Duke grinned. “Well, isn’t your gene pool quite the marvel.”
Warren choked and I patted his back.
“And you are?”
“I’m Duke. I run the animal sanctuary on Checkmate Road. And we’re always looking for volunteers,” he practically growled.
“Down boy,” I muttered.
“Oh relax,” Duke said. “I’m a happily taken man.”
He brushed me off with a limp wrist that made Zach laugh.
“Then act like it,” I told him and the young vet gasped.
“Come on,” Zach said, pushing Duke to the side. “I’ll take you to the goats. Nice to meet you, Warren.”
His tone was kind and warm but there was something in his expression that seemed hollow. Almost defeated.
I would have thought it had to do with the conversation about his truck but then his gaze drifted from Warren to me and back to Warren.
Was he…was he jealous of Warren? Did he think there was something going on between us?
And why did that single thought make my insides tremble, roar even.
Was it possible Zach liked me? Maybe even wanted me?
“Well, the vet is here to see the goats, what is that other handsome man doing here?” Warren asked when they retreated to the spare room and I snapped my attention back to him.
“His name is Zach and he lives here. For now.”
Warren’s eyes shot wide open.
“Does he now? What the hell have I missed?”
I sighed and offered him coffee.
“Sit down. I’ll tell you everything,” I said and offered him a seat at the kitchen island.
“Only if you pass me one of those muffins. They look delicious.”
“They are. They so are,” I sighed again.
TWELVE
ZACH
“You’re still such a baby, Adam,” Duke said as he caressed the pygmy’s withers and back in response to Adam’s gentle head-butting.
“He really is,” I confirmed. “Sometimes I forget he’s not a puppy.”
“That’s how he was with us too.” Duke smiled.
“He used to live with you?”
“All three of them did. They were seized from an illegal breeder and brought to me. Then Dare took them from me to help with the crops, but I see they’ve become homebodies.”
I laughed.
