“Hey,” I nudge him, bobbing down and pushing his hair off his brow. “Is this about the reporters?”
Before Leo went on his first trip with Ellis, we told him about the media storm that was shadowing our every move. Roberta’s article had just come out, and while it helped clear up some of speculation, Ellis’ legion of fans fell in love with our story and was hungry for more. Leo, to my surprise, took it all in stride, letting it slip that Cody had already sent him a reel of the juiciest rumors, including a meme of Kaysie tossing a chocolate sundae on a nosy reporter.
“It’s not that,” he puffs, jutting out his chin. “I’m starting a new school real soon, and if you’re gonna change my name, then I should have a say.”
“You mean Percy?” We won’t have an official pack name until our bonding ceremony next year, and even then, it will only be for official purposes.
“Noooo,” he sighs, rubbing the back of his neck before looking up at me with hot cheeks. “I need to know if you’re gonna date George.”
He says it so fast, I blink, and while I can hear the other guys sniggering behind me, I keep my gaze firmly planted on my son. “No. Never. George is a friend and won’t ever be more. But what makes you ask that, hun?”
He studies me for a moment, eyes narrowed but hopeful. “You swear?”
I throw up my hands. “George is great, but he’s not for me.”
I glance up at the guys, looking for inspiration, but Leo suddenly pops to his feet, snatching up his baseball mitt and giving me a dimpled grin. “Then I’m gonna go see Moondance.”
“Wait up!” I grab his arm before he can make his exit. “Can you tell me what just happened, please? What is all this about?”
“My name,” he repeats as he twitches from foot to foot. “No one’s gonna take me seriously at that school with a name like Lego.”
“Lego? What the heck are you talking about?”
“Logan. Ellis.George. Otley. LEGO.”
I slap my hand on the table. “Oh, my God.”
“But if you’re gonna mess up my name, can we work out something for Tristan? He deserves a letter as much as the rest of my dads.” He beams at my sweetest mate, while he fist bumps Logan and gives Ellis a high five on the way out of the trailer.
“Sometimes I forget he just hit double digits,” Ellis muses, “and then he comes out with something likethat.”
“You can’t really blame him,” Tristan laughs, nudging his way under Ellis’ arm. “And here’s my son,” he says in a deep voice that probably won’t ever pass for our mate’s. “Lego Castle, a chip off the old block.”
Logan snorts. “Yeah, those weird kid names might fly in Hollywood, but not so much in Eagle County.”
I just shake my head, but as the other guys head out of the trailer, I pull Logan aside. “You’re sure about this?” I nod out the window, indicating the ranch, but he knows I mean more than that. “I still feel bad about dragging you away from your dream.”
He clucks his tongue, tucking a curl under the baseball cap Leo brought me back from San Francisco. “I could be corny and point out thatyou’remy dream, but there’s no comparison. The gym was a way to give myself a goal and put a roof over our heads. Besides, I’m not giving it up altogether. The guys are coming in as part-investors, and if it takes off, they can buy me out. In the meantime, Ellis has hired me as his bootcamp instructor.” A slightly sadistic grin splits his face. “Not sure he knows what he’s signed up for, but it’ll be fun watching him find out.”
I swat his arm. “Don’t break him. I like him just as he is.”
Especially since he’s decided to give acting a break for a while and try his hand as a film director. He’s been talking to Becca, Otley’s public relations expert, ever since Tahlia was run out of LA after her role in the media storm came to light. Becca has connected him with some independent film producers in Denver, and they’re looking to start a project together in the spring.
“No promises on going easy,” Logan grins, his hand drifting down to squeeze my butt. “But I’m open to bribes, just so you know.”
I give him an arch look. “I’d check the fine print on the employment contract Otley drew up. I’m pretty sure breaking Ellis is off limits, even for a mate.”
Logan huffs, but I can see the humor lurking in his eyes. “That guy needs to loosen his tie a little.” He leans forward, his arms caging me against the counter and his lips hovering over mine. “Unless he’s using it on you, of course.”
I groan, so tempted to kiss that smirk off his face I can feel my toes curling in my boots. “Which reminds me,” I murmur, husky with arousal, “if I don’t scoot, I’m going to be late for my meeting!”
I duck under his arm, smirking at the way he adjusts his jeans as I dash out the door. As soon as the butterscotch air hits me, I take a hungry gulp, my eyes roaming over the view. We’ve only been gone a couple of weeks, but I shiver with excitement to be home. I’m tempted to stop by and see Tomorrow’s Roses, but the pull towards the house is too strong to ignore. I love my horse to bits, but seeing my mate is a primal need that leaves me breathless by the time I reach his office.
I smell him before I see him, his autumn leaf undertones stronger than ever now fall is in the air. I push the door open, and as much as I want to run to him, I linger on the threshold. He’s in the middle of a call, but he’s staring right at me, and it never gets old to see the lightning flashes in his eyes as he drinks me in.
“Mate,” he growls, not even pausing to mute the call as he draws me into his lap. I can hear some shuffling and throat-clearing at the other end, and I bite back a grin as Otley runs his nose along my throat. It isn’t long before his mouth has covered his mating bite, like he needs to reassure himself it’s still there. Or maybe he just likes the way my pulse hammers in excitement at being so close to him. “I’ve missed this,” he growls, his armstightening around me. “No matter how many times I see it, I can’t get enough of it.”
“Just that?” I ask coyly, arching my neck. “Should the rest of me leave you to it and go visit with Tomorrow’s Roses?”
