“Which is why I bought the stuff to make chicken fajita pasta and stopped at the liquor store. To celebrate. Justus and Landon are coming back by seven for dinner and drinks. I’m going to shower and get started on cooking.” I wish I could invite Calli and Lacey, but things are too complicated right now. Justus and Landon would’ve been here anyway.
“One second,” he says, already heading toward the kitchen. “Before they get here, I have something for you.”
As long as it’s not a dress.
He returns with the box that was sitting on the step. I’m not sure what to expect, a weapon for protection of some sort seems likely knowing Lee, but I notice a logo of a greenhouse is stamped on the side. He’s silent as he produces a pocketknife and cuts the tape away, then reaches inside.
A lump returns to my throat when he carefully pulls out a small bonsai tree with bright red leaves. The look he gives me is sheepish. “You wanted the tree in your room. Next best thing.”
How the hell am I supposed to resist this man? “A tiny red maple tree!”
My excitement and the way I study the little tree puts a wide smile on his face. “It’s a Bonsai Japanese Red Maple. The box should have everything you need to take care of it, and an instruction book.”
“I love it.” The beautiful gift isn’t the only thing I love, and I have to bite back the words neither of us are ready to hear.
CHAPTER 20
SILVER
Justus givesa quick knock on the front door as he opens it and calls out, “Hey, not a burglar, just us. Don’t send Silver to kick Landon’s ass again.”
Landon enters behind him, rolling his eyes. “Hasn’t that gotten old yet?”
“Nope, but I’ll keep you updated.”
“Something smells wonderful,” Landon says.
“You’re just in time. About five minutes until everything’s done,” I announce.
Lee joins us in the kitchen, setting the table and grabbing everyone a drink. It’s a good thing I made so much pasta because the three men inhale it. Justus only pauses to answer a text. “Just checking in with the wife.”
I’d noticed his wedding ring and I’m not surprised. You’d think there was some hot vigilante club somewhere because Lee, Justus, and Landon are all exceptionally attractive.Landon’s skin issue doesn’t diminish his looks, and Justus has a smile that could knock any woman to her knees. I wonder what the guys watching over Lacey look like? I’ll have to remember to ask her later.
“What’s your wife like?” I ask Justus.
“Gorgeous, smart, terrifying.”
Lee and Landon chuckle as I reply, “Good combination.”
“Yeah, Sadie’s perfect.”
Landon glances over at me. “She’s a saint dealing with him.”
“Ha! I’m a perfect gentlemen. She’s lucky and she knows it.”
“You nicknamed her Sadist.”
Justus smiles and swallows a bite. “She likes it.” He looks at me. “Pay no attention to Raisin.”
“Raisin?” I ask.
Justus nods, wipes his mouth with a napkin and sits back. “He dries up in the sun.”
My jaw drops in horror while the three of them seem amused. “Oh. That’s awful.” I point my fork at Justus. “You’re an asshole.”
“Thank you!” Landon says and leans over the table to speak in a fake conspiratorial whisper. “It’s all those years dancing for women to shove dollar bills down his pants. It went right to his head.”
It’s clear how close these two are and I wonder if their whole group is like that. Was it like that for Lee with his group? Did he lose his closest friends when he retired? “You were a stripper?”
