They took Grady’s car over to Harmony and to Clint’s. He was well known throughout the county when it came to his custom metal designs, but he also sold pieces from his website all over the world. His property included both his house and his workshop, the latter off to the right, in a large metal building with his company name out front. When they got out of the car, Clint was standing by the door, saying goodbye to someone Deacon assumed was a customer.
“Deacon Sharpe, you’re not allowed around here unless you bring me ice cream!” Clint called out, teasing.
“You stop by sometime, and I’ll hook you up,” Deacon told him. They shook hands, and then he pointed to Grady. “Clint, this is Grady Dalton—Grady, meet Clinton Jones.”
They clasped hands, and Clint said, “I think I’ve seen you. You’re over at Covington, right?”
“Yeah, I am. Good to meet you officially,” Grady replied.
“You too. What can I do for you guys?”
“We saw your post online, and we’re looking for a puppy,” Deacon told him.
Clint’s dark eyes went back and forth between him and Grady, and it hit him then, how that sounded—that they were getting a puppy together…and they weren’t…but they almost were too—unless Grady planned to get his own. It had only been him saying he wanted one, but he wanted Grady to be a part of it with him.
“Well, you’ve come to the right place,” Clint replied, and Deacon let out a breath of relief that he didn’t have to explain himself. Why did it matter if they were getting a dog together? Why did they have to explain things to anyone? Whatever was between them was theirs.
Clint led them through the building, Grady taking in the sights as they went. “Jesus, you’re good.”
“Yeah, I am.” Clint winked, and…holy shit, was he flirting with Grady? Clint was straight as far as Deacon knew, but then, he’d assumed he was straight himself and he clearly wasn’t. Clint also wasn’t the kind of man to flirt if he thought there was something between Grady and Deacon, so maybe he was imagining things. “I can do just about anything,” Clint was saying, “if there’s something you’re looking for. The lawn pieces are real popular, especially in the hot months.”
Grady pointed to a Sasquatch. “We should get Bigfoot for your yard next summer.”
Deacon’s whole body warmed. He liked that, liked that Grady still planned to be here then. Without letting himself think about it too much, he reached out and put his hand at the small of Grady’s back, leaned close, and said, “No.”
Both Grady and Clint barked out a laugh.
“Come on. It’ll be fun,” Grady begged.
“Let’s start with the dog.”
Clint was watching them again, and Deacon knew he was putting the pieces together, that he realized they were…something to each other. He waited to feel strange about that, but he didn’t. He didn’t much care unless Clint was an asshole about it.
But he wasn’t, just giving Deacon a simple nod and a smile.
The puppies were in a gated area out back. They were brown and black mostly. The mom looked like she had some Lab in her too, but they weren’t sure what else.
He and Grady played with them for a while before choosing a pure black puppy who kept tripping over his feet and making Grady laugh, which Deacon liked to see.
Clint went with them out front. There were a couple of cars in the lot that hadn’t been there before, but Deacon didn’t pay them much attention. They said their goodbyes to Clint, who squeezed Deacon’s shoulder and gave him another supportive nod.
He didn’t know what came over him in that moment, but as they stood there by the car, the puppy fighting to get out of Deacon’s arms, he leaned over and kissed Grady.
“What was that for?”
“Just wanted to.”
Not long after, they were in the car, Grady driving and Deacon holding the puppy in his lap, when Grady said, “You didn’t tell me he’s queer.”
He whipped his head around toward Grady. “That’s because I didn’t know. Thought he was flirting with you, and it threw me for a loop. Then when he was watching us, I figured he saw we’re together, and it made me wonder again.” Well, shit. Clinton was…queer? Was he allowed to use that word? He didn’t know how the man identified, and he’d only known Clint to be with women.
“We are?” Grady asked, without looking at him, pulling Deacon back into the moment.
His heart dropped. “I assumed…if not…”
“No, we are. I wasn’t sure if you were ready to say that, or if you wanted that, or hell, if you’d even acknowledged it. Just felt good to hear it and wanted to make sure.”
Deacon brushed his fingers over the back of Grady’s neck. “Sorry if you weren’t sure. I want to be with you. Officially.”