Page 259 of Double Daddies
Little Avery was a babbler, spilling her thoughts and asking questions, even when she was half asleep. Given freedom, her brain bounced like a rubber ball off glass walls, pinging around in all directions—she was inquisitive by nature, muted by an idiot.
Standing in the doorway of the room the kitchen crew now calledThe Bakery, Clay leaned against the jamb and watched her work. She hadn’t noticed him yet—she was focused on the creation taking pride of place on the counter, and the earbudsshe wore were blasting music loud enough he could hear it from ten feet away.
Her attention to detail was phenomenal—the two-tier cake was covered in a layer of green marzipan. A darker shade of green fondant formed grass tufts around the edges, and she’d made tiny bunny rabbits to peek through the edible foliage.
Beneath the watchful gaze of the reindeer Clay had given her before her interview, Avery hunched over a block of Rice Krispie cake, carefully carving a figure into the sticky treat. Despite the funky beat emanating from her earbuds, her hands and body were steady as a rock.
She was amazing.
Deciding not to disturb her when she was so engrossed—and holding a sharp knife in her hand—Clay backed away slowly. He’d come back in a couple hours to complete his original mission of checking she was okay after her spanking and emotional purging.
He waved at Allan, narrowly missed colliding with Petey, and made a hasty exit into the dining room. The breakfast rush was tapering off slowly, with about a dozen guests loitering over coffee and the remnants of their meal.
“Master Clay?”
He stopped, glancing around to see who’d summoned him, and found himself meeting mercurial blue-gray eyes. Familiar eyes in a familiar face, he thought, then realized it was the guy who’d watched him carry Avery upstairs yesterday. “Yes?”
“Could I have a few moments of your time?”
“Sure.” Dealing with guests and their needs was part of his job. Hopefully, he’d be able to handle this guy’s requirements without too much difficulty. “What can I do for you?”
The blond looked around, then gestured to a table tucked away in the corner. “We might have more privacy over there.”
“Okay…” Warily, Clay gestured for him to take the lead. While guests were screened when they applied for membership, sometimes the loonies found a way to slip in. Until he knew what this guy wanted, Clay wasn’t turning his back on him.
They sat in tandem, facing each other, and the guy smiled ruefully. “Guess you think this is pretty strange, right? Honestly, I’m not usually this socially awkward, but I feel a bit like I’m missing a shoe.” When Clay’s eyebrows rose, he shook his head. “Off-kilter. This whole situation is new to me.”
“What situation?”
“Fuck. I’m doing it all wrong. Tristan Holdsworth.” He shot out his hand, shaking Clay’s firmly when he took it. “I’m not crazy, I promise. Not gay either, in case you think I’m hitting on you.”
“That’s good, seeing as I’m straight as an arrow.” What the hell was going on here?
“Double fuck. Look, I’m new here; I just arrived yesterday. Figured I’d visit the bar, get a drink, chill out for a few hours and crash, you know? Only…” Tristan frowned, obviously perturbed by something. “This woman walks in carrying some boxes and suddenly, all I see is her. All I want is her. You ever have that happen to you?”
“Yeah.” Recently, as luck would have it.
“Turns out, she might have a Dom. I saw her being carted off upstairs like a child by someone who bears a striking resemblance to you.” Those odd eyes burned into Clay’s intensely.
So, that’s what this was about, he thought, feeling his hackles rise. There was no reason for them to react that way—Avery hadn’t asked him to be her Daddy, and he hadn’t put the question forward. Still, the possessive, primal part of him wanted to snarl,Mine.
“You want Avery.”
“I do, very much.” Tristan’s stare continued to burn, but not as fiercely. He sighed heavily. “I’m used to getting what I want, Clay. Money isn’t an object and, more often than not, it’s a lure dangling in the water for a lot of women. They like being spoiled and treated like a princess, they enjoy what it can buy them, but she… I don’t think she’s that kind of woman.”
Clay said nothing.
“I’m here to visit my best friend, so suddenly stumbling across a woman who might mean something more than all the others put together is a shock. I talked with Mack and Liam yesterday?—”
“You’re friends with Mack and Liam,” Clay interrupted, his tone dubious.
“Mack. Seems they’re a two-for-one deal now.”
“Hmmm.”
“They’re under the impression you’ve got Avery earmarked for yourself. That leaves me with two options, doesn’t it?”
Clay leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. “Does it?”
