MATTIE

  SINGLE DADS OF GAYNOR BEACH

  ELOUISE EAST

  CONTENTS

  Mattie

  Author note

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Next in the Gaynor Beach Series

  Also set in Gaynor Beach

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  Books by Elouise East

  About Elouise East

  Copyright © 2024 Elouise East

  MATTIE (SINGLE DADS OF GAYNOR BEACH)

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  All products and/or brand names mentioned are registered trademarks of their respective holders/companies.

  Publisher: Elouise East

  Cover Design: Leanne Clugston

  Editor: Elouise East

  Beta Readers: Emma Brown

  MATTIE

  Three single dads looking for love that is right before their eyes.

  Mattie’s life is as perfect as it could be without a partner. The one person he wants is oblivious, but he doesn’t want to rock the boat and change how things are. When his life irrevocably changes by the appearance of a baby on his doorstep, he calls in his best friend to help. After all, Jordan had a child of his own; he knows what to do. Right?

  Jordan’s life is as perfect as it could be minus a lover or two. His best friend, Mattie, is amazing; his ex is amicable, which is great as they have an eight-year-old son together; and he loves his job. Helping Mattie with his newfound daughter is a dream come true, and their bond grows into more with this new dynamic, but why does it feel incomplete?

  Bray’s life is as perfect as it could be while withholding himself from the truth. He’s retired military, loves being outside, and when it comes to children, has a heart the size of all the oceans put together. He creates wooden toys for the children’s hospital, and when Jordan comes asking for help for his son’s new hobby, he can’t say no. Throw in Mattie and his beautiful daughter, and it’s more than he can resist.

  But merging three separate lives into one cohesive family is harder than it seems.

  Mattie is an MMM romance in the Single Dads of Gaynor Beach series. It follows a shy lingerie shop owner, a wild but adventurous lifeguard, and a rough and ready woodworker as they work their way through the trials of a new triad relationship.

  AUTHOR NOTE

  If you would like to see any potential triggers for this book and any other books I’ve written, please go to this link on my website: https://elouiseeast.com/triggers

  CHAPTER 1

  MATTIE

  Mattie Evans shielded his face as water droplets splashed him. “Mind my book!” he grumbled as his best friend shook his hair some more. He turned the book face down to protect the pages. “You’re an asshole.”

  Jordan Storm squinted at him, his mouth curved at the corners while his sun-tanned skin gleamed in the sunshine. “How else am I supposed to get dry?”

  “Use a towel like normal people do. Just because you live in the water doesn’t mean I want to.”

  “You should swim more often.”

  A shiver went down Mattie’s spine, and he shook his head. “No way. Paddling, yes, but swimming? I’m good, thanks.”

  Jordan waved his hand dismissively before planting both on his hips and studying their surroundings. “I still can’t understand why you love boats but hate being in the water.”

  Mattie wasn’t upset by his distracted best friend—after all, he was a lifeguard and needed to be alert at all times while he worked. Mattie peered at the vast ocean laid out before him, past the umbrella shielding him from the lobster-inducing effects the sun sometimes had on him, and considered his answer. Again.

  “I don’t care for the unexpected,” he said in the end. It was true. He loved being organized and prepared, and planning for every eventuality was his preference for anything, work or personal life. Surprises threw his balance off. But the truth was, it was the ghost stories that had him.

  Ever since Gaynor Beach’s founding father and first Mayor’s wife died in a sailing accident on the rocks of Willis Point five years after the founding of the city, there had been stories told of a woman walking on those very rocks and a boat that could be seen whenever it was foggy. And after seeing something on the rocks near the lighthouse himself as a child that he couldn’t explain, he had stayed away from the ocean. Swimming in a pool was fine, but the ocean was a whole other ballgame. Except for paddling because his feet were still firmly on land with that.

  “That I can testify to,” Jordan said. “Are you still staying until the end of my shift?”

  Mattie nodded. “Sure. I have plenty of pages left to get through.”

  Jordan threw his head back and laughed. “I would need to do a double shift for you to finish that book.”

  Dropping his head, he tried to stop himself from smiling. “So?”

  “I’m not doing that. You can finish it at home. You still have the rest of the day.”

  Since it was Sunday, he had the day off work because his shop was closed. Lovely in Lace was a lingerie shop for people of all kinds who wanted something decadent and pretty to cover themselves with. Despite the nature of his business, it had been a tremendous hit with the residents, all the way from Oakdale’s working class to Willis Cove’s wealthier constituents, from the moment he’d opened it twelve years ago.

  “Are you cooking dinner?” Mattie asked.

  Jordan chuckled. “If I didn’t, we’d starve. We’ll drop by Sea Breeze to grab something tasty on the way home. You can buy.” He took off, jogging back to his colleagues, and Mattie sighed.

  “It’s a good job his cooking is worth it,” he mumbled, bringing his book back up now the chance of ruination was gone.

  Three hours later, he packed his belongings, shrugging on a loose T-shirt, and headed for Jordan. His best friend clapped hands with another lifeguard and slid his arm around Mattie’s shoulder.

  “Ready for home?” he asked.

  Mattie tried to ignore the heat burning through the fabric of his T-shirt from Jordan’s arm, which had nothing to do with the sun and everything to do with Mattie’s fantasies about his best friend. Fantasies he’d kept secret since they’d first become friends ten years ago when Jordan entered his shop to buy a gift for his cousin.

  “Good afternoon. Let me know if you need any help,” Mattie said to the new customer. He was always unfailingly polite, even to those who looked down on him despite wanting what he sold.

  “I will, thanks.”

  The guy was maybe early twenties, maybe a little older, but he was definitely what Mattie described as a beach bum. His skin was tanned to a golden hue from the sun—no fake tan could ever get that good of a result—his hair had lightened in places, giving a shimmer to some strands depending on how the light caught it, and his face was full of masculine beauty.

  Mattie blinked and turned away, not wanting to creep on the guy when he might buy something. He monitored him from the corner of his eye, though, interested in what he was looking for. There was no rhyme or reason to what he inspected. Sometimes, it was stockings and suspenders. Sometimes, it was a lace teddy. Then he moved to the corsets. Mattie wanted to ask if there was something specific he was looking for but didn’t want to intrude. Luckily for him, the guy came over.

  “Hey, I’m looking for something for a guy.” His eyes twinkled as he spoke. “He’s quite muscular, but I want something that would fit him but not rip.”

  Mattie nodded. “Okay.” He moved from behind the counter and headed for the corsets. “When you say muscular, are you talking Dwayne Johnson muscular or Chris Hemsworth?”

  The guy squinted. “Dwayne Johnson.”

  “Okay.” Mattie looked through the selection and chose two options that could work, depending on his actual size. “No matter what you pick, you can get a refund if it doesn’t fit, as long as it’s not ripped. But this would probably be the best idea. The corsets are versatile in that they can be loosened or tightened as nee
ded.”

  The guy threw his head back and laughed. “Perfect. He’ll die over this.”

  Mattie frowned. “Sorry?”

  The guy waved his hand. “It’s a gag gift for my cousin’s bachelor party. He’ll look amazing in it.” He chuckled again.

  Mattie pursed his lips and looked at the ceiling, counting to ten. Then he faced the guy again. “These clothes are not for gag gifts. They are exquisitely designed items for those who wish to explore a different side to their appearance. They are not to be laughed at or ridiculed because someone is wearing them.” He put the corsets back. “I’d like you to leave now.”

  The guy’s eyebrows rose, and he pressed his lips together. He rubbed at his forehead and nodded. “Understood.”

  Then he turned around and left, not even slamming the door behind him. Mattie exhaled heavily, willing his heart rate to calm. He wasn’t one for shows of temper, but when someone mocked his livelihood, he wasn’t having it. Let the guy get his kicks elsewhere.

  He put it out of his mind as much as he could until the following day, when the guy came in again.

  Mattie stood up. “I thought I told you⁠—”

  The guy held up some flowers. “I come bearing an apology gift.”

  Mattie’s mouth gaped, and he couldn’t think of what to say.

  “I’m really sorry about yesterday. You had every right to go off on me about it. I didn’t think how my actions would be construed, and I am truly sorry.”

  He handed the flowers over, and Mattie stared at them, rather than the man who had apologised for his behaviour. The first man Mattie had ever known to do so.

  “Um, thank you.”

  The guy held out his hand. “I’m Jordan Storm.”

  Mattie shook his hand, inhaling when a spark pinched his palm. “Mattie Evans.”

  “I told my boyfriend about what I did, and he gave me a talking to as well. Sometimes, I don’t think before I act, and it doesn’t go well.”

  Mattie chuckled. “I understand.”

  Somehow, Jordan had wormed his way into Mattie’s life like he belonged there. And Mattie had fallen harder and harder for the funny, easygoing, amazing person Jordan truly was. Those feelings had never left.

  “Lead the way,” he said, instead of grabbing Jordan’s nape and pulling him in for a kiss. He cleared his throat and dragged his bag to his shoulder, dislodging Jordan’s arm.

  They jumped onto the bus after picking up the fish and headed for Mattie’s house. Whenever they got together, it was always at Mattie’s home because Jordan shared a house with roommates. He’d offered Jordan his spare bedroom several times, but he’d refused without offering a reason.

  By the time Jordan was elbow-deep in cooking, Mattie was showered and dressed and sat at the table, pretending to read his book when, in fact, he was watching his best friend move around his kitchen like he owned the place. And what Mattie wouldn’t give for that to be true.

  “Cody is asking if you’re coming camping with us next weekend,” Jordan said.

  Mattie glared at him. “You know my answer to that.”

  Jordan chuckled. “Yes, but I told him I’d ask. He’s only eight. He doesn’t understand why you don’t enjoy camping.”

  “Explain that not everyone likes the same things.”

  “I have. But because he enjoys it so much, he doesn’t understand how you can’t.”

  A shudder ran down his spine. “And I don’t understand how you both can enjoy it so much.”

  Jordan’s mouth stretched into a smile. “It’s the outdoors, Mattie! Fresh air, cool breeze, no noise pollution. It’s great.”

  “I can do that by opening the window and putting my headphones on.”

  “Pfft. You need to get out more.”

  “And we have had this conversation how many times over the years?”

  “Too many,” they said in unison and laughed.

  “I know Cody wants me to come,” Mattie continued, “but the idea of sleeping out in a tent in the middle of a forest is not at all appealing.”

  Jordan snorted. “No. Burying your head in a book in a corner of a room is so much better.”

  Mattie looked around for something to throw at him, but all he had was his book, and he wasn’t throwing that anywhere. “Shut up. It’s okay to be different.”

  Jordan held up his hands and then plated their food. The lemon and herb scent was divine. This was the reason he didn’t mind paying for the food. If Jordan kept cooking, he would keep paying.

  “How is Cody doing now?”

  Cody was Jordan’s son with his ex-partner, Ash. They had been together for around five years before deciding to arrange a surrogate for them. Unfortunately, their relationship didn’t work out, and when Cody was three, they split amicably. They shared custody of him with Jordan working his lifeguard shifts around Ash’s Home Health Aide job, which, as far as Mattie was concerned, was damn good of him. The end of that relationship was something Mattie could’ve jumped on, but he couldn’t find the courage.

  Jordan finished his mouthful and put his fork down, crossing his arms and leaning on the table. “He’s better now we’ve spoken to his teacher. Although Cody said he’d told the teacher, the teacher denied knowing about it. We didn’t bring that up with Cody because it could’ve been that the teacher wanted to pretend he didn’t know. But anyway, Cody doesn’t seem to have had a problem with that kid since. We’re monitoring it, though.”

  “I’m glad they at least seemed to do something. That kid should never have bullied Cody in the first place.”

  Jordan resumed eating with a grin. “You are a fierce uncle, to be sure. I wouldn’t like to get on your wrong side when it comes to Cody.”

  “Definitely! He’s an amazing kid, and Uncle Mattie is happy to babysit anytime. Unless it involves camping,” he added when Jordan opened his mouth. His best friend snapped his mouth shut again, and Mattie chuckled. “You’re too transparent.”

  They finished their meal, and Jordan checked his watch. “I have to go. Cody will wear a hole in the carpet, waiting for me to pick him up.”

  Mattie smiled. “Have fun and be safe.”

  Jordan hugged him as he always did and headed for the door. “Sorry for leaving the dishes!” he called back.

  “No, you’re not!” Mattie shook his head. Jordan knew he enjoyed doing it himself because everything got put back where it was supposed to be rather than where Jordan thought it should go. That was one thing about not having Jordan living with him. At least he could keep his stuff where he wanted it.

  When he finished, he grabbed his book, checked everything was locked up, and headed up the stairs to bed. He changed into his pajamas, even though it was still fairly early, and climbed into bed. Tucking the duvet around his hips, he reached for his book and lost himself in the story once more. As much as he wanted to, he wasn’t going to get it finished that night, but he wanted to see them at least past their troubles.

  An unexpected sex scene jumped into the story, and fuck, it was hot. Mattie swallowed hard as the author described what one character did to the other, and his cock responded as images bombarded him. His mind automatically pasted his and Jordan’s faces over the characters, and Mattie’s blood heated. He licked his lips, eyes glued to the page as his free hand wrapped around his dick.

  The characters had been watching TV, and one had reached across and palmed the other’s cock. Within seconds, their clothing had been opened and pushed aside, and the bottom had straddled the top’s legs, backwards, and sank down on him. He braced himself on the top’s knees and bounced.