Chance at the Impossible Read online

  “Brent?”

  “Yes, baby?” Brent drew his fingertips down the shallow valley of his spine.

  “I love you.”

  “I know, I knew even before you said the words. It was there in every touch, kiss, every time you held me. You've always left me in awe of how much you cared. I love you, too.”

  No more words were exchanged as they got out of the shower, dried each other off and then slipped into bed. They loved each other until they were too exhausted to move. It was slow and intense, words unnecessary to convey what they felt. It was in every caress and kiss, the sharpness of a gasp and the gruffness of moans. He loved and was loved, every dream wrapped into a perfectly imperfect package. It was everything.

  18

  What the fuck was he doing? He'd taken the day off to clean the house, make Miller his favorite foods and picked him up those fancy truffles he loved. They were going to celebrate their six-month anniversary. Yeah, he knew typically it was yearly anniversaries, but he'd been planning this since his boy moved into their house. Miller's touches were everywhere. He even had his Avoid the Daddy Cave sign on the basement door that had a flip sign to tell him if he was allowed in or not.

  He loved how he woke up most mornings with Miller completely draped over his body. The scent of Miller's shampoo and lotion infused every corner of his house. He didn't even mind the thousands of candles set around that he was supposed to never light. Even the things that his boy thought would drive him crazy he loved. He needed Miller to feel at home and comfortable to spread out—to make the place his as well.

  After he arranged blankets and pillows in front of the fireplace, lit the candles he'd bought so he could burn them, he surveyed his work. His mind started to wander, and it was bittersweet.

  Three years ago, a hospital bed stood in the middle of the room. One particularly hard night, when he’d laid there trying to come up with the way to tell his son he couldn’t fight anymore, Miller had shown up, and his world had been made right.

  * * *

  The door slammed, and he didn't want to see anyone. He'd discussed his options with his doctor earlier, and it was time to stop fighting. Tears burned his eyes, and he turned away to pretend he was asleep.

  “Hey, Daddy. Looking exceptionally sexy this evening.”

  The mattress of the hospital bed dipped, and he had a lapful of adorable man. Miller's soft fingertips stroked over his bald scalp. He was tired of it all. The fighting and sickness, all he wanted was for it to end.

  “Hey, Brent, what's wrong?”

  Miller's soft, lush lips met the gauntness of his cheek where it was sunken from his weight loss. The man's touch was so gentle as Miller turned him to look at him. He'd never seen someone more beautiful. He felt so pathetic how much comfort he found in being touched outside his medical needs.

  “I didn't wake you, did I? How about a cuddle and a movie? It's just us tonight. I have Daddy all to myself.”

  He shuddered and hoped the man thought it was because he was chilled. His body hadn't responded to anyone in months, except with Miller. He felt the ache, but he didn't get hard. It had been so long since he felt like a man. Another kiss brushed his cheek, then the corner of his eye to catch the tear that slipped free.

  “You don't have to talk. You don't even have to acknowledge I'm here, but I'm going nowhere. One day, this bed will be gone, and you'll be up and about. You'll be making me my favorite food. I'll get to look at all the sexiness.”

  He felt the corner of his mouth twitch.

  “Oh, yeah. You'll be all sexy in those low-slung jeans and that toolbelt.”

  He was in a weird limbo between amused and turned on. He rolled his head on the pillow.

  “Ah, there's my man.”

  “What if I can't do this?”

  “You can. You're not alone. Troy is here. More importantly, you need to survive to make sure my fantasy of the hot handyman taking advantage of me comes true.”

  “It hurts so much. I'm so fucking tired.”

  “Well, Daddy, you know what you need?”

  He didn't have a chance to answer as the head of the bed started to lower, and Miller carefully laid down, helping him turn onto his side. He placed his head on Miller's chest. His eyes closed at the strong beat under his ear. Tender kisses were brushed over the top of his head.

  “Daddy, you just sleep, and I'll be right here when you wake up, and if you don't, you'll know you weren't alone.”

  * * *

  “Daddy, what are you doing home?” Miller's voice broke into the past.

  He was stuck there for a minute until slim arms hugged his waist. It took him a bit to come back to himself and shake off the memory. Miller had given him a choice—live or die—the man would be there no matter his decision.

  “Hey, where are you?”

  The concern in Miller's voice was clear, and he hated making his little man worry. He shook off the past and turned to embrace him. He lifted Miller until slim legs wrapped tightly around him.

  “Just remembering. You're home too early. I wasn't done yet.”

  He smiled down at his boy's cute face. Then he noticed the moment Miller noticed the setup.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Well, it's our six-month anniversary since you moved in and I made you dinner, got you truffles.” He didn't think, just lowered them both to the ground, and he rested heavily between his boy's thighs. Even after months, he still got the same thrill at being able to love on Miller like he'd wanted. He stroked the curves of Miller's face, brushed kisses to his mouth and his cock started hardening.

  “Truffles.” Miller's voice was almost obscene as he moaned that single word.

  “Wow, decimate a man's ego that you moan louder for chocolate than you do for his cock.”

  “But, Daddy, it's chocolate.” Miller's fingers played through his hair.

  “Why do I try?” He rolled away to lie on his back.

  “Aw, come on, you're so romantic.”

  Just like time hadn't gone by, he had a lapful of adorable man straddling his thighs. He had it all planned. Wanted his proposal to be perfect because that's what Miller deserved.

  “I just want you to know how much I appreciate you being here, for every time you were here.”

  “Where else would I want to be?”

  He reached into his pocket and pulled out the simple gold rings. Miller's eyes widened, and Miller stared from him to the rings and back.

  “Miller, there were so many times I wanted to give up. You treated me like I was still a man. I thought it was just you trying to make me smile, but, fuck, even at my worst, you made me feel wanted. The night at that party when I kissed you, my entire life changed. I couldn't deny what you were to me. When you moved in, I thought that was enough to make me happy, but it wasn't.”

  “Brent.”

  He shook his head. “I want you to be Miller Canter. Want to watch you walk toward me looking all beautiful and hear you say I do. Miller, please say yes, marry me. Live with me for the rest of our lives, however long that is.”

  He waited as Miller just stared and he patiently waited for his man to process.

  “You want to marry me?”

  “More than anything. I want to curl up with you every night. Spend weekends with our granddaughter. Grow old together. Celebrate every milestone. So, you going to answer me.”

  “Yes.”

  “Yes, you're going to answer me, or yes you're going—”

  “Don't be difficult, Daddy! Do it, now.” Miller held out his hand.

  He sat up quickly and handed Miller the larger ring, then slipped the band onto his man’s slim finger. It was as if every tense muscle in his body eased, and when Miller gasped as the ring was all the way on, he smiled. He held out his left hand, and his man was shaking so badly it took him twice to get the matching band onto his finger. He grabbed Miller's hand and brought it to his mouth.

  “You'll never regret this. I'll do everything to make you happy.”


  “Brent, there's not a minute in my life since I've known you that I haven't been happy just being with you, even when you broke my heart.”

  “I love you, boy.”

  “Not as much as I love you, Daddy.”

  The kiss they shared went from a sharing of happiness to something hotter, until they were both naked on the blankets. The pain of the past disappeared and it was just two men sharing the love they had for each other. Sealing the start of their lives together. Their groans melded into one as he slid into his boy and everything came into focus. He'd only dwelled on the impossibility of loving Miller. As they came together, pleasure intensifying until neither of them could hold on, and he realized love wasn't impossible because he'd taken his chance. And all his dreams had come true.

  Epilogue

  The voices were loud from the backyard. The scent of the grill wafted through the opened door to the patio. He moved around the kitchen making sure all the sides were done. Brent oversaw the grill. For some reason that was the big man's area. He picked up a big bowl and squeaked as Bella and Clay's daughter, Red, barreled through the kitchen and circled his legs.

  “You two go outside and play, please.”

  Bright ginger curls bounced as Red ran out the door with Bella right on her heels. He laughed as he picked up another bowl and followed them. The picnic table on the patio was pushed to the side, and he started to set up everything.

  “Daddy, how much longer?” he yelled to be heard over the music and voices. Gruff laugher joined an indignant yell from Troy at the question.

  “Fifteen minutes. Come here. You haven't kissed your husband in a whole hour. I'm feeling very middle-aged needy.”

  “Aw, my poor old man.” He jogged to Brent, lifted onto his toes and kissed him quickly. “I have to get the rest of the stuff.”

  “I'll help.” Frankie ascended the steps with Clay behind him.

  “Thanks, Frankie.” The boy was way too thin, but he was one of those naturally thin people who could eat anything they wanted and never gain a pound. He missed his early twenties metabolism.

  “I'll help, too. You put up with Red all night.”

  “Bella wanted her to spend the night…it wasn't a problem.” He shook his head at Clay then turned away to go back inside. He handed a tray of plates and utensils to Frankie and smiled up at the young man and sent him back outside.

  Frankie hadn't settled into their little Canter extended family yet, but he was trying. Brent joked that he'd taken over adopting all the employees. Rarely a weekend went by where he wasn't inviting them over for a barbecue or a beer, maybe cards. Most of these men had kept Brent's business going while he was unable and he knew Brent appreciated each one. The Canter Handyman crew was more than just boss and co-workers, a lot of them didn't have family. So he made sure they were always welcome, especially Clay and Red.

  The big ginger man was a bit on the shy side, and he was an odd contrast beside Win. They were almost exact opposites of each other, and he wondered how they remained friends over the years. Where Win was a bit loud and abrasive on occasion, Clay was laidback and quiet. Seemed to study everything around him, and the single dad made sure everyone knew Red came first.

  “How's Elsa settling in?”

  “She likes her place, but she doesn't know too many people but me and Red. She’s starting to make friends at work. I really want to thank you and Brent for letting Red come and play with Bella. I'm sure she has more fun with her than me.”

  “I'm sure that's not true.”

  “I really do appreciate it. Grandpa and Papa are her favorite topics, especially you taking her with you for nails and all. That's just—”

  “Don't thank me. We're family around here. Just take those two, and I think that's it. Y'all better be hungry.”

  “You have twenty men and their partners and kids outside.”

  “If not, I'll send leftovers home.”

  He smiled as Clay easily picked up the massive serving bowls and he disappeared outside. He returned to the patio, picked up Brent's beer and took a sip. He wasn't much of a drinker, so he only ever took a sip or two from whatever Brent had or had a glass of wine. Being drunk didn’t work out for him. He always ended up making a fool of himself.

  “Thank you for this.”

  “Thanks for what, baby?”

  “These men mean a lot to you and I know you might think I'm insane taking over, but a lot of them don't have places to go.”

  Brent closed the lid on the grill and turned to him. “Miller, I've told you, you'd give up your life for the ones you love and care about, it's what I love. These men and their partners gave up a lot of personal time and never once complained. Thank you.”

  “And I do kinda like having a second granddaughter. Red is so adorable!”

  “Of course you do, and she is.”

  “But really, thank you for all this, I'd always felt on the outside, and when I got you, I got gifted with a massive extended family.”

  “Baby, whatever you want or need, I'd do whatever I had to do to make sure you got it. Your happiness is everything to me.”

  He cuddled to Brent's side and looked out over the yard—men huddled in circles talking, some men were cuddled up with their husband or wives, or partners. There was laughter and kids running around. He didn't realize how much this was something he wanted. They might find him annoying with his mother-hen qualities, but each of the people in this yard were special, and they were his.

  * * *

  THE END

  About the Author

  J.M. Dabney is a multi-genre author who writes mainly LGBT romance and fiction. They live with a constant diverse cast of characters in their head. No matter their size, shape, race, etc. J.M. lives for one purpose alone, and that’s to make sure they do them justice and give them the happily ever after they deserve. J.M. is dysfunction at its finest and they makes sure their characters are a beautiful kaleidoscope of crazy. There is nothing more they want from telling their stories than to show that no matter the package the characters come in or the damage their pasts have done, that love is love. That normal is never normal and sometimes the so-called broken can still be amazing.

  Also by J.M. Dabney

  Sappho’s Kiss Series

  When All Else Fails

  More Than What They See

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  Dysfunction it its Finest Series

  Club Revenge

  Soul Collector Prophecy

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  Twirled World Ink Series

  Berzerker

  Trouble

  Scary

  Lucky

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  Brawlers Series

  Crave

  Psycho

  Bull

  Hunter

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  Executioners Series

  Ghost

  Joker

  King

  Sin & Saint

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  Trenton Security

  Livingston

  Little

  Gage (Coming Soon)

  Pure (Coming Spring 2019)

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  Masiello Brothers

  The Taming of Violet

  His Everything (Coming Soon)

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  3 Moments Trilogy

  A Matter of Time

  Killing Him Softly (Coming Soon)

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  The Men of Canter Handyman

  Black Leather & Knuckle Tattoos

  Chance at the Impossible

  Not For the Likes of Him (Coming Soon)

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  Bloody Knuckles Bar & Grill

  Clipping the Gargoyle’s Wings

  Cold Beer & Afternoon Naps (Coming Soon)

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  New West City Universe

  Co-written with Davidson King

  The Hunt