“Not even Leo?” Carter asked.
Aaron froze. “Leo?”
“Your best friend, your work partner, basically the man that you grew up with who probably knows all your secrets,” Carter continued.
“Uh.” What did he say here?
“Or are you going to lie and tell me that the two of you have never been together?” Carter challenged. It was hard hiding the jealousy that coursed through him but Carter needed a real answer if there was any chance of them moving forward.
“I don’t lie.” Not when he could help it. And Aaron would never lie to his mate.
“I’m trying to get answers here, Aaron,” Carter told him. “You’re not giving me much.”
“I don’t know what to say!” Aaron lifted his hands helplessly.
“Then let’s go back to the beginning,” Carter suggested. “Out of everything you’ve told me you haven’t mentioned mates once. I’d say that you’ve gone out of your way to avoid the word.”
Aaron had sworn that he didn’t lie. He might regret that now. “Because you shouldn’t be tied down with me. I already said that. I mean it. You can do better. And it’s not because I want Leo or anyone else. I only want you!”
“Great!” Carter beamed at him. “You want me and I want you.”
Aaron shook his head. “You’re not listening to me.”
“I’m listening,” Carter responded. “Since I don’t agree with the words that you said, we’re moving past that.”
This man was so bossy. Aaron loved it. “Moving past—”
“We are moving past the bullshit that you are trying to convince me of,” Carter stated firmly. “You agreed that you wanted me. I feel the same way. There, fixed.”
Nothing was fixed! “I’m not good enough for you!”
“Stop saying that,” Carter ordered. “You don’t know enough about me to make that determination.”
“I know you,” Aaron argued. Like he wouldn’t know everything he needed to about his mate. “I know that you’re protective, and smart, and sweet. You’re the best man that I have ever met.”
Carter snorted. “Did you know that I snore? Or so Hudson claims. I also can’t stand a dirty house. I’m obsessive about it. I love fantasy books and movies but hate blood and guts. I’ve seen that too much in my life.”
Aaron nodded. This turned out even better than arguing. He loved learning more about Carter. “What else?”
“You want to know more?” Carter asked.
“Please!”
“That’s what dating is for,” Carter told him.
Wh…what? No! That was just mean. “But…”
Carter grinned. “You already agreed to dinner tomorrow.”
“I did.” They did have another date already scheduled.
“And this weekend we should take the dogs to the park,” Carter said. “They need to start being trained to walk on a leash.”
“Okay.” Aaron didn’t have an issue with spending more time with the puppies. Or Carter.
“That’s two dates,” Carter pointed out. “Which means that we’re dating.”
“Fine, we’re dating,” Aaron agreed. He wasn’t upset about this development. Was it cowardly? Letting Carter make these demands? Maybe. Aaron was happy that Carter wasn’t listening to him.
