Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 1

scooted over Jordan's feet enough to rest his drooling mug on Cal's boot.
    "Ugh." Jordan gave him credit for gently removing his foot rather than yanking it out from under the big dog's head, but he was still caught up on the question. Hmm. Seemed Cal was maybe a little concerned about the answer.
    "Is this dog the town mascot or something?" Cal groused, moving away from him. And Jordan. Jordan just barely caught himself from reaching for him. Instead, he observed, fascinated all over again by the rough exterior so tenuously shielding what appeared to be a broken interior.
    So curious . Jordan hummed to himself. So damned appealing .
    But Mrs. Miller abruptly chimed in, all excited and flushed. "See?" Jordan jumped at the shriek, having managed to almost forget she was there. She reached for the leash in Jordan's hand. He was more than happy to hand it over. "I told you! I should have known my Winston had his reasons for wanting to come here today."
    Jordan shook his head in bemusement. She giggled with glee and waved a hand impatiently towards the other two men like he was daft. Glancing at them, Jordan noticed they were also now gaping at her.
    "He's a matchmaker," she declared triumphantly, with a long, meaningful stare that somehow managed to include both him and Cal. And with that, she tugged the leash and dragged Winston from the yard. He could have sworn that dog looked smug.
    The four men stared at one another before Jordan and Nate broke into loud laughter. Alex and Cal were far less amused.
    Still chuckling, Jordan shared a knowing nod with Nate. "You go ahead and take care of your boy, there, Nate. We'll meet you in the fencing supplies."
    Nate's grin only grew when Alex sputtered, "I am not his boy ." What could he say? Jordan couldn't resist.
    Watching the two walk into the building—Nate reaching for Alex, only to be batted away time and again—Jordan had to say he was delighted with the outcome of the odd morning.
    Turning his full attention to Cal, Jordan couldn't miss the sudden wariness in the darker man's expression. "It was just a bit of harmless flirting," Jordan assured him. "I had no intention—"
    "It doesn't matter," Cal cut him off. Prickly again , he noted. Hmm . "You can do whatever you want."
    Jordan narrowed his eyes and stepped closer. Cal froze. "I think it does matter." He moved closer still. Cal was coiled tight, and tempting as sin, but ready to bolt at the slightest infraction. Slowly, Jordan raised a hand and ran a single knuckle over Cal's unshaven jaw. The rasp of whiskers almost covered the sound of Cal's breathlessness before he jerked his head away and stepped back. The flare of arousal had been as unmistakable as the sudden retreat.
    Curiouser and curiouser , thought Jordan. But he didn't push. Keeping his voice casual, he moved towards the building. "Building a fence for the pup, then?"
    Cal was watching the ground as he walked. "Yeah." He exhaled slowly and appeared to be focusing entirely on breathing. "We're ready to get started on the house. The rest of the crew will be rolling in on Monday, so I'll need to be able to leave him home alone."
    Jordan nodded. They'd actually talked in depth about the restoration project he was heading at his grandmother's family mansion. It seemed to be the only topic so far that made Cal comfortable enough to actually ramble.
    "I might be able to get you some cheap labor."
    Cal shot him a sideways look but raised his eyebrows. "How's that?"
    "Thomas and his buddy are always looking for work. I won't let him get an after school job because I'm a tyrant who insists his academics and extracurricular activities come first during the school year, so he picks up work on the weekends when he can and busts his ass all summer."
    "Huh." Cal thought for a minute before he shrugged. "Sure, I guess. I'd really like to get this thing knocked out. Why don't you send him out?"
    "I'll call him."
    "Okay." They were at the entrance. Jordan brushed a hand down Cal's arm, just needing to touch. God, he was sinew and strength, muscles bunching beneath his touch. He somehow resisted grabbing for more. "I'd better get to work."
    Cal nodded while he shivered and rubbed his arm. Jordan wondered if he even realized he was doing it. He threw on his most brilliant smile and shot Cal a cocky wink before turning to leave.
    "I'll swing by later and check out your fence." Jordan tossed it over his shoulder as he walked away, not allowing Cal room to protest. He turned