“Exactly my feelings.”
Dev began his return to the house, waving his hands at me. Even from here I could see the joy on his face. He loved living in the mountains during the winter, and I had to admit, as someone who didn’t grow up in cold weather, there was something to be said for getting snowed in with the one person you loved more than anything.
“I’d better go. Thanks for tellin’ me the contract news.”
“Say hi to Dev, and we’ll talk after I’ve reviewed all the paperwork.”
I tossed the phone aside and went to the kitchen to pour Dev a cup of hot coffee. After depositing coat and boots, he came inside, his color high and eyes glowing, cheeks cool but lips warm against mine.
“Mmm. Thanks. This is the best. Like you.”
“How was the walk?”
“Great. Saw some deer, coyotes, and a fox. I tried to get pictures, but they were too fast for me.”
“You’re becoming a real mountain man,” I joked.
“You know, it’s not such a bad life. No noise and traffic. Even when the weather sucks, it’s still beautiful. I can wear the same clothes, and no one cares.”
“Now wait a minute. I care if you don’t shower and do the laundry.”
He chuckled and sipped the coffee, looking totally relaxed on the sofa. “This is the life. You and me, alone in the middle of nowhere. Just the two of us.”
“Nice, isn’t it?” I sat in the club chair and put my feet up on the ottoman. “Let’s have a fire tonight.”
“Sounds good to me.” He drank more coffee. “Who were you talking to?”
“Ezra. The Kings wanna extend my contract and raise my salary. Probably gonna be some shifting around with the cap, but Ezra thinks it’s a good idea.”
“Yeah? Raise it? By how much?” He set his cup on the rough wooden table between us and sat up, eyes intent.
“Over fifteen million a year.”
I could see his brain working. “Make sure you find out the incentives.”
“Ezra knows.”
“Good.” He picked up his coffee cup again.
I figured I’d test the waters. “You have any thoughts on your contract?”
His brows drew together. “Like what? There’s still a while to go.”
“I know. Just wonderin’.”
But Dev was no dummy. “Did Ezra say anything?”
“No, ’course not. He wouldn’t discuss your contract with me. Anyway, what’s on the agenda for today?”
Still lost in thought, Dev stared into his mug. “I’ve been hearing things.”
“Like what?” I asked guardedly.
He narrowed his eyes. “Like Luke is angling for my spot. Now, I don’t believe that because he’s too nice a kid and wouldn’t cut me off at the knees like that. At least I hope not. But I have a plan.”
“What’re you talking about?” I shifted forward in my chair. “You never mentioned anything.” A little hurt that he was keeping things from me, I frowned. “What’s goin’ on?”
“I just thought of it on my walk in the woods. I was gonna discuss it with you.”
