Page 106 of Unexpected
I felt some of my worry for Reese fade away as we began the trek up the driveway to the house. I smiled at the sight of my men sitting on the porch steps. I said my goodbyes to the two agents and greeted the dogs who all came running to me.
Except Zeus.
Because he was passed out at the top of the steps behind Nash and Gage.
My men didn’t speak as I approached them, nor did they say anything when I settled between them on the step. I took the beer Gage offered me and had a sip before handing it back to him.
“He’ll be okay,” Gage said softly.
I nodded. “Yeah, he will.”
Nash kissed my temple, then took the ball Dorf brought him. He threw it down the driveway and all the dogs took off after it.
“You ready for tomorrow?” Nash asked.
“Very,” I said.
We were flying to Virginia the next day so I could deal with getting my house ready to put on the market.
“I want you guys to come to Arlington with me,” I said softly. “There’s someone there I’d like you to meet and that I need to say goodbye to.”
“We’d be honored,” Gage said, since he knew full well that I was talking about Pierce. Nash didn’t say anything, but he did link his fingers with mine, then lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my fingers.
The three of us sat in silence for a while until Charlie came busting out the front door. She rattled something off to us in a language I didn’t recognize.
“What did she say?” Nash whispered. I shrugged and we both looked at Gage.
“Not a clue,” Gage said as he took a sip of his beer.
We looked at each other for a moment, then turned around to Charlie and yelled, “Ja!”
The little girl giggled and ran back inside.
As we stood, Gage let out a loud whistle. Four dogs came running toward us. I smiled when I saw what was in their wake, but traveling in the opposite direction.
“Look,” I said to Gage and Nash before they turned to head up the steps.
“Damn,” Nash muttered when he saw what I was pointing at.
“Sorry, buddy,” Gage said as he slapped Nash on the back. “It’s your turn. We’ll save a plate for you.”
Nash let out a loud curse, then began to move down the stairs. I grabbed him and held him in place for a moment so I could brush my mouth over his. “See you in a bit,” I whispered.
A smile drifted across his lips. “Yeah.”
I reached for the hand Gage extended to me and followed him up the stairs. We stepped over Zeus, who ignored the three dogs that stumbled over him as they darted through the door Gage was holding open.
“Come on, boy,” Gage said. Zeus made a big show of staggering to his feet, then ambled through the door. I leaned into Gage’s sideas we watched Nash head down the driveway. Gage kissed my temple.
“Welcome home, Everett.”
I wrapped my arm around his waist and accepted the kiss he placed gently on my lips. As we kissed, I heard Nash yell, “Houdini, get your ass back here right now!”
I laughed against Gage’s mouth and let him tug me through the door, since I knew Nash would be a while. I shot the love of my life one more glance as he and a certain lovesick mastiff trotted to catch up to the chicken, then followed the other love of my life into the house.
“You’ve got some really weird animals, Gage,” I said.
“No, I don’t, baby.Wedo.”
I laughed because he was exactly right.
“Yes, we do,” I murmured. “Yes, we do.”
The End
