Free Forget Me Not by Stormy Glenn

smiling and laughing. He hadn’t run screaming, even when Dominic asked hard questions. That had to mean something, didn’t it?
    Dominic tried to show interest in all the little shops and cafés Keely pointed out to him as they headed for the park, but he had a really hard time pulling his eyes away from the man.
    He had always been captivated by Keely. That hadn’t changed in the months they had been apart. If anything, that obsession had only grown stronger, more intense.
    Keely stopped pushing the stroller as he gave Dominic a fixed stare. “Are you even listening to me?”
    “Yes.” Dominic nodded. “You told me that the bakery has great Danishes but I need to get there early on Saturday morning to get the warm ones because they are the best.”
    He pointed to the next store. “The guy at the bookstore will order just about any book I want except comic books because he believes they pollute the minds of our youth.”
    That was a really interesting look on Keely’s face. Dominic was sure if it was surprise or confusion…maybe a bit of annoyance.
    “The last shop on the block is a computer store. While they offer great deals on parts, most of their prebuilt systems are out of date. They don’t do laptops.”
    “Okay, so you were listening.”
    Dominic managed a small, tentative smile even though he felt like the ground beneath his feet was swaying. “I learned my lesson, Keely. I’ll always listen to what you have to say.”
    A tremor touched Keely’s smooth, marblelike lips. He nodded and started pushing the stroller again. “We’ll see.”
    That wasn’t a no.

Chapter Eleven
     
    Keely stretched his legs out casually before him as he watched Dominic attempt to bounce Carrie on his lap. Attempt being the key word. It was blatantly apparent to anyone looking that the man had never held a child before in his life.
    But it was amusing watching him try. And Dominic was trying, with more than just the baby. He was attentive, thoughtful, and charming. Even being unsure, he was still trying to help out.
    And Keely was terrified it wouldn’t last. What was going to happen when the next business venture caught Dominic’s interest? What was he going to do the next time he had an emergency and Dominic didn’t answer his phone?
    He had spent the last few days agonizing over questions like that. He thought he could keep Dominic and protect his heart, but now he wasn’t so sure. He loved Dominic and he knew that Dominic loved him, but he wasn’t sure that was enough.
    And he wasn’t sure he had the right to bring Dominic into the lives of two small children that had already lost so much, especially if he wasn’t sure if Dominic was going to stick around. As much as he loved the man, letting him go might be the better choice.
    Keely smiled and sat forward when Carrie started to fuss. He had kept her out long past her afternoon nap. She still wasn’t sleeping through the night, although Keely had been told by other parents that it should happen soon. He wasn’t holding his breath.
    “I think it’s time to pack up and get these guys home for their nap.”
    Dominic glanced up. “I’d like to help.”
    Keely’s hands shook as he took the baby out of Dominic’s arms and started getting her settled into the stroller. “I just need to get everything packed up.” And then maybe he needed to go home and reassess his level of sanity.
    The silence was heavy, oppressing, making it hard to breath. He rigidly held his tears in check.
    “Don’t do this, Keely,” Dominic whispered in a choked voice. “Please.”
    Keely pressed his lips together as he picked Danny up and strapped him into the stroller. He needed to hold on just a little longer and then he could fall apart.
    When Keely went to pack up the remains of their picnic, his movements grew frantic. They were in the middle of the park and he was unraveling. He wasn’t sure he was going to make it home before he crumbled. And he certainly didn’t want anyone