“Then I doubt you’d do anything to undermine me, right?”
“No, absolutely not.”
“Good, then I’ll take the offer.”
Chris swallowed again, then nodded, closing the manila folder. “Well, then, I can get the paperwork together, but I do suggest you review the offer before signing it. Just in case anything stands out.”
“I will.”
“Should we talk about the other property?”
Mack stood tall, wiped his hands on a dry towel. “Other property?”
Those wary brown eyes darted around the space once more. “I really thought Daniel would be here for this part.”
As though he was summoned, the front door opened and in walked Daniel. He seemed as surprised as Chris to see the place empty.
“Father, it’s good to see you.”
Mack didn’t miss the way Daniel’s hand casually slid over Chris’s shoulder as he passed by. The kid probably didn’t even realize he did it, something he was used to doing to reassure Chris he was there. Jeff used to do the same to Mack all the time.
How the hell had he not figured it out before? Surely the signs had been there, hadn’t they? Or was Daniel merely that good at hiding?
“Your father’s decided to accept the offer on the house,” Chris told him, his voice wavering slightly.
Daniel’s eyes widened briefly. “Really? That’s … uh … that’s fantastic.”
Mack dropped the dish towel and put his hands on his hips. “Is it? You don’t sound all that thrilled, and here I was thinkin’ this was your idea.”
The door opened once more. This time Jeff sauntered in wearing his sheriff getup. He offered a wave, then moved behind the bar. “Mind if I grab a Coke?”
“What’s mine is yours,” Mack said, feeling those little bands on his heart loosen a little more.
Jeff grabbed a cold can from the fridge under the bar, then stood tall. He looked at Chris and smiled. “You must be Chris. The Realtor. I hear you got an offer on Mack’s house.”
With subtle reluctance, Chris extended his arm to shake Jeff’s proffered hand.
“Yes, I am. And yes, I did. We were just talking about it.”
“They seem a bit confused that I’d accept the offer,” Mack explained, glancing between Daniel and Chris. “I’m tryin’ to figure out the punch line.”
“It’s a good thing, right?” Jeff prompted, his full attention on Daniel.
“Of course it is,” Daniel said. “Now we … I mean,Chris, just needs to draw up the paperwork.”
“Which,” Chris said, “I guess, we should … I mean,Ishould probably do soon.”
Yep, they were definitely a couple. Had been for a long time, because the “we” had become instinctual.
As though eager to get out of the bar, Chris got to his feet. “I’ll just go do that now.”
“No need to rush off,” Mack told him. “Why don’t you stay. Have a beer. We can celebrate.”
Chris’s gaze darted to Daniel as though the man would help him out.
“Is there a problem?” Mack asked, not moving away when Jeff stepped closer. “Somethin’ you’re not tellin’ me?”
Daniel cleared his throat. “Why would you ask that?”
