“Probably,” Jacob said, voice unsteady.
Then he reached out—no hesitation, no excuses. His hand cupped Liam’s jaw, rough fingers against flushed skin. Liam sucked in a sharp breath and Jacob felt it vibrate straight through his bones.
He shouldn’t. He really shouldn’t.
He did anyway.
His thumb dragged slowly over Liam’s cheekbone, his palm tracing down the sharp line of his jaw like he was trying to memorize it. Liam’s eyes fluttered closed, a small sound escaping him—needy and wrecked. It shattered something in Jacob. It made him want to tear down everything holding him back, just so he could keep hearing it again and again.
He didn’t understand why this man affected him so deeply, or why he couldn’t seem to pull himself away.
Those full lips were right there. So close. Too tempting. Always making him forget what the hell he was supposed to be doing. His gaze lingered, then dragged higher—beautiful whiskey-colored eyes looked back. God help him, they were full of hunger.
He should have walked away five minutes ago.
Instead, he slid his fingers into Liam’s hair, tugging hard enough to make his head tip back. Liam’s breath stuttered, lips parting, his body swaying closer like the sting only dragged him in deeper. His eyes fluttered shut for half a beat, then opened again, all glassy and desperate. The sight damn nearbroke him. The way Liam melted into the roughness, the way he surrendered so easily, awakened something primal Jacob usually kept buried.
For one breath he saw it; how easy it would be to close the distance and taste him. To stop pretending he didn’t want this more than air. One move and it would be over—wrecking them both. There would be no undoing it. He couldn’t let that happen. At the last second he let go, before he did something they would regret in the morning.
His throat worked as he forced the words out. “Go home, Liam.”
Liam froze, face coloring deeper, something fragile flickering in his eyes.
“Get some sleep,” Jacob said, softer now. “You won’t remember half of this in the morning.”
Liam didn’t move or speak, but Jacob couldn’t afford to wait. He turned and walked away, never looking back, though he felt Liam’s gaze on him all the way down the path.
Fuck. What had he just done?
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
***
“Daddy, look!” Rose pointed, nearly hopping in place. “That one’s dancing!”
Jacob followed her finger to a flamingo half-bent and flapping its wings.
Asher groaned. “It’s not dancing, dummy. It’s trying to scratch its back.”
“It’s dancing,” she insisted, mimicking the bird with her arms spread wide, blond waves flying around her face as she spun.
Rose glared at Asher before turning to him. “Daddy, he’s wrong, right?”
Jacob smothered a grin. “I think you’re both right. It’s a talented flamingo.”
Caroline laughed beside him, her voice warm and easy. She tipped her sunglasses up and gave him a sideways glance. “You’re helpless when it comes to her.”
Jacob looked at their daughter, who was now flapping her arms harder in protest. “Guess I am,” he said, a small smile pulling at his mouth. “Can you blame me?”
Around them, the zoo buzzed with families, the chatter of children and the occasional animal call rising over it all. The air smelled of sunscreen and cotton candy.
Being a celebrity meant eyes followed him almost everywhere. The baseball cap and sunglasses helped, but never enough to make him disappear. He caught the familiar glances, the quiet ripple that moved through a crowd once someone recognized him. A few phones lifted for discreet photos; others asked outright, and he always said yes. It was part of the life he’d chosen, even if he hated this aspect of it. Still, with the kids beside him, most people kept their distance. He was grateful for that—grateful that, for now, Rose and Asher lived in a world where their father was justDad.The rest, he and Caroline had learned to tune out.
Asher pressed his face against the glass of the penguin exhibit, nose leaving a smudge. “Do they ever sleep?” he asked, eyes wide.
“Sometimes,” Jacob said. “Just not when you’re watching.”
Asher grinned. “That’s smart. I’d do the same if people stared at me.”
