around him grew fuzzy.
Another part of him—the stronger part—knew he needed to stay sober in case Keely needed him. He couldn’t stand next to Keely if he was stumbling drunk, and Keely needed someone to stand with him.
Dominic had no doubt that Keely could raise those two little kids all by himself if he put his mind to it. There wasn’t much Keely couldn’t do if he wanted it enough. But having someone to help along the way would make things easier for Keely, and Dominic wanted to be the one that make things easier for him.
Hearing Keely’s words of love had renewed Dominic’s belief that they belonged together not matter how badly he had fucked up. As long as they loved each other, everything else in life was just logistics, compromise, and planning. It was just too bad he hadn’t figured that out before hurting Keely.
His nerves fried, Dominic started to reach for the bottle of scotch—just one small drink—when he heard a soft knock at the door. Considering the desk clerk called up if he had visitors, Dominic was surprised to hear the knock. He knew he hadn’t missed a phone call. He hadn’t been more than three steps away from the phone in hours.
Dominic smoothed back his ruffled hair and went to open the door. “Keely.” God, the man looked so damn good.
“Hey.” Keely’s cheeks were a little flushed. “We came to see if you wanted to go have lunch with us.”
It was only then that Dominic realized Keely wasn’t alone. Danny and Carrie were snuggled into a double stroller sitting in the corridor next to Keely.
Keely shrugged when Dominic didn’t say anything, and then he licked his lips, a nervous gesture Dominic knew well. That told Dominic more than anything that Keely was as anxious as he was.
Dominic sent Keely his most warming smile. “I think lunch would be a wonderful idea. I would love to join you.” Dominic’s eyes went to the two small children. “All of you.”
The beginning of a smile tipped the corner of Keely’s lips. “I have to warn you lunch with these two isn’t what you’re normally used to. Besides the fact that they would probably be banned from any five-star restaurants around, we don’t have one in this town. We’re headed to the park for a picnic.”
Dominic’s smile widened with approval. “Sounds perfect.” He stepped back into his room long enough to grab his wallet, keys, and sunglasses. It was just the beginning of fall—the sun bright enough that he still needed sunglasses but not so hot that being outside made one sweat to death.
Dominic locked his hotel room door then turned, pressing his hand to the small of Keely’s back. “I’m ready when you are.”
He didn’t miss the small shudder he felt from Keely, and almost withdrew his hand, but then he thought about the fact that he wanted Keely to know he was serious about them. He wanted everyone to know he was with Keely.
“The park isn’t too far,” Keely said as he pushed the stroller. “Just a couple of blocks.”
“I don’t mind the walk.”
“Winter is coming soon, so I’m trying to get the kids outside as much as possible. Once it gets cold and the rain starts, they are going to be stuck in the house.” Keely’s voice was ripe with amusement. “I’m pretty sure by the time spring gets here we’re all going to be going a little stir crazy.”
“How big is that house of yours?”
Keely glanced up, his confusion clear in the frown on his face. “Six bedrooms, four bathrooms.”
“Basement?”
Keely nodded.
“Finished basement?”
Keely shrugged. “Sort of. I mean, it has walls and everything, but it’s kind of…I don’t know, blank. The laundry room is down there.”
“Anything else?”
“Not really. I think the previous owners used it for storage or something.”
“Have you ever considered making it into a playroom for the kids? Unless you plan on moving right away, they are going to need some place to play for quite a few years to come. You could
Another part of him—the stronger part—knew he needed to stay sober in case Keely needed him. He couldn’t stand next to Keely if he was stumbling drunk, and Keely needed someone to stand with him.
Dominic had no doubt that Keely could raise those two little kids all by himself if he put his mind to it. There wasn’t much Keely couldn’t do if he wanted it enough. But having someone to help along the way would make things easier for Keely, and Dominic wanted to be the one that make things easier for him.
Hearing Keely’s words of love had renewed Dominic’s belief that they belonged together not matter how badly he had fucked up. As long as they loved each other, everything else in life was just logistics, compromise, and planning. It was just too bad he hadn’t figured that out before hurting Keely.
His nerves fried, Dominic started to reach for the bottle of scotch—just one small drink—when he heard a soft knock at the door. Considering the desk clerk called up if he had visitors, Dominic was surprised to hear the knock. He knew he hadn’t missed a phone call. He hadn’t been more than three steps away from the phone in hours.
Dominic smoothed back his ruffled hair and went to open the door. “Keely.” God, the man looked so damn good.
“Hey.” Keely’s cheeks were a little flushed. “We came to see if you wanted to go have lunch with us.”
It was only then that Dominic realized Keely wasn’t alone. Danny and Carrie were snuggled into a double stroller sitting in the corridor next to Keely.
Keely shrugged when Dominic didn’t say anything, and then he licked his lips, a nervous gesture Dominic knew well. That told Dominic more than anything that Keely was as anxious as he was.
Dominic sent Keely his most warming smile. “I think lunch would be a wonderful idea. I would love to join you.” Dominic’s eyes went to the two small children. “All of you.”
The beginning of a smile tipped the corner of Keely’s lips. “I have to warn you lunch with these two isn’t what you’re normally used to. Besides the fact that they would probably be banned from any five-star restaurants around, we don’t have one in this town. We’re headed to the park for a picnic.”
Dominic’s smile widened with approval. “Sounds perfect.” He stepped back into his room long enough to grab his wallet, keys, and sunglasses. It was just the beginning of fall—the sun bright enough that he still needed sunglasses but not so hot that being outside made one sweat to death.
Dominic locked his hotel room door then turned, pressing his hand to the small of Keely’s back. “I’m ready when you are.”
He didn’t miss the small shudder he felt from Keely, and almost withdrew his hand, but then he thought about the fact that he wanted Keely to know he was serious about them. He wanted everyone to know he was with Keely.
“The park isn’t too far,” Keely said as he pushed the stroller. “Just a couple of blocks.”
“I don’t mind the walk.”
“Winter is coming soon, so I’m trying to get the kids outside as much as possible. Once it gets cold and the rain starts, they are going to be stuck in the house.” Keely’s voice was ripe with amusement. “I’m pretty sure by the time spring gets here we’re all going to be going a little stir crazy.”
“How big is that house of yours?”
Keely glanced up, his confusion clear in the frown on his face. “Six bedrooms, four bathrooms.”
“Basement?”
Keely nodded.
“Finished basement?”
Keely shrugged. “Sort of. I mean, it has walls and everything, but it’s kind of…I don’t know, blank. The laundry room is down there.”
“Anything else?”
“Not really. I think the previous owners used it for storage or something.”
“Have you ever considered making it into a playroom for the kids? Unless you plan on moving right away, they are going to need some place to play for quite a few years to come. You could
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