Chapter 2
Grant
Grant grinned as he sipped his morning coffee while watching the giant snowflakes fall from the sky. He couldn’t wait to wake up his boy to share the amazing sight. Caleb had a few more minutes to sleep, though.
He’d found that keeping Caleb on a schedule was vitally important to the well-being of his boy.
Caleb needed structure and discipline, love and support.
Grant knew that Caleb still questioned his own abilities.
It remained a struggle to show his boy how smart and wonderful he was.
Grant would keep on showing him, until Caleb understood that he was perfect, just the way he was.
Draining the remainder of his coffee, Grant turned back toward the kitchen. He’d start another pot then go wake up his boy. Caleb would have to be dressed warmly, but Grant had no doubt he’d want to spend some time playing in the snow.
He smiled as he entered the kitchen, Caleb’s domain, and took in all the little touches his boy had added. Instead of the cold sterile room it’d once been, the kitchen was now bright and warm. All Caleb’s doing.
Grant got the coffee brewing before he headed for the bedroom.
The two oldest pets were still asleep with Caleb while the younger ones followed Grant around. It was a routine they all had down pretty well. He stepped into the room to peer at his boy.
The pink comforter was pulled up to Caleb’s chin. Grant had already turned the thermostat higher to make sure that his boy didn’t get cold. Caleb slept in either a sexy nightie or nothing at all.
Grant strolled over to Caleb’s side of the bed and brushed his fingers through his boy’s hair. Grant grinned as Caleb snuffled and scrunched up his nose. So adorable.
“It’s time to wake up, sweetie,” Grant said quietly.
“Nooooo,” Caleb whined.
Chuckling, Grant tugged harder on the strands of Caleb’s hair.
“Ouch, Daddy.”
It must not have hurt too much since his boy still refused to open his eyes.
“It’s time to get up. Daddy has a surprise for you.”
Caleb opened one eye. “What kind of surprise?”
“I guess you’ll have to get up and see.” Grant walked over to the closet where he removed a long silk robe for Caleb.
“I’ve fallen for that trick before,” Caleb muttered.
Caleb had, numerous times, and he would again too. Grant’s boy was just too curious. Returning to the side of the bed, Grant held open the robe. He shook it out, letting the long fabric brush over the floor. “Don’t you want your surprise?”
Huffing, Caleb finally opened both eyes. “It had better not be a new chore list like last time.”
Grant smirked.
“It is, isn’t it?” Caleb wailed. “Daddy! It’s almost Christmas!”
Instead of responding, Grant shook the robe again.
“Fine.” Caleb pushed down the covers.
Grant’s gaze went down to Caleb’s long slender neck and the small love bites Grant had left behind.
He loved marking his boy. Maybe a man of his age shouldn’t leave such obvious displays on his boy, but Grant was a possessive man.
Not that Caleb minded. Caleb loved to show off all the marks Grant left behind on him.
Once Caleb was standing, still bleary-eyed, Grant slipped the robe onto his boy.
Caleb wrapped the edges around himself before leaning his head back to look at Grant. Grant smiled. Leaning down, he kissed Caleb’s cute button nose before grabbing his hand.
“Come on, pretty baby. I have something to show you.”
“If you come back to bed, I can show you something else,” Caleb tried to tempt.
“We can come back to bed later,” Grant told him. “I think you’ll really like my surprise.”
“Promises, promises,” Caleb muttered.
Grant ignored his boy’s complaints. Caleb was going to be thrilled once he figured out what was going on. Leading his boy down the hall and through the living room, Grant brought Caleb to the large balcony doors. He’d closed the curtains earlier.
“It’s cold.” Caleb snuggled under Grant’s arm.
“I know, pretty baby,” Grant responded. “Just another minute.” Grant positioned Caleb in front of the glass balcony doors. “Close your eyes.”
Caleb rolled his eyes before closing them.
Grant would make him pay for that sassiness later. And they would both enjoy it. He yanked open the curtains. Grant was proud when Caleb didn’t peek. That had to be hard for his boy.
Walking around behind Caleb’s back, Grant rested his hands on Caleb’s thin shoulders. “Ready, baby?”
Caleb was practically shaking with excitement. “Yes!”
“Open your eyes.”
Caleb’s gasp filled the air. “Daddy…Grant…it’s beautiful.”
Grant wrapped his arms around his boy and held him tight. “Our first Christmas together and it’s going to be a white Christmas. Just like you wanted.”
Caleb nodded. “It’s…”
“Perfect.” Smiling, he rested his chin on Caleb’s shoulder so they could stare out at the perfect landscape in front of them.
The entire backyard was covered in a thick blanket of snow. The pristine white canvas sparkled under the lights that twinkled from the house.
Caleb sniffled before turning. “It’s like the most romantic Christmas story ever. You and me. If I didn’t get anything more for Christmas than this, it would be the best Christmas of my life.”
“I know, pretty baby.” Grant kissed Caleb softly. His sweet boy. Caleb didn’t need hundreds of toys or material things. He appreciated little things. Grant would spend the rest of his life sharing white Christmases with his boy if he was so lucky.
Caleb leaned back and grinned. “Let’s go build a snowman!” He started for the balcony door, but Grant caught him around the waist.
“Clothes, pretty baby, or you’ll freeze that pretty tush off.” Grant lifted Caleb off his feet.
“Oh yeah.” Caleb giggled. “Clothes would be a good idea.”
* * *
Mac
Mac cursed under his breath as he stomped off the snow from his boots. It was fucking cold outside and of course his boy had wanted fresh flowers from the greenhouse. Not that Mac minded getting the flowers for Hayley, but the snow that had fallen overnight was thick, wet, and cold.
Hearing voices and laughter from the kitchen, Mac headed in that direction.
He paused at the doorway, taking in his boy’s beaming smile while Hayley teased his brother.
Hayley’s brother, Jayme, hadn’t returned home after coming to help with Hayley’s shop a few months ago.
Instead, Jayme had moved into Hayley’s old apartment and taken over a few days a week at the store.
The fact that Jayme’s normally pale face was beet-red spoke to getting teased by Mac’s boy.
“What’s going on in here?” Mac asked, staying in the doorway. He wasn’t going to get between the two boys’ teasing again. Last time, they’d both turned on him. Teasing Mac about being nothing more than a big softy. Mac was not soft. He’d killed people for a living, damn it.
“Nothing,” Jayme said quickly. Way too quickly to be believable.
Mac glanced around, looking for Jayme’s shadow. Lance, a fellow assassin, had taken an interest in Jayme and was never far from his side.
Hayley snorted. “Yeah, right.” He rose, heading in Mac’s direction.
Mac gave his full attention to his boy. Hayley was so beautiful, and Mac still found it hard to believe that the sweet man had chosen him. Mac knew that his soul was black and that he had done very few things right in his life. Hayley was the complete opposite. Kind, sweet, and good.
“Thank you for getting the flowers,” Hayley said, kissing him.
Mac wrapped his arm around Hayley’s back. When his boy would have pulled away, Mac tightened his arm, keeping Hayley close. He deepened the kiss. Like always, Hayley melted into him.
“Uh, guys! I’m still in the room!” Jayme reminded them.
Mac eased the kiss but didn’t release his hold on Hayley. He handed over the flowers, though.
“These are so pretty.” Hayley sniffed the red roses Mac had picked.
“Mom is going to be so jealous of your greenhouse when she sees it,” Jayme said.
Hayley stiffened.
Confused, Mac looked between Hayley and his brother and back to his boy. Something was going on.
“Yeah.” Hayley cleared his throat. “She’d…she’ll…”
“Oh shit! You didn’t tell him?” Jayme practically shouted.
Okay, now Mac was really suspicious. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Hayley responded, but he looked away.
Fuck, Hayley was as bad at lying as Jayme was. With his hand on Hayley’s shoulder, Mac directed his boy back to the large kitchen table. He pulled out a chair and urged Hayley to sit down. Jayme was glancing around the room as if planning his escape.
“You both stay there,” Mac ordered.
“Shit,” Hayley mumbled.
“Yes, sir,” Jayme replied.
Seeing his boy had started making hot cocoa at some point, Mac strolled over to the counter to finish the task. There were already three mugs down.
“Where’s your shadow?” he asked Jayme.
“Uh.” Jayme licked his lips. “Haven’t seen him in a few days.”
Mac nodded without replying. He didn’t know how much Jayme knew about their lives.
Mac had told Hayley everything. He’d been completely honest about his past and what he’d done.
As much as he’d have loved to hide those details from his boy, Mac also needed Hayley to accept him for who he was.
He wouldn’t interfere with Lance and Jayme unless he thought the boy would be hurt. Jayme was now a part of Mac’s family.
Once he had three mugs of cocoa mixed and had added way too many marshmallows, he returned to the table. He set a mug in front of each boy before he sat in the chair closest to Hayley.
Mac took a sip. Cocoa wasn’t his favorite hot beverage, but Hayley did love the sweet stuff. He’d started selling this brand in the shop just a few weeks before. Jayme eventually picked up his own cocoa, but Hayley still had his head down while peeking at Mac from under his lashes.
Setting his mug down, Mac reached over and grasped Hayley’s fingers with his. He squeezed Hayley’s hand. Hayley looked up at him.
“Tell me,” Mac said softly. “It’ll be okay.”