Damn, he hoped that was just him being cautious, and that no one was spying on them.
Colton was bone-tired when they finished unloading and unpacking the kitchen things. He was about to suggest a break when Zach hoisted one of the two air mattresses.
“Does it matter which room this goes in?”
Where did Zach get all the energy? Colton had been working hard to keep up. “Good lord and biscuits, how about we take a break before we tackle the upstairs?”
“That’s fine, just tell me where to put stuff.”
He couldn’t tell if Zach was showing off, or really didn’t need a break. “I mean both of us. Just because you’re inhuman and can work non-stop doesn’t mean we all can.”
“I’ve been breaking down and setting up the show for years.” Zach smiled, and Colton’s heart beat faster. “This is easy compared to that.”
He shook his head at himself, but had to admit he wasn’t used to this level of manual labor. “Well, I’m a lazy bastard. I spend all day in my truck.” It wasn’t exactly true, but it was a good excuse. Not prepared to let Zach do all the work, he picked up the other mattress. “Come on, I’ll show you my bedroom. It takes up most of the second floor.”
If that didn’t sound like an invitation for getting busy, he didn’t know what was. “Sorry. I’m excited to show it off. I worked for a long time with the architect to get it the way I wanted.”
“Sure,” Zach said with a half-smile that didn’t hide his disappointment. “Tease a guy why don’t you.”
Nothing he could say would fix things, so he climbed in silence. He’d spent a huge amount of his budget on the bathroom. He’d always wanted a walk-in shower and a whirlpool tub to soak in. It was an indulgence, but it was his money. Might as well get exactly what he wanted.
They hauled the mattresses up to the master bedroom. It was big enough for three beds, but he’d leave it up to Zach where he slept. If he wanted his own room, the little bedrooms were safe, and he’d installed the air vents so they’d be cool at night.
“There are two other bedrooms?—”
“Can I stay here?” It was barely more than a whisper. Zach snatched quick glances at Colton. “I mean, I’ll put mine as far away as you like, but I’d like to fall asleep knowing you’re nearby.”
It wasn’t a total lie, but they’d slept in different rooms since they’d met. “Honey, you can sleep as close or as far away from me as you like. I just wanted you to know you have choices.”
“Can I push mine up against yours?”
The impish grin Zach gave him told him exactly why he wanted that arrangement. “As close as you like, but being honest with you, there’s no way I can be that close without holding you.”
“If you don’t, I’m going to be disappointed.”
Things needed to be set right before he could think about doing those things. That was what Uncle Ted meant. “Fuck, the things you do to me, but I really need to secure the house first. That’s going to take a while.”
“I’m not going anywhere, and I can help.”
He tried not to imagine it, but he could see the two of them working side-by-side in the yard after they’d moved in. With every comment Zach made, it felt less like a dream, and more like an eventuality. “Sounds like one hell of a plan. I’ll show offmy baby while we do. I own six acres here. It’s not a ton, but it’s enough. I’m going to run a couple of cows and play cowboy, I think.” He didn’t want to spend all his free time on livestock, but it was worth it for the tax break, and he didn’t mind having a mama cow or two for calving. “Wanna see my bathroom? It rocks.”
That was probably the new house version of ‘wanna see my etchings’, but his bathroom was way more fun.
“Your bathroom?”
“Yes!” He stole a kiss before he dragged Zach’s happy ass to the en suite. It was his favorite part of the house, other than the whole thing wasn’t Momma’s. He’d spent a lot of time picking the different shades of gray with the periodic pop of emerald green in the tile. “Zach? Meet the bathroom of joy. Bathroom of joy? Meet Zach.”
Zach gaped at the room, clearly impressed, just as Colton had hoped. He saw them sharing it daily. Along with the entire place.
He knew it was a potential disaster waiting to happen, but he couldn’t stop himself. Zach was special, and for reasons Colton couldn’t quite get, Zach thought Colton was special too.
“I hate you,” Zach said with a less than hateful tone.
His daydream shattered into a million pieces. “What’d I do?”
“You showed me this.” He swept his arm around the bathroom. “All I want is to strip you naked, toss you in the shower, and get wet and busy.”
This bossy side of Zach was amusing as fuck, and it only made it harder to keep his focus on the job. “That’s going to happen. Count on it, but first I need to make sure the place is secure. Those five brothers are still out there, and they know how to get to the ranch. The sheriff reminded me before we left to think with the big head before I let the slightly smaller one come out and play.”
“Slightly smaller?” Zach leered at him. “What are you packing inside there, Deputy?”
Heat rushed to Colton’s cheeks. “You’ll have to wait to find out, but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.”
Stretching up, Zach kissed him once.
“I know I won’t.”
