Love Is Always Write Volume 4

forward, girl," he told her and scooped her up to distract her from her frustration. She gave a belly laugh as he pretended to eat her ear. And Stefan really did stop thinking about Greg for a whole five minutes.
    Then Greg reappeared.
    He'd come from work, or maybe he usually dressed in well-tailored suits and silk ties. His hair was longer now, and maybe he looked a little more tan. Had he traveled to the tropics? That made Stefan think of Phillip—and there was a man he rarely remembered. So yeah, forgetting was possible.
    Stefan grabbed Emily from the floor as he answered the door. Clutching her would remind him of his priorities and give him a way to shield himself from Greg.
    Greg waited on the doorstep, shifting from foot to foot. Good, Stefan wasn't the only nervous asshole standing in the doorway.
    Emily grinned at their visitor. Greg smiled down at her with those white teeth that Stefan now recalled licking during their night together.
    He focused on Greg's words as he made small talk. "Wow. She's really gotten huge."
    "It's been a while, and they grow fast."
    "I know, I know. I'm sorry."
    "No, don't apologize." Stefan pulled in a long breath. That was not what he wanted to say first thing. "Don't feel guilty. After all, you're not the only one who didn't pick up the phone or send a message."
    Of course, Stefan had started calls and texts about a thousand times. A day. But he wasn't going admit that to anyone—not even Emily.
    "But I am sorry. I've missed you two."
    Stefan had almost gotten over the bizarrely powerful flashes of yearning for Greg. Did he really want to start this crap up again? Oh yes, he really, really did. His heart thumped hard as he stepped sideways. "Come on in."
    Greg stuffed his hands into his trouser pockets. Stefan flashed back to the first day they'd met, Emily's christening. Greg felt uncomfortable, and that realization should help Stefan relax. Awkward meant that Greg must have had to push himself to come to their house.
    Greg said, "Maybe we should just go for a walk? Is that okay?"
    "All right. Let me get my shoes." He was barefoot and dressed in a jeans and a tee as usual.
    He thrust Emily out, and Greg took her automatically, settling her on his hip. Stefan took a step backward to examine the two of them. "You really look like you could be her dad. Maybe I should take a picture of the two of you and send it to Mellady."
    Greg's half smile vanished. "Oh, no, that's a bad idea."
    "You don't want her to know you've stopped by?"
    "No."
    Stefan waited, but Greg didn't offer any other explanation. Stefan left the room to get his shoes and socks. He no longer felt the bubbling excitement of seeing Greg. That way danger lies, he thought as he grabbed up a sweater for Emily. Be careful.
    He hooked up the front pack and reached for the baby. Greg tried to help him put Emily in, but Stefan backed up. "Thanks but I got it. I'm way better at this baby juggling now," he said.
    Neither of them spoke for the first couple of blocks. Then Stefan couldn't stand it. "So why'd you come back? Want another night?" He winced at his sharp tone, but, he wouldn't apologize.
    Greg had been staring at Emily, who was sucking on two of her fingers. He met Stefan's eyes for a few seconds. "I told you. I missed you."
    He glanced at his watch again. The gold thing on Greg's wrist looked expensive and definitely fit his image: the hard-ass in control. Stefan wondered if it was a case of a guy who had to make sure almost no one knew who he really was. He remembered how it had taken Greg hours to relax in his company during their evening together. And he'd been trembling with tamped-down lust, every muscle tight and straining, as Stefan had pulled him into his arms on the bed.
    Stefan felt a sharp stab of yearning as he remembered Greg's eagerness. Afterwards, his face had relaxed and the grim lines had been vanquished. He'd looked years younger as he'd slept.
    But really. Poor Greg. Stefan had to feel sorry for a guy who didn't permit himself to relax enough to be thoroughly happy outside of bed.
    Stefan didn't feel sorry enough for him to fill the uncomfortable silence with chit-chat. After Phillip had taken off, Stefan realized he'd had enough of coaxing and cajoling grownups to talk and be happy. Persuading Emily to eat her veggies—he'd do that. But grown men could take care of themselves.
    They came to the park and the thicket of birch trees. With their white bark, they looked like ghosts on dark days.