Page 47 of Rescue Them

“I bet they loved it.”

“And so did the guys.We got so much work done, and there was no bickering.Oh, we argued, but over cases.It was like we were all happier and contented.”James sat back in the chair.“It was pretty amazing.”

“I’m glad they were of help.”Lyle said.“And thank you for staying with them.”James lowered his gaze and nodded.“Hey, them being taken by Debbie had nothing to do with you and everything to do with her.I know that.She was determined to get her hands on the dogs.It was all she wanted, and there’s nothing we can do about that now.Debbie is going to be in jail for breaking and entering as well as theft, and God knows what her husband is going to be charged with in relation to the dogfighting.But they will be out of circulation for quite some time.”He shook his head.

“What are you thinking about?”James asked.

Lyle shrugged.“Nothing important.Just how disappointed Corky would be if she knew what Debbie had done.I think it would hurt her more than anything else.The thought of her dogs being in danger… and Debbie behind it.”He sighed and shook his head again.“I can’t stop thinking about it and yet I don’t want to.It’s over, and the police have them.”

“But it’s not over,” James said.“It sticks around.The worry will be there.”And he knew that the next time he went out of town, Lyle would hesitate to leave the dogs with him.Not that Lyle blamed him necessarily.

“Yeah, it will be.”Lyle stood and came over to the chair, standing in front of him.“You need to stop worrying yourself.Debbie was selfish and she only cared about herself.She didn’t respect her mother’s wishes enough to just walk away.She had to have what she thought was her right, and that meant stealing.If I had been home, she would have done the exact same thing eventually.That’s why she and that jackass she married took their walks over here each night.They were casing my place.And I’m pretty sure they tried to get in the back door that time but weren’t successful because it was just too secure.My car was gone and she saw that the dogs were here.So when she thought the place was empty, she jimmied the lock and took the dogs, at least the ones who didn’t manage to get away from her.None of that had anything to do with you.”Lyle stroked his cheek.

“I know all that,” James said.

“Then you can stop second-guessing yourself.”He leaned closer.“I know you are.The dogs don’t hold you responsible, and neither do I.”

James swallowed hard.“Why aren’t you angry with me?You should be.I should have been more careful.”

“Because you aren’t responsible.Debbie was.And we have the dogs back.In the end that’s what really matters.We got the dogs, and we saved the ones that had been taken from the shelter.”He leaned closer.“You’re a good man with a good heart, and that’s what I love about you most.As for any guilt or worry, those sorts of things are a waste of time and effort.”

James hugged him around the waist.“I just feel like you should be angry with me.”

“I’m angry with them,” Lyle countered.“But if you really feel bad, you could make it up to me.I’m hungry, and we really didn’t get lunch.So you could order a pizza and we could spend a quiet evening here.I need to call my mother and let her know that I’m home, but other than that….”

“Sounds good.”James wished all problems could be solved with pizza and a little talk.But he appreciated that Lyle wasn’t angry with him.After standing and receiving a kiss that curled his toes, James ordered the pizza while Lyle made a few phone calls.Then they settled on the sofa to eat, with Lyle cuddling up next to him until it was time for bed.Neither of them got much sleep, and thankfully the dogs stayed in their own beds, since he and Lyle spent much of the night rolling around together, passion spending and building all night long.James really wanted to show Lyle just how he felt.He was a kind man, the kind of person James had been looking for, but hadn’t known he truly wanted until they met.Now he just had to find a way to tell him how he felt, because words just didn’t seem like enough.

JAMES ALWAYSloved Saturdays.They were his one day off, except when he needed to study.Everyone had agreed to meet on Sunday to go over cases.He awoke to a full bed.The air was chilly in the small room, so Lyle had pressed his back to him, and the dogs were all curled around them on the bed, each burrowed close for some additional warmth.

“They know where it’s warm.”Lyle mumbled.“I suppose we’re lucky they didn’t get under the covers with us.”

“Daisy tried, but I didn’t let her.”The dog in question lifted her head and gave him a look, like he was being mean for telling on her.

“It’s okay.If we let the dogs do that, there wouldn’t be any room in the bed for us.”Lyle rolled over and pressed to him.Their lips found each other, and Lyle groaned as he climbed closer.The dogs seemed to know that it was time for them to make an exit.They all jumped down off the bed and left the room as the heat between them grew more intense by the second.

“I WAS WONDERING,”Lyle asked as they lay there holding hands, catching their breath.James was always surprised at just how spirited Lyle was when they were together.It often took his breath away.James hummed softly to him.

“What is it?”

“Well.”Lyle rolled over.“I was wondering if you wanted to move in here with us.The place is big enough, and there’s plenty of room in here for your things.”He rested his head on James’s shoulder.“I know you have commitments to your roommates, but I wanted to make the offer.I like having you here with me.”He lifted his head until he met James’s gaze.“If it’s something you don’t want to do, then that’s okay.I mean, I’m not ordering you to or anything.”

James hugged Lyle to him.“I’d really like that.But you and I just met a few weeks ago.Why don’t we see how things go, and at the end of the term we can sit down and see if that’s still something you’d like to do.You and I have plenty of time, and we don’t need to rush into anything.”

Lyle hummed and grew quiet, resting his head on his chest.“I get it.”

“No, you don’t.I’m not saying no.I’m just saying that we need to give things a little time.You know what I’m saying.I love you and I love the dogs, but we can take our time and just get to know one another.There doesn’t need to be any additional pressure.Moving in together is a big step, and what if you find out that you can’t live with the way I leave my towels on the bathroom floor or how I squeeze the toothpaste?”He smiled, and Lyle chuckled.

“But you have three roommates now,” Lyle said.

James nodded.“And they’re just people I live with.I’m not in love with any of them.I know them and we respect each other’s space.I have my room, and they each have theirs.We keep the common area clean and tidy because that’s what we all agreed to.But this isn’t how things would be if I lived here.You and I would be sharing the same spaces and the same bed.You’d make room for me in your closet and your dresser.Those are all big things.”

Lyle made a scoffing noise and bounded out of bed, his tight butt bouncing as he moved to his dresser.He pulled open the second drawer.“See, I already made room for you.And as for my closet….”He hurried over to it.“How many clothes do you think I have?”He pulled open the door to show the space was only half used.“There’s also a closet in the other room if you want to have one of your own.”He closed the door again.“There’s plenty of room for you here… and here.”He placed his hands over the center of his chest and James swallowed hard.James hadn’t expected this at all and was more than a little surprised.

“You really want this?”James asked as Lyle bounded back into bed, pulling up the covers because it was “cold out there.”

“Yeah.But if you’re not ready for it, I can be patient.Like I said, I know you have commitments with the school and your roommates, and I don’t want to come between them.But I have room here and I like it when you sleep in my bed.I don’t rest as well when you’re not here, and when you’re gone, the dogs keep looking for you.”

James rolled his eyes.“That’s pretty low, using the dogs.”