“You’re like a dog with a bone,” he teased, waving a hand in the air as if she were blowing smoke up his ass. “I think you give me too much credit.”
“I don’t think so,” she said, trailing after him with a distinct whine in her voice. “Ducky and I miss you. I took a pizza over to his place a couple of nights ago. He actually ate with me. He keeps talking about wanting to wear his clothes like you and Greer do.”
Greer had spent a significant amount of money on Dallas’s clothing. His usual uniform of joggers had become slacks and a suit. Everything fit perfectly. Snug like a second skin. He’d seen Ducky give him the same eye he did Greer, scanning his clothes when he came in the room. He’d wondered what Ducky had thought.
“I have some news I haven’t shared,” she said.
“What’s that?” he asked, watching her excitement grow.
“Evan and I are getting a dog.” She looked so damn proud of herself.
Dallas kept his disparaging thoughts to himself as he remembered every dead plant she’d ever had. Plus, a goldfish or four that had to be flushed.
“A dog?”
“A little Boston. Someone Evan knows is selling them. He should be old enough to move in when I move in with Evan.” Now that was a long way of getting to the real point. Dallas’s grin was immediate. He took her into his arms, giving her a big hug. One she gave back.
“Congratulations,” he said against her hair then promptly dropped his arms, wanting her to step away. “You’re sweaty. Girl sweat. Ew.”
She didn’t let him go. Her arms wrapped tighter around him. “You’ve made me very happy, Dallas. You didn’t have to do what you did today. Thank you.”
“A smart guy once told me, ‘Go to your attorney. Run everything past him.’” After a second more, he made her loosen her hold to look her straight in the eyes. “There’s risk involved, Skye. Evan will know someone independent to talk to.”
“Are you sure you just don’t want to give me a great big salary and call it done,” she asked. After how excited she’d been when they offered her a partner position, he knew she didn’t really want that.
“We’re a family business. You’re family. Stop trying to get out of it.” He tucked her against his side, and she easily wrapped an arm around his waist. They walked side by side for several steps before she hip-bumped him. He looked down at her upturned face. She looked happy and content. All the things he’d ever wanted for her.
=?=
Stepping from his vehicle, Greer listened to the garage door churn closed as he stifled a yawn determined to happen. His normal parking spot had moved several inches to the left to make room for Dallas’s new Tesla.
Every part of Greer’s entire life had changed. Half the garage space, half the closet space, half the bathroom storage space. Dallas had made his house into a home. A loving, happy, sex-filled paradise.
Since boarding his flight this afternoon, Greer had thought of little more than his man and his bed. He hoped to talk Dallas into a quick nap before dinner. Then maybe they could get a fast bite to eat before a hearty round of fornication, and before a much longer overnight sleep.
The pace he’d been keeping was getting the best of him. He needed some downtime, a vacation. A trip somewhere relaxing. A beach with Dallas by his side wearing one of those tiny speedos.
His grin beamed as a fantasy played out in his head. A nude beach. All the sand and blue ocean and naked Dallas on display.
Greer reached for the doorknob, only then seeing the yellow sticky note stuck to the door. The simple words “To the fridge” scribbled in Dallas’s efficient penmanship.
The fatigue seeped away. He cradled the note as if it were a love declaration. Dallas was so particularly good at those. After all this time, the romance between them had only grown. The excitement of knowing his love had prepared for his arrival home erased the concerns of his world.
He twisted the knob to open the door, feeling the love inside the home. Greer did as instructed. He went for the refrigerator to see his favorite IPA with another sticky note attached to a bottle opener that simply said, “Exercise room.”
Greer took the beer, removed the cap, and took a long swallow. It hit the spot and he started down the hall to their workout room. The door was closed with two sticky notes stuck to the door. “Shhh. Filming.” And “Bedroom.” He removed both, stacking them on top of the others.
Carefully, Greer placed his ear to the door, hearing the rapid spin of the cycle’s flywheel. Dallas’s deep breathy tenor huffed out the workout. Greer smiled. His guy was out of breath. They both barely spent three hours a week working out and those hours were always together.