“What’s the best part?” His body started taking an active interest in the idea of bouncy Dillon.
“Uh…” They turned down an even smaller road. “I like my kitchen. Hopefully, the hot tub.”
“Mmm.” He was looking forward to that best, really. A hot tub to soak in for a few hours. Almost as good as a pool.
“Yeah. Been a long ride these last few weeks.”
“You know it. You… It’s sorta weird that Beau ain’t called, huh?”
“Nope.” Those pretty eyes cut to his a moment. “I turned your phone off, and mine is on vibrate. He texted us about an hour ago to let us know Sammy was finally resting some.”
“Oh. You think it’s okay, Dillon? What if someone needs me?” Not that he could do much, and not that he hadn’t gotten better sleep in the last two days than he had in weeks.
“Oh, babe. Someone always needs help.” Shaking his head, Dillon steered around a big old pile of snow on the road. “There are other people who can help while you rest a few days.”
Coke nodded, but he couldn’t help worrying. Mostly about the pang of guilt at the joy he felt, to think about setting his burden down for a bit. These days, that load felt heavy.
“If someone really needs us, we’ll be there. They have Balta and Ace and the Taggarts…”
Yeah. Someone else could help, just for a bit. They topped a rise, just like they had back in town, and there was suddenly a little ranch compound out there. A house, some barns…
“Look at that. Ain’t that pretty.”
“I think so. It’s all ours.”
‘Ours’. Dillon was doing the whole yours-mine-ours thing. It was, well, hot. Made him feel like a part of something, too. Like he could breathe all this in and just go with it for a long, long while.
When they finally pulled into the drive, which had been farther away than it seemed, Dillon hopped out and opened the gate. Hell, even the babies were starting to get excited, tails thumping.
He pushed the console up out of the way and slid under the steering wheel, so he could drive in.
The wheels slipped and slid, but he made it through, reminding himself that ice was worse. Or so Dillon had said. He stopped, waited for Dillon to get in the truck. He wasn’t going to pussy out and make Dillon drive the rest of the way. No fucking chance.
“Man, we’ll have to get the puppers an outside heater so they can poop.”
“It’s bitter, huh?” Coke eased the truck into drive and headed down the way, focusing careful.
“It is. You’re good at this, babe.”
Ridiculous as it was, Dillon’s confidence in him eased him, made him remember that he’d been driving a long time.
He got them parked in a big-assed garage, the truck fitting like a glove. “This is nice, cowboy.”
“Yeah. Keeps you from having to tromp through the snow, huh?”
“Yeah.” He got out, heading to let the pups loose. “Is there a place to let them go and be safe?”
“Yeah. I had my sis put in a run. It should be right off the laundry room.” Dillon led the way into the house, then into a utility room. He turned on a light and opened a door, and boom.
The pups barreled out, paws slapping and ears flapping like mad.
“There they go!” They watched the silly things slip and slide on the new snow. The run had been shoveled, bless someone’s heart.
Him and Dillon stood there, just watching like idiots, watching their pups. Dillon’s hand found his, feeling almost shockingly warm. He’d need to find those gloves his cowboy had insisted on buying.
“Thank you.” He squeezed Dillon’s hand.
“For what, babe?” Moving closer, Dillon leaned against him, not hard, just enough to feel.
