Hayden laughed. “Jesus, I’m jealous of this dog.”
Ilya folded his arms. “So is Shane, I think.”
Shane bumped lightly against him.
“Oh shit,” Hayden said, looking at his phone. “I forgot about a thing I have to—um. Be right back.”
“FanMail emergency?” Ilya asked with a teasing smile.
Hayden glared at him. “It’s not anemergency. I just promised a twenty-four hour turnaround. Twenty-three and a half hours ago.”
“Are you going to wear that shirt? There is sauce on it.”
Hayden glanced down. “Shit. That’s from breakfast. Thanks.” He darted away.
“Who needs a message from Hayden in such a hurry?” Ilya wondered aloud.
“You’d be surprised,” Jackie said. “He gets so many requests! Between us, though, I think it’s because he’s the only Montreal Voyageur on FanMail.”
Ilya laughed. “You should join, Shane. Give him competition.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Mom?” asked Arthur in a quiet, trembling voice. “Where’s Chompy?”
Jackie’s brow furrowed. “Oh no...wait! He’s in the car, I’ll bet. Let me go—”
“No,” Ilya said. “I will get him. Where are the keys?”
Jackie gave him a grateful smile. “Hanging by the door in the mudroom, that way. Chompy’s in the Mercedes, I think. Back seat.”
“Will you come with me?” Ilya asked Shane. “I do not want to hunt an alligator alone.”
Shane rolled his eyes. “Sure.”
Of course, Ilya was only trying to steal a moment alone with Shane. They stepped outside, through a secluded side door that led to a concrete path that wrapped around to the front of the house. A row of thick trees ran along the edge of the yard, blocking the view from any neighboring houses.
Perfect.
Ilya turned to stand in front of Shane and placed a hand on his waist.
“I assume you have an ulterior motive for inviting me on this adventure,” Shane said. He gazed up at Ilya flirtatiously through his lashes, and Ilya made a silent promise to figure out a way to have sex with his boyfriend tonight. Anya was just going to have to deal.
“Maybe,” Ilya said.
Shane smiled, then leaned in and kissed him. It was so soft and sweet and warm despite the air around them being so cold. Ilya sighed happily and deepened the kiss, sinking his fingers into Shane’s hair, dipping him back slightly.
“Wow,” Shane said breathlessly when they broke apart. “That was a good one.”
His cheeks were pink and his eyes were as bright as his smile. Ilya helplessly kissed him again. Shane laughed against his mouth, then stepped back. “Later, okay? Any more of that and I won’t be able to go back inside.”
“Yes, okay.” Ilya’s voice was shaky. He took a steadying breath and said, “We have a job to do now.”
“Mm. Operation: Chompy.”
Ilya gave him a lazy salute and turned toward the driveway.
Shane had a list of ways he wanted to spend the morning before Ilya had to drive back to Ottawa. They could stay in bed for most of it, or maybe take Anya to a park. Maybe work out together. Maybe all of that.
