“Shut up,” Trey grumbled irritably.
Magnus chuckled softly. “I didn’t say nothin’.”
“You were thinkin’ it.”
“Oh, I was thinkin’ somethin’, all right.”
Trey’s gaze shot back to Magnus, and he wondered briefly if Magnus had relived that night, too. Based on the heat he saw in those hazel eyes, he figured the answer was yes.
Question was: had he relived it every fucking day the way Trey had?
When Magnus realized who was behind the wheel of the truck that had pulled down his driveway, he wouldn’t say he’d been disappointed.
In fact, the opposite.
As for why Trey Walker was gracing him with his presence, he had yet to find out, but based on the frown on Trey’s handsome face, the man wasn’t happy to be there. Which meant he hadn’t stopped by for a repeat of the night they’d spent together two weeks ago.
Not that Magnus thought he had. Sure, he’d wished the man would make a move, but Magnus was fully aware of the tragedy that had rocked the Coyote Ridge community as well as the Walker family. It was the main reason he hadn’t reached out to Trey, sought a repeat of that incredible night.
“What brings you by?” he finally asked, motioning for Trey to come inside.
“Business.”
Of course it was. “Reese send you?”
“I wouldn’t be here if he hadn’t,” Trey grumbled.
Magnus found it impossible not to smile. He happened to find Trey’s ornery side rather appealing. And the banter they shared between them was a unique form of foreplay that, honestly, Magnus wished he had more of in his life.
Opening the door to the building, Magnus led the way inside. He partly expected Trey to stay outside, to refuse to be in a confined space with him. It sure as hell wouldn’t have surprised him if he had.
But he was happy to see Trey had stepped inside, let the door close behind him.
“What can I help you with?” Magnus turned around to see Trey’s tense form near the door, his eyes fixed on the dogs currently watching him with curiosity. “They won’t hurt you, I promise.”
“I wasn’t worried about that,” he muttered.
“Sarge, Aurora, meet Trey. These two belong to me.” Magnus looked at the black Laborador retrievers currently relaxing as they’d been instructed to do. “Heel.”
Instantly both were on their feet. A second later, they were heeling at Magnus’s feet, one on each side. He took one step forward. They did, too, remaining right at his side, eagerly watching him for another command, just as they’d been trained.
“Did you have a reason for bein’ here?” he asked Trey. “Or did you come to ogle me and my dogs?”
That doom-and-gloom look was back on Trey’s face as he glowered.
“You’ve heard about what’s goin’ on?”
Magnus sobered. “I did, yes. I’m sorry for your loss.”
Trey’s gaze cut to the floor as he nodded. “Thanks.”
“I take it your team’s lookin’ for the woman responsible? The one who kidnapped the little girl and murdered that girl’s mother.”
Trey nodded, eyes lifting. “We’ve got an active team tryin’ to determine where she is. We know she’s in the area, just don’t have an exact location.”
“Byin the area, you mean what? Central Texas? Coyote Ridge? Taylor? Embers Ridge? What?”
Trey’s expression remained neutral when he said, “Yes.”
