Jack reached for Aaron, wrapping him in a hug much like the one he’d just received from Verity. Aaron reciprocated it, if not somewhat awkwardly, although finally relaxing into the affection just before Jack separated their bodies.
Callum stayed on the couch while Jack closed the door and locked it. He stared at the wood a moment before turning to Callum with a small smile.
“Now, kitten, we have plans.”
30
Jack
“This isn’twhat I had in mind when you said we had plans,” Callum grumbled petulantly from the passenger seat as Jack navigated up the long, dirt drive to Candace’s ranch.
“Patience is a virtue,” Jack responded with a smirk, putting the car in park.
Callum eased himself out of the door, already getting around better with the restricted arm usage, and he met Jack at the front door of Candace’s house.
“What is this place?” he asked, knocking, then startling when what sounded like a herd of dogs began to bark on the other side of the door.
“It’s a dog rescue,” he answered.
Callum pivoted slowly, eyes wide and excited. “Are we getting a dog?”
“You are,” Jack confirmed. “I want him to be yours.”
They looked up and found the door open, a short, middle-aged woman with a coif of curly blonde hair stood in front of them with a smile.
“Who’s Jack?” she asked.
“That’d be me.”
She extended a hand. “I’m Candace. It’s great to meet you in person. You must be Callum,” she said, turning her attention and smile to Jack’s side.
“I am. It’s nice to meet you.” Callum grabbed Jack’s hand and fisted his fingers, using his muscles to try and temper his excited reaction.
“He’s excited,” Jack told Candace, giving Callum away with a chuckle.
“Good,” Candace agreed. “Come on out back and you can meet the kids.”
Callum trailed Jack even though he got the feeling it took all his strength to not burst out at a full sprint to find the dogs. Candace led them into a wide backyard that had a handful of fenced off play spaces and smaller kennel areas under shaded tarps.
“These dogs are all rescues,” Candace told them over her shoulder, walking toward one of the large enclosures where four or five dogs were chasing each other playfully. “Some are more skittish than others. Some were abused, but those boys generally don’t get to come out and play with the others because they’re unpredictable. We spend a lot of time with them so they don’t feel rejected.”
Callum was staring at the dogs roughhousing and barking at each other in the yard. He was mesmerized, eyes tracking their movements until he flicked them toward the kennels, his broad grin souring slightly.
“Can I go see them? he asked.
“Of course,” Candace answered, gesturing toward the kennels and letting Callum take the lead. He set off and Jack followed, Candace falling in step with him, a yard or so behind Callum who had already squatted down in front of the first kennel.
“That’s Bear,” she called out to Callum.
Callum held his hand toward the chain-link, palm down. Bear approached timidly, his ears on alert and his tail tucked. He sniffed at Callum’s hand.
“What kind is he?” Jack asked.
“Not certain.” Candace shrugged. “Definitely some German Shepherd in there, but he’s a mix for sure.”
Callum was leaning against the fence now, his cheek against the metal links and Bear was sniffing his face.
“He likes your boyfriend,” Candace observed.
