Page 72 of Courting Danger

“Exactly like that.”

“I’m glad Roan told you he was little.”

“Like you, I had a feeling, but nothing concrete, since I hadn’t had the opportunity to spend as much time with him.”

“Was it okay that I kept his secret?”

“In this instance, yes.”

“I’d have told you if he’d been about to do something that was going to get him hurt,” Ocean said. “I don’t keep those kinds of secrets.”

Pope hugged him and pressed his head against Ocean’s shoulder. “That’s right, those aren’t the kinds of things we want to hide from one another. It goes both ways, too. I don’t expect you boys to follow rules that I don’t. If something’s going wrong, I’ll sit you guys down and tell you everything there is to know. That way you’re not left walking on eggshells, worrying and getting all spun out.”

“Thank you for telling me these things and talking to me about them,” Ocean said. “I’ve had flings before and short relationships that usually ended when they headed off to one place and I caught a plane to another, but this already feels different and we’re just starting out.”

“That’s how it’s supposed to feel, when you’re building something and not just having fun.”

He’d just finished speaking when the lamp flickered, a sure sign that they’d be going out sooner rather than later. Fortunately, the fire provided plenty of light. Enough so that they could save the lantern batteries until they absolutely needed them, since he never kept much wood stocked. It was rare that he had cause to it. Hell, the architect had tried to talk him out of including it in the plans, but the ambience was nicein winter, with dancing flames to stare into while he was lost in thought.

Sure enough, the lamp flickered again before going out completely several minutes later, ending the music, not that they’d been able to hear much of it after the rain started. Between thunder that rumbled loud enough Pope swore he could feel it rattling the house and crashes of lightning that made it seem like the world was falling apart, laying there with Ocean and the dogs, who’d finally fallen back to sleep, was the only thing he could do.

Still, it was impossible for him to relax completely, despite knowing Roan and Danger weren’t trying to drive home in this mess. Them not being in the house was concerning enough, but there was a nagging feeling in his gut he couldn’t shake that kept him on edge and restless as they rode out the storm. He tried not to think about the last time the feeling had struck, or the ramifications that followed.

He was a different man now. Older. Wiser. And one step closer to having everything he’d ever dreamed of.

As long as the fates didn’t step in and fuck it up.