Magnus stared up at Trey and frowned. “Who are you, and what’d you do withmyTrey?”
He’d meant it to be funny, but there was a flash of something in Trey’s eyes, and quite possibly for the first time since the day they met, it didn’t look like panic.
“Come on.” Trey nudged him forward. “Shower first. I’ll order pizza.”
“Shower with me,” Magnus insisted, glancing back as he managed to move forward.
“Okay.”
Magnus stopped, turned to face Trey fully. “Are youhandlingme, Mr. Walker?”
Another flash in those beautiful blue-gray eyes. “I wouldn’t dare.”
Magnus soon learned that Trey hadn’t actually intended to get in the shower with him, using the excuse he wanted to get the pizza ordered, but he helped urge him that way. He took his time, letting the hot water wash away the dirt from the day. It went a long way to easing some of the tension from his shoulders. Afterward, Magnus scarfed down three slices of pizza, but it wasn’t until he’d had three bottles of water that he started to feel more like himself. He figured it had something to do with the fact Trey was still there.
“Billy wasn’t over there earlier. I want to introduce myself,” Trey told him. “You go ahead and get in bed.”
Magnus shook his head. “I’ll go.” He started toward the door, stopped when he realized Trey was coming along. “You can grab a shower. It’ll only take me a minute.”
Trey looked determined, reaching around him for the doorknob. “I’d like to know what needs to be done. That way, I can help out if necessary.”
It took effort to keep his eyebrows from launching into his hairline, but Magnus managed. He considered asking Trey why he wanted to help out but decided the why of it didn’t really matter. The fact that he did told Magnus that they’d finally taken that first step past the booty call phase and into … well, he honestly didn’t know where this was headed, but he damn sure hoped to find out.
They walked out to the main building side by side, then Trey opened the door, held it for him. Magnus smiled to himself then schooled his expression when he saw Billy standing behind the counter, the computer keyboard on the top, monitor angled toward him.
“Hey, Billy,” Magnus greeted.
The older man smiled, revealing a missing front incisor that had been knocked out in his younger, wilder days. At least that was the story Billy usually told.
“Hey. How’s it?” he asked, eyes imploring as though Magnus might have some answers to make the world a better place.
“No news yet, but we’ll head back out at first light.”
Billy glanced between Magnus and Trey briefly.
“Oh, sorry,” Magnus said. “Trey, this is Billy Daniels; he usually takes care of the dogs during the day. Billy, this is Trey Walker, my … uh…”
“Boyfriend,” Trey supplied, stepping forward and offering a hand to Billy. “Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too,” Billy said with a satisfied grin.
Magnus wasn’t sure he could move or speak. In fact, he wasn’t even sure he was breathing anymore.
Had Trey really just…?
What the fuck was going on?
*
TREY BLAMED THE EVENTS OF THE DAYfor his slip, and no sooner was the word out of his mouth than he wished he could’ve taken it back. At least, that was his initial thought. Unfortunately, it was out now, and he figured recalling it would make him look like an idiot, so he forged ahead.
“Magnus came to check in, see if you needed anything,” Trey told Billy when it looked as though Magnus was too stunned to speak.
“Everything’s good.” Billy glanced toward the back of the building. “I just got Sarge and Aurora settled in. Gave ’em an extra treat for working so hard today.”
“Anything we can do to help?” Trey offered, purposely avoiding the stunned expression on Magnus’s face.
Billy wasn’t doing as well in the avoidance department because he continued to glance at Magnus, and if Trey was right, that was amusement in the man’s eyes.
