Mattie could just imagine doing that to Jordan when he least expected it, and his orgasm barrelled through him. He closed his eyes and finished the scene in his head. He rested his head back against the headboard as his body cooled.

  “Fucking hell, Mattie. Grow a pair.”

  He put the book on his bedside table and cleaned himself up, grabbing a new pair of pajamas. This time, when he settled into bed, he didn’t reach for the book. He rolled to his side, turned the lamp off, and stared into the darkness. His brain conjured up more images of Jordan, playing with Cody, teasing Mattie, rescuing people in the ocean, the wet T-shirt competition they did one year. There were ten years’ worth of memories, and yet, he couldn’t bring himself to ask Jordan if he wanted more than friendship. Yes, Mattie had other friends if his relationship with Jordan suffered for his question, but Jordan was Jordan. No one could replace him.

  One day, Mattie would get the courage to ask Jordan that all important question.

  Will you go out with me?

  CHAPTER 2

  JORDAN

  Jordan spent the first part of the week ferrying his son back and forth from school on his way to work, and by the end of the week, he was as ready for their camping trip as Cody was.

  He pulled up to his ex’s house and switched off the engine. The moment he stepped out of the car he had borrowed from his parents for the weekend, he heard Cody’s shout, and he laughed. The little guy must’ve been watching out of the window. The front door flung open, and his rambunctious eight-year-old ran down the path and into his arms. It was the best feeling in the world.

  “Hey, bud. How’re you doing?”

  “Great! I got all my spellings right today.”

  Jordan hugged him again and then ruffled his hair. “Good job.” Cody had trouble with spellings and times tables, but he was getting better. The school was great at helping the kids with schoolwork without the kids even realising they were doing it. He glanced at the door as Ash exited, carrying Cody’s bags. His ex was a handsome guy, ten years older than him, but still looking good. “Hey. How’re things?”

  Ash smiled, though Jordan swore the lines were deeper on his face. “Good. Busy.”

  Jordan understood that. With Ash’s job as a Home Health Aide, he was attending to patients day and night, depending on his shift pattern, and the hours could be horrendously long some days. It had never been something that had affected their relationship when they’d been together because Jordan had known from the beginning what Ash did, and he didn’t expect him to change his job for him.

  Their problem had been that they just hadn’t seen each other. They were like ships passing in the night, to borrow a phrase his father liked. When Ash came home from work and went to bed, Jordan was getting up. Then when Ash woke, Jordan was heading out to work or bed himself. It was neither of their faults, but it hadn’t worked for them. Their split, however emotional, had been a mutual agreement.

  Jordan still loved Ash, and always would, but they weren’t right for each other.

  He turned to Cody. “Are you ready?”

  Cody nodded. “Is Mattie coming?” His voice was so hopeful, but Jordan shook his head. “Is it bad that I want to kidnap him and take him, anyway?”

  Jordan threw his head back, laughter booming from him. “I don’t think he’d appreciate that.”

  Ash chuckled. “He definitely wouldn’t. Have a good time, Cody. Not too many marshmallows this time, huh?” He raised his eyebrows and stared at his son.

  Cody bit his lip. “I’ll try?”

  Jordan doubted he meant it as a question, but when Ash shook his head and smiled, Cody hugged him and scrambled into the car. Jordan grabbed bags and put them into the trunk. Before he climbed back into the car, Ash said his name.

  Ash slid his hands into his pockets, something he always did when he had something serious to say, and Jordan braced himself. “We always said we would be honest and upfront with each other.” Jordan nodded. “I’ve met someone.”

  Jordan grinned. “That’s great!”

  Ash raised his eyebrows. “It is?”

  Jordan squinted at him. Was there something wrong with finding someone else? “Of course it is. You’ve been alone for a while. I’m happy for you. Does Cody know?”

  Ash shook his head. “I wanted to wait a bit before I said anything to him. You know, in case it fizzles out.”

  “Understandable. I don’t think you’ll have any problems. He’ll probably see it as someone else to wrap around his fingers.”

  Ash chuckled. “Yeah, probably. Anyway, sorry to drop it on you before you go, but I wanted you to know in case Cody had seen or heard something and I hadn’t realized.”

  “Thanks. Have a good weekend. Get some rest, yeah? You look tired.”

  Ash snorted. “Thanks…I think.”

  Jordan winked and climbed into the car. “Ready?” he asked Cody.

  “Set? Go!”

  Chuckling at his son’s regular reply, he waved at Ash and headed for the campsite they always used. It wasn’t far away, just up Route 5, to the north of Gaynor Beach, where the land was covered with trees. It was the perfect getaway, but also close to home should they need to go back. He’d promised Cody they would go somewhere else to explore when he was a little older, but neither of them cared. They loved their home away from home.

  “So, what have you got to tell me that you haven’t already told me this week?” Jordan asked.

  Cody fiddled with the radio. “Erm, I don’t know. Did I tell you about the basketball competition we did?”

  “Nope.”

  Cody described what they’d done the previous day and then continued about his favorite TV show while Jordan navigated the roads. When they made the turn for the campsite, Cody went quiet and stared around them as he always did. He’d once told Jordan that he enjoyed looking around and seeing what he could see before he got to their spot, so Jordan stayed quiet for him.

  He stopped the car and looked around. Apart from their breathing, there was silence. He climbed out and stood still. Pure silence. Cody settled beside him, and Jordan closed his eyes and breathed. He couldn’t understand why Mattie didn’t like camping, either. It was so peaceful.

  “Right. Tent.”

  They set to work, getting the tent set up, the firewood collected, and the pot hanging from their makeshift stand so they could cook their dinner. It was a good hour and a half before they were done, but it was worth it. The warm August air meant they wouldn’t need the fire for heat, but it was part of the experience. He tugged Cody to him and took a selfie, shooting it off to Ash and Mattie to show them they’d arrived safely.

  Mattie replied immediately.

  MATTIE: Be safe.

  Jordan smiled. Mattie was a worrier, which is why Jordan sent updates regularly to him. The one and only time he hadn’t, Mattie had gone off like a rocket when he’d got back. That was something he didn’t want to experience again.

  He tipped some soup into the pot for their dinner and settled beside Cody to wait for it to warm. His son held a stick and was peeling off the outer part, using his fingernails to dig into the softer part of the wood.

  “What are you making?” he asked.

  Cody didn’t look up. “School has started doing woodwork with us, and I really enjoy it. If I had a knife, this would be called whittling. It’s where you slice off layers of the wood and make it into something else. A teacher showed us a pencil he had made entirely from wood that had been shaped into a bear. It looked amazing. Obviously, the ink wasn’t wood, but it was fantastic.”

  Jordan picked up on the excitement Cody felt. “Is this something you want to continue with?”

  Cody glanced at him. “If I could, that would be great. I know things can be expensive, though.”

  Jordan ruffled his son’s hair again. “We won’t say no until we look into it. How does that sound?”

  “Really?” His eyes lit up.

  “Really. When we get back, I’ll do some research—you can do some, too—and we’ll compare notes. Even if we start you off with something small. Like whittling. I’m sure we can make it work.”

  With how excited Cody looked, Jordan was going to make sure it happened.

  Their two-night stay at the campsite went far too quickly for them both, but real life intruded. Ash wasn’t working for the next four days, so Cody would stay with him until Thursday evening, when Ash would drop him off with Jordan.

  In the meantime, Jordan had work to do.

  Before his shift started on Monday, he researched woodworking and then wished he hadn’t. There were so many options, he couldn’t decide what was right or wrong. So, he changed his search terms and tried to find someone who could give him some pointers. He started with a couple of carpenters he knew in passing. Chris and Mike were part of Smithson Construction, and although they gave him plenty of information, they suggested speaking to someone who specialised in whittling. The guy’s name was Bray, and he made wooden toys for the children’s part of the hospital.

  Unable to visit the guy straight away, Jordan nipped into Nice Buns to grab some deliciousness that was baked goods and headed for Lovely in Lace.

  “I’m looking for a gag gift for my friend,” he called, leaning his elbows on the counter and grinning at his best friend.

  Mattie’s eyes lit up, and he tilted his head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t allow such moronic behaviour in my shop. Please leave immediately.”

  Jordan chuckled and glanced around. “Slow day?”

  Mattie stood and leaned his hip against the counter, crossing his arms. “Actually, no. It’s only just slowed down. I got a delivery of the new stock, so everyone wants a piece. I’m ready for lunch, though.”

  Lifting the bag from where it had been near his hip, he held out his offering. “Nice Buns?” Mattie groaned and grabbed for the bag, but Jordan held it out of his reach. “Now, now.”

  Mattie threw his hands in the air and then to his hips. “What? I’m hungry!”

  “Yes, you are. Very hangry.”

  “I’ll show you hangry if you don’t feed me.”

  Jordan smiled and lifted up the cookie he knew Mattie would kill for. Sure as the sun came up in the east, Mattie’s eyes and mouth widened. Without pausing, he held the cookie to Mattie’s mouth. His best friend closed his mouth around it and groaned, his eyelids fluttering as they fell shut.

  Jordan’s heart rate increased, his eyes stuck on the sight before him. Mattie’s eyes stayed closed as he bit off a piece, moaning as he chewed, and Jordan froze. His cock thickened behind his shorts, and he swallowed, but he couldn’t look away. When Mattie opened his eyes again, searching for more, Jordan—who was a glutton for punishment it seemed—held it out again, and they repeated their previous exercise. Crumbs covered Mattie’s lips, and as he licked it away, Jordan licked his own lips.

  “Excuse me?”

  Jordan dropped the cookie as they were interrupted by a customer that he hadn’t heard enter. He cleared his throat and diverted his gaze—and his hip—towards the counter, picking up the remains of the cookie and placing it on the paper wrapper.

  Mattie finished chewing. “I’m sorry. It’s lunchtime,” he said with a small chuckle. “How can I help?”

  While Mattie dealt with his customer, Jordan took out the glazed donut he’d bought for himself and devoured it as slowly as humanly possible to give himself time to calm the fuck down. What the hell had that been? Mattie was his best friend, but he groaned like he was being reamed, and Jordan’s brain couldn’t distinguish between the two, apparently. He drank the coffee he’d also brought and tried to ignore his body.

  By the time Mattie had finished with the customer and they’d paid and left, Jordan was under control.

  “Thanks for the cookie,” Mattie said and picked it up.

  Oh, hell no. Jordan smiled, shaky though it seemed, and picked up his coffee, walking backwards. “That one’s yours. I have to go. Work.” He bumped into something and barely stopped it from cascading to the floor. Stepping away slowly, as if the items were just waiting for him to get outside of reach before falling, he headed for the door. “See you later!”

  He slipped through the exit and leaned against the wall, breathing like he’d just run a marathon. What the ever-loving hell was wrong with him?

  Wiping his forehead, he sipped his coffee as he strode for the beach. It wasn’t far from Mattie’s shop, and as the sun was shining, he pushed all inappropriate thoughts to one side and focused on the day ahead. He had four hours of lifeguard duties to attend to before finishing his shift by completing the relevant activity reports for the day. It was often a lot of standing around and watching, dealing with visitors who were a little rowdy, and giving medical aid should someone need it, but he loved it. When he wasn’t a lifeguard on the beach, during the winter, he did it at swimming pools and also did swimming lessons for people. He spent most of his time around the water. There was just something about it that fed his soul.

  If he had time after his shift, he might see about finding this Bray guy. He would hopefully be able to give him some advice on what to buy and where to get it from.

  Throwing his empty coffee cup in the bin, he jogged the rest of the way to the lifeguard station, signing in for his shift and heading for his tower. Helen was already there, arms crossed and staring out at sea.

  “Hey,” he said as he climbed the steps.

  “Hey, yourself.” She smiled. “How was the camping trip?”

  “Awesome as always.” He leaned against the railing. “Didn’t you have your parents over this weekend?”

  Helen shuddered. “Yes. First time meeting Greg. It didn’t go well.”

  Jordan raised his eyebrows. “Why not?”

  “Greg burnt the chicken and set the smoke alarms off. He then put it on the side to deal with later while he tried to find something else to cook, and the dogs got to it.”

  “Oh, my god.” Jordan tried to not laugh.

  “That was only the beginning, but I can’t say anymore because it’s just…oh, god. Let’s just say my parents are happy they live five hours away.”

  “Oh, poor Greg. I bet he was mortified.”

  “He was. More so because we turned up just as the dog tore the chicken to shreds and dragged it across the kitchen floor.”

  Jordan covered his mouth with his hands, but he couldn’t stop the laughter. “I’m so sorry.”

  Helen grinned and shook her head. “It’s fine. Afterwards, Greg and I laughed about it, but at the time…”

  “Well, if it helps distract you, I’m trying to find someone who can explain to me about woodworking so I can help Cody do it.”

  They spent the rest of their hours together, trying to one-up each other with stories. Jordan wasn’t sure who’d won by the time they’d finished, but his sides ached from laughing.

  Then he remembered he was supposed to be cooking for Mattie the following day. How was he going to face him after what happened that afternoon?

  CHAPTER 3

  BRAY

  Retired Sergeant First Class Bray Rushden palmed the basswood block and his whittling knife and settled into his chair. He already knew what the little wooden block would become. He just had to make it. There was a sweet seven-year-old girl who loved bears sleeping at the hospital awaiting the results of the many tests they had put her through, and he wanted to do something special for her. Creating a little wooden bear wouldn’t take him much time at all.

  When he’d finally retired from the US Army, he’d been at a loss as to what to do. With his two sons all grown up and moved out and his ex-wife moved on, he had nothing waiting for him whenever he came home. Instead of becoming the couch potato he’d seen some of his friends touting, he took up fishing, running and, when he’d visited the hospital and seen the state of the available toys for the children, woodworking. He enjoyed working with his hands, and it would keep him out of trouble.

  What had started as a hobby had become even more than he’d expected. His weekly visits to the hospital to bring new toys had evolved into specific toys for specific children that they could take with them wherever they went. Hence the bear.

  He’d just started carving the initial shape when a knock sounded. He gritted his teeth and rolled his shoulders as he put the wood down. Who the heck was bothering him at home? Everyone who mattered had a key to let themselves in.

  He flung open the door, and the guy on the other side jumped about two feet in the air.

  “Holy—” The guy exhaled. “You scared me.” Bray just glared at him. “Okay. Um, I was told that you were a good person to speak to about woodwork. My son has been doing some at a school and he wants to continue, but I know nothing about it, and I wondered if you could give me some pointers on what to buy and anything else you think a clueless guy like me might need to know.”

  The verbal barrage of information sank into Bray’s head with years of experience in making split-second decisions. So why he didn’t shut the door in the guy’s face, he didn’t know. He didn’t want to help someone else because it meant he’d have to interact with them. The reason he’d chosen solitary hobbies was because he wasn’t a people person.

  At all.

  “Um, is that…something you can do?” the guy added.

  Bray sighed and left the door open, pivoting and taking his seat once again. The door remained open and the guy on the other side of it.

  “Get in here,” Bray said, a little more gruffly than he’d intended.

  “Yes, sir.”

  The guy stepped over the threshold and into Bray’s sanctuary, but instead of feeling overwhelmed, he was just aware. Overly aware.

  “What’s your name?”