Chapter 4

RACHEL SHRUGGED."Maybe not completely. We never got pictures of him."

"But I might have," Matthew said. The kids hadn't been paying attention to the conversation between Lucas and Rachel, but he had. "I took a ton of pictures of the scenery, as well as the kids playing." He'd also taken a lot of pictures of Lucas, because what could be more endearing than Lucas being a kid with his kids? "If this guy was there, then I might have gotten a picture of him. And chances are you've seen this guy and didn't know it, so maybe you'll recognize him."

Lucas flashed him a smile Matthew hadn't seen in years. "You're the best." He reached behind the seats and patted Matthew's leg, a gesture that brought memories flooding back.

"This guy is a master at keeping out of sight, and yet he keeps being able to get near me. I came close to catching him a year ago, and we thought we had scared him off. The incidents stopped suddenly, and it's been a long time. But he's back now," Lucas said, his voice filled with worry.

"Why did he stop?" Matthew asked, leaning forward to talk quietly. It seemed like the obvious question to him. The kids seemed to be paying attention now, though, so Matthew sat back again. This conversation could wait until later.

Rachel took them home, and it took a while to find all the bathing suits and get each of the kids into theirs, pack bags of dry clothes, then pack a small cooler of juice boxes and snacks and make sure everyone had gone potty. Matthew was so wrapped up in getting the kids ready that he nearly forgot his own bathing suit, but he stuffed it and a towel in with the things for the kids before all of them traipsed out of the small ranch-style home that his sister and brother-in-law had left to him.

"Did you bring my floaties?" Brianna asked.

"And mine?" Carl questioned once Matthew got everything inside the SUV and sat down.

"I swear I brought half the house," Matthew said, hoping Lucas didn't decide that they just weren't worth it. He put on his seat belt and they rode back toward town, where they pulled into the parking lot of the large chain hotel. It had once been a Holiday Inn, then a Ramada, and now it had yet another name on the sign, but it was the best this area had to offer, in terms of amenities.

Rachel parked, and Lucas strode through the lobby like he owned the place, while Matthew and the kids trailed behind him like a line of ducks. Matthew kept an eye on the kids and their surroundings while they made their way to Lucas's huge suite. "You can all get ready in here, and I'll be out in a few minutes. Then we'll go down to the pool." He grinned. Brianna and Carl bounced, they were so excited.

"Okay," Matthew said, settling the three youngest on the sofa while Will sat in a chair. "You all need to be good. No running around the pool, and no jumping in when I'm not around." He turned to Gregory, who was fearless when it came to water. It scared Matthew to death sometimes. "No going in the big pool without me, okay?" Gregory groaned, but Matthew stayed firm until he agreed. "I'm going to get into my bathing suit." He gave them all a firm glare before going into the bathroom to change.

Matthew was pleased and half shocked that all four kids were still in their places and the room hadn't been torn to shreds while he'd been in the bathroom. There had been times when he left them in front of the TV only to return after relieving himself to find two crying kids pointing fingers at each other with something broken on the floor and Carl with a cut on his finger from broken glass.

"Can we go now?" Gregory asked.

"Shhh," Will said. "We need to be good, and we need to wait for Lucas and Miss Rachel." Sometimes Will was so grown up it worried Matthew. He was eleven and often acted much older. He worried that Will's childhood was being taken away from him. Matthew sat as well, waiting for Lucas, wondering how much longer he could keep the energy of four excited kids from exploding.

"Are you ready?" Lucas asked as he came out of the other room in board shorts and a T-shirt.

Carl hurried over to him. "We were good and waited and everything," he blurted.

Lucas smiled and took his hand. "Then let's go down to the pool." Matthew got the bags, and they all followed Lucas like he was the Pied Piper.

Rachel locked the room and followed them down the hall. She didn't say anything, and as soon as they entered the pool area, she scoped out a place where she could watch everything, then secured the area before taking a seat at one of the tables.

"Why here?" Matthew asked her.

"It has good sight lines, and it's close to the regular and kiddie pools." She was all business and seemed wound as tight as a drum. Matthew nodded and went over the rules with the kids, making them say them back.

"We know. We can't go in the big pool without you, and we have to have our swimmies on," Brianna told him like it was a real chore. She took Carl by the hand, and they stepped into the kiddie pool. Matthew had floaty toys for them. Will and Gregory were at that age where they could both swim, but he wasn't ready to leave them alone in the pool.

"Play in the water here, and I'll go in the other pool with you both in a little while," Matthew promised.

"Okay," Will agreed and sat on the edge of the kiddie pool with his feet in the water. Gregory played with his brother and sister while Matthew sat down.

Lucas had been on the other side of the room talking on the phone. He joined him at the table and sat as well. His shirt was drawn tight around his arms and chest, giving Matthew a glimpse of the toned body underneath. He had seen Lucas shirtless in various movies, but having him so close in person sent his heart racing.

"Is everything okay?" Matthew asked.

"Yes. I had to check in with my agent. Everything is fine." Lucas was lying, judging by the small lines around his eyes. Matthew leaned forward, meeting Lucas's gaze until he looked away. "It's no big deal. The movie I was set to start next had to be postponed a week. That's going to throw off my schedule for months. My agent is trying to get everything worked out." He sat back, and Matthew turned to Rachel, who simply shrugged like that was how things were.

"Does that happen a lot?" Matthew asked.

"More than it should. I just need to get my head around it." He sat back, rippling with tension Matthew was pretty sure had little to do with a schedule change.

Rather than press it, Matthew handed Rachel his phone and let her go through the pictures he'd taken at the park. "Text yourself any you want," he told her, and she got to work. Matthew watched the kids play in the otherwise empty space. "Where is everyone else?"

"I arranged for two hours to ourselves. Unfortunately, it seems to be the only way I can get some peace." Lucas sighed as Rachel continued looking through the pictures. Matthew pulled off his shirt and stood.

"Come on, munchkins." He lifted Carl into his arms and took Brianna by the hand. "Let's go in the other pool. All of you need to stay in the shallow end."

"Can we go down the slide?" Will asked, and Matthew agreed. Brianna hurried ahead and got right in the water. She was totally fearless. Carl put his arms around Matthew's neck, and they walked in together. He wasn't as comfortable and held on, which was fine.

Lucas approached the water and tested it with his foot. Then he pulled off his shirt, and Matthew swallowed hard as all that smooth skin over taut muscle came into view. Damn, he was more stunning in person, and Matthew forgot where he was for a few seconds. "Uncle Daddy," Carl prompted, and Matthew continued into the water, grateful for the coolness to quench the heat that threatened to build.

Lucas glided into the water, then dove under the surface, moving easily through the water. Will came down the slide. He laughed as he came up for air before swimming toward Lucas. Gregory went after him, heading right for the side of the pool.

"Uncle Daddy, watch me," Brianna called, and she jumped in the water.

"That's good, honey. Just be careful, okay?" She nodded and was already climbing out of the pool, getting ready to jump again. Matthew watched, and then Carl let go. He began doing his own version of swimming.

"They're pretty amazing," Lucas said as he stood next to him. The water was slightly cool, but in an instant, Matthew felt warm and did his best to watch the kids rather than let his attention wander to Lucas, because damn… he wanted to lick—or look, yeah, that was the right word, especially with the kids all around—the man over from top to bottom.

"They are," Matthew managed to say, his voice rough because Lucas was right next to him. If Matthew reached out, he could touch the man he wished he hadn't let get away.

"Why do some of them call you Uncle Daddy?" Lucas asked.

Brianna raced up to the edge of the pool, tears running down her cheeks. "I falled," she reported and showed Matthew her knee. There was a little red spot, and he kissed his fingers and placed them over the spot.

"Is that better?" he asked, and she nodded. Matthew hugged her, and then she was off again. "The older ones remember their mom and dad pretty well. I keep pictures in the house so they don't forget them." He leaned against the side of the pool so he could see all the kids, and Lucas stood next to him, heat washing off his radiant skin. For a second, Matthew forgot what he'd been talking about. "Brianna started calling me Daddy one day, and it really upset Will." He turned to face Lucas. "And I understand that. Those kids already had a dad and a mom who they lost. So I asked Will what he thought the kids should call me, and he came up with Uncle Daddy. When he told the younger two, it stuck."

Lucas shook his head. "You're pretty amazing, you know that? Not many people would think to ask him. They'd just do what they wanted."

"I know. But he was hurting—we all were. I was trying to figure out how I was going to see four kids through college and make sure I didn't completely mess them up." He lowered his gaze. "And I can tell you, this is the hardest job I have ever had… and the best one." Matthew followed all of the kids, making sure they were safe. Brianna and Carl played in the kiddie pool while the older two swam in the shallow end.

"I can only imagine," Lucas said. "I dated someone against my better judgment a few years ago. He was an actor in one of the films I made. He had a boy who was about Brianna's age, and he brought him to the set when he wasn't in school. Nice kid, but hugely spoiled."

"I see."

"Nathan and I weren't going to work out. I can see that now. He was most likely using me to try to get ahead, and Jason was out of control. He had issues with his father seeing anyone. I think when Nathan and his mother separated, he got very attached to his father." Lucas bumped Matthew's shoulder. "I also think the kid played the parents against each other so he could get everything he wanted. It was a pretty difficult situation, and I have to say, I'm glad I broke it off. It wasn't going to be healthy."

"Well, these kids aren't spoiled, and I don't think they ever will be. I don't have enough resources to spoil them. I do make sure they get as much attention as I can give them." He waved when Gregory called to him to watch.

"That's obvious." He shifted closer, and Matthew tensed as excitement grew. He was glad his waist was below the water. "But what's also evident is that they're happy, and that's what really matters. Nathan's son was never happy. He always wanted something, and then as soon as he got it, he was on to the next thing. There was nothing stable in his life. Nathan moved from place to place and set to set, and Jason had no stability."

Rachel came over and squatted down near the water.

"Miss Rachel, come play with us," Gregory called.

"Maybe later, okay?" she said with a smile before turning to Lucas. "I think I have some things you need to look at."

"Okay." Lucas climbed out of the pool, his suit tightening around his legs and ass. Damn, the man was stunning from every angle. Matthew looked, probably for longer than he should have, before diving under the water to try to clear his mind. Then he swam over to the kids, and Will challenged him to a race. Gregory started them, while the two youngest cheered them on. Matthew won because he didn't believe in letting people win, but Will was right behind him.

"Dang," Will said when he reached the other side.

"Hey," Matthew told him. "You're getting good, and someday pretty soon, you will be faster than me." That was how it should be.

"Really?" Will asked.

Matthew smiled. "Definitely. You just have to practice. I've had a lot more years to get fast, but if you work at it, you'll get better. I promise."

Will smiled, and Matthew climbed out of the pool, grabbed a nearby towel, and headed to the table, where Lucas and Rachel were huddled over her tablet. "Do you recognize anyone?" Matthew asked.

"No."

"Okay." Matthew pulled a chair over. "Look for people with their phones or cameras. Mostly people were playing and paying attention to their kids." Matthew pulled the tablet closer. "Like these people. They are definitely not who you're looking for." He lifted his gaze. "The Meijer store has a machine where you can make larger prints. I'd do that and then maybe eliminate the people you know aren't the ones. I took a ton of pictures, so if this guy was there, he's in one of them. The kids were all over, and I love landscape shots."

"You have a real eye," Rachel told him. "Some of these are gorgeous. Like coffee-table-book worthy."

"Thanks." He smiled and looked closer, then switched to another picture. "Check out this guy. He's got his phone out here… and in this picture too." He showed it to Rachel. "Maybe if you make it bigger you can get more detail."

Rachel nodded slowly. "I have a better idea. I can hook this up to the big screen in the room. That will give us more than a print. Do you need me here right now? The area is still closed for another hour." Brianna and Carl came over, shivering. Matthew got towels and wrapped them up, then sat them in chairs with some Goldfish and juice boxes.

"Get everything set up, and I'll call you when we're ready to come up."

"And I'll make sure the hotel clears the people away from the doors." Rachel left, and Matthew returned his attention to the kids, not even realizing a crowd had gathered outside the pool doors.

Matthew wasn't sure how he felt about a bunch of strangers watching him and Lucas with his kids. But Rachel seemed to be taking care of things, as people from the hotel ushered everyone away. Sure, there was going to be talk about where they were, but at least they weren't going to be gawked at.

Lucas's phone rang, and he answered it and paled slightly. He listened and then hung up.

"We should get the kids back to the room and dressed. There are posts over social media, along with pictures of me, at the hotel. People are going to be swarming around this place soon." He sighed softly. "Maybe I should just go back to Hollywood."

Matthew felt a touch of panic well up from his belly. "It'll be the same there. Besides, this is your hometown." Matthew's jaw set. "And people should treat you better." He got the kids together and wrapped in towels. Then he gathered everything, and as soon as Rachel returned, they went down the largely empty halls to the suite.

Rachel took Brianna to help her change, and Matthew got the others dressed and settled at the table in the room. Lucas was a lifesaver and ordered hot snacks from room service, which fascinated the kids. They stayed near the door, trying to listen for the server who would bring the food.

"Take a look at this," Rachel said. Matthew joined her and Lucas in the living room, with Carl climbing on his lap. Brianna ended up on Rachel's, and the others sat at the table, playing surprisingly quietly while they waited for the food.

Lucas leaned forward. "What am I supposed to be seeing?"

"Check out the guy right here. This is the man Matthew pointed out. He's holding a camera through all the shots, but I don't think he's our guy." She went on to the next picture. "I think he's taking pictures of his wife and kids. You can just see them at the end of this picture."

"Okay."

Matthew stared at the images, not sure what he was looking at. "Him," he said suddenly. "Go back." He pointed. "The man in jeans and the black shirt, turned to the side. It was hot as heck today. Why would anyone dress that way? Unless you got a call and raced out to try to stalk someone."

"Let me see if I can find him in any of the other pictures," Rachel said and slowly went through the rest of the images.

"There," Lucas said. "He's, like, taking a picture straight into Matthew's camera." He got up and went closer to the television. "I don't remember seeing him before. Do you?"

Rachel shook her head. "What I'm going to do is go through all of the images we have from the previous case. There was a lot of security camera footage as well as the photos outside the various events that he was at. Let's see if we can't put a face to this guy, and from there, we can get a name." She continued moving through the pictures, but no one else stood out to Matthew or to Lucas, not that Matthew expected it. He could only look for someone who seemed out of place. Beyond that he was of little help, and that was frustrating. Matthew wanted to be able to do something.

Room service arrived, and Matthew got the kids settled at the table with plates and cups. They munched and talked as they ate. Matthew took a few bites and watched Lucas. By the time everyone was done eating, Carl was dozing off on his lap, and Brianna was most definitely flagging. She probably wouldn't nap, but a little quiet time was definitely needed.

"I think it's time for us to go. I need to pick up the van and then get something at the store for dinner before getting them home." It had been quite the eventful day, but now he needed to get the kids settled in for the evening and make a small dinner before bath and bedtime. Then maybe he could relax a little.

"All right," Lucas said, and they gathered their things and went out to the SUV. Once again, Rachel drove. Matthew paid the repair bill at the garage—which didn't stretch the budget too far, thank God—before transferring the car seats back to their places and getting the kids inside.

It was quiet behind the garage where the van was parked, and Matthew had all the kids inside. "Thank you for everything." Matthew swallowed. He was sure Lucas would have plenty of things to do, and this felt like goodbye. It was too much to expect someone like Lucas to want anything more with a guy who had four kids. It had been good to see Lucas again and to know that the kids hadn't completely killed his libido, but whatever fantasies he had about Lucas were just that, and it was time to return to reality. "It was wonderful to see you again." He didn't know what else to say.

Lucas nodded. "It was," he whispered softly, his eyes warm and kind of mushy. At least that was what Matthew thought, and seeing that familiar expression brought back old warmth. "I missed you."

Matthew quirked his lips. "I bet you were so busy you—" He squeaked slightly when Lucas drew closer.

"I mean it. I thought of you a lot." Lucas tugged Matthew even closer and then kissed him.

Matthew closed his eyes and for a second was transported to the time when Lucas first kissed him under the bleachers after band practice. The world fell away and then returned with a snap. Lucas backed away. "I'll call you, okay?"

Matthew nodded absently because he couldn't really think straight. Then he got into the van and started the engine for the drive home, thankful that the kids seemed half asleep, because he did not want to answer questions, especially when it came to Lucas, because he just didn't have the answers.