quiet. It took him back to when she first came to them. The last few days turned rough for their Bella.

“Bella.” He stood and went to her. Leaning over, putting them eye to eye. “It’s fine to miss your dad. You can be excited he’s home. I wasn’t fussing at you, I promise.” He placed his hand on her soft cheek and kissed her forehead.

“Okay, will he like them?” Troy glanced down at the pink nails that were getting purple polka dots on them.

“He’ll love them.” When the chime over the door went off, murmurs filled the salon. He glanced back over his shoulder to see what had them so fascinated. Win, he should’ve known. Black t-shirt, ragged jeans mostly covered by leather chaps. The man was a wet dream walking.

“Dad,” Bella squealed.

The stern expression instantly softened. Troy straightened and started to move out of Win’s way so he could get to Bella. A muscled arm slipped around his waist. He tensed and tried not to melt. Win bent over to kiss Bella.

“Hi, baby girl, I missed you.”

“I missed you. I can’t move. I’ll mess up my nails.”

“I see that. Hello, Miller.”

“Win, good to see you.”

Troy glared at the smug look on his best friend’s face. Miller got the same smug expression when proven right. He hated that damn look, but whatever Troy was going to think or say had disappeared when a huge, powerful hand squeezed his hip.

Win straightened, then lowered firm, yet soft lips to his ear. The brush of Win’s mouth against his skin made him shiver. “Hey, sorry I was short on the phone,” Win whispered.

His tongue was thick and stuck to his palette. Why would something so innocent seem like the most erotic action?

Speak, moron, his brain screamed.

Saved from replying by Miller, “You two go sit down, Bella and I are almost done.”

Troy stood frozen in place, trapped inside the nearly uncontrollable need to climb the man. Thankfully, Win steered him towards the line of chairs. The older man didn’t release him until they reached the seats. Troy quickly sat down to hide his uncomfortable and embarrassing reaction to what was an innocent gesture.

“Are you okay?” Win’s concerned question tugged him out of his haze.

“Yeah, yeah, this was my last week in the office, and I was helping Dad get caught up. I think I just need a nap.”

“Well when you get home you can sleep, you won’t have anything else to do.”

“It’s almost time for Bella’s lunch and her nap, and then I have dinner to plan.”

“I thought I would take Bella home.”

“You can stay for dinner, Win, I’m not ready to send her home yet, okay?” There was a strange smile curving Win’s mouth.

“Okay. The mani and pedi Miller’s idea?”

“One of the little girls in daycare with Bella had her nails painted. They were talking about Mommies, Bella said she didn’t have one, and the little girl told her only Mommies paint nails. Miller and I decided she needed her fingers and toes done.”

“That was uncalled for.”

“Win, the little girl doesn’t know any different. In her mind, everyone has a Mom. Bella seemed a little down yesterday, and she finally told me what happened last night after we read her story.”

“I should’ve been here.”

Troy didn’t think; he wanted to soothe the misery on Win’s handsome face. He reached out, laying his hand on top of Win’s and stroked his fingertips across the Rage. Win’s shoulders relaxed, and a heavy sigh pushed passed his compressed lips.

“You’re doing great. She’s happy and healthy, settling in well.” Troy told the truth because Win was doing an amazing job with being new at the whole Dad thing. The older man needed to relax though.

“That’s more because of you than me. You’ve been the great one. I panicked.”

“Anyone would’ve panicked. You didn’t know about her, and without warning, you’re hit with the reality of being a parent.” Troy took advantage of Win studying Bella to take in his strong profile, the sexy beard on his jaw and cheeks.

“I don’t want to fuck her up. What do I know about being a parent? Mine didn’t do anything…” Win’s voice broke.

Troy watched the big man lower his chin to his chest and briefly close his eyes.

“Win, baby, they showed you exactly what not to do, and you’re nothing like them.” He squeezed Win’s hand once more, then started to pull away. Strong, calloused fingers slipped through his and held tight.

“But I’ve done…” Win paused.

Troy knew what the man was going to say and saved him the misery. “You made a mistake, one that you paid for with eight years of your life.”

“How did you know?”

“I’m observant, and a bit sneaky. No one ever notices me, and you learn a lot when you’re invisible.” Troy tried to make a joke of it yet had a feeling the joke fell flat.

“You’re not invisible. I wouldn’t have made it through the beginning without you.”

“I’m glad I helped. You know I love her.” He glanced at Bella to find her watching them with a wide smile on her cute face. It made him happy and broke his heart at the same time. Everything he wanted was sitting beside him and across the room, that elusive dream he’d never found.

“The feeling is mutual. It’s always Troy this and Troy that after she comes home from spending time with you.”

“Go show your daddies your pretty nails.” The nail lady’s words broke into their conversation.

Win’s eyes went wide, and Troy tried to deflect whatever meltdown the man was going to have. “I’m not—” Bella’s giggles cut him off.

Win released his hand seconds before the tiny girl attacked them. She sat on Win’s lap and shoved her little hands in Troy’s face. He couldn’t contain his chuckle, and he wrapped his fingers around her wrists to look down at the most horrid shade of pink. It was close to Pepto and covered with dots of bright purple.

“Beautiful,” he told her.

“Do you want to have lunch and dinner at my place?” Win asked, and the question took Troy by surprise.

“You have food at your house?”

“Maybe.”

“Not encouraging. I’ll take Bella home to grab her things. Then we’ll head to the store and be over.”

“Okay, don’t be too long, um, I need to talk to you about something after Bella goes down for her nap.”

An instant feeling of nausea filled the pit of his stomach. He hated talks, despised the uncertainty of it because this was Win and Bella, a talk seemed ominous. Releasing one of Bella’s hands, he pressed his hand flat to his stomach to calm to nerves spiking into overdrive with agitated pangs. He squeezed Bella’s hand a little tighter and attempted to knock his fatalist tendencies aside.

“Okay, we won’t take long. Come on, Miss Bella, let’s go grocery shopping.”

“Ice cream,” she screeched and threw herself at Troy.

When he looked up, he noticed Win’s raised brow and his face flamed. “Don’t look at me like that, Dad likes ice cream, and sometimes it’s easier on his stomach.”

“Yeah, whatever excuse you want to make, baby, it ain’t going to work. You remember the video, right?” Win leaned to kiss Bella’s cheek. “See ya’ll in a bit.”

With that Win left and Troy stared at the door long after the man left. Okay, maybe the talk wasn’t bad as he thought. He could hope.