“Almost twenty,” Colton said in a low, sexy voice, and took a step toward Zach.
The look in Colton’s eyes let Zach know he was finally breaking through. “Right, almost twenty. If I don’t get naked with you soon, I swear my balls are going to explode. All these kisses and touches, the eye-fucking you give me, I’m ready to blow.”
A full-belly laugh echoed off the walls. “Oh, honey. I really can’t let that happen.”
Colton grabbed Zach’s hand and nodded toward the stairs. They’d made it two steps when his phone rang. He wanted to tell Colton to ignore it, but Colton had it out before Zach could speak.
“Shit.” Colton closed his eyes and curled his lips inward. Exhaling, he answered the call on speaker. “Sheriff?”
“Your cousin is on his way over with Barley and some supplies your aunt swore neither of you could survive without.” The touch of amusement made clear the sheriff knew exactly what he was doing. “Just make sure you’re both decent when he gets there.”
Zach’s face burned, and Colton’s looked redder than his felt.
“We’re decent, just sweaty and dirty. I don’t think Greg will mind.”
The sheriff did a poor job of holding in his laughter. “Oh, he’ll grumble when he gets back, but he’ll live.”
He might not, because Zach wasn’t sure he wouldn’t murder the next person who kept him from Colton.
“Tell Aunt Nanette thank you from us.” Colton almost sounded sincere.
“I will. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Will do.” Colton hung up and made as if he was going to toss his phone. He settled for shoving it in his pocket. “That’s good news. Barley’s my Catahoula. He’ll help guard the place. You don’t mind dogs, do you?”
“Catahoula?”
“Yep.” Colton nodded like Zach ought to know what he was talking about. “I got one, and I’m next in line to get a Blue Heeler. Eventually I’ll breed them, I think. Not together. I want to keep them purebred.”
Colton rambled on about the dogs, about his plans, but his eyes were on the windows. Those glances made Zach nervous. “What are you looking for?”
“Want to see when I can tell company’s coming. Seems important to know.” Colton held him close while he stared, and then the smile broke out. “There. He’s coming. That’s good. That’s real good.”
Zach found nothing useful in Greg's showing up right before they were about to get naked. “Yeah, it’s great.”
“No, I meant how far I can see.” His arms flexed and Zach burrowed back. “Don’t worry, I won’t let him stay longer than he needs to, but maybe we should set out some food. Might as well eat now, so we don’t need to stop our discussing.”
Greg pulled up, and a brindle dog rumbled up to Zach, while Colton and Greg unloaded the dog bed and supplies. Barley barked once then pushed his head between Zach’s legs.
“He wants you to scratch his flanks,” Colton said.
After a minute filled with intense tail wagging, Barley pulled back. Zach had never seen a dog with pale blue eyes or a mottled coat like Barley’s, but he was fine. He looked up, panting slightly, then ran off to inspect the house.
Greg helped himself to some of the leftover food, and while it wasn’t entirely polite, Colton bum-rushed him out of the door.
“Damn, Scrap. Got plans or something?”
“Don’t make me shoot you for being a cockblock.” The jovial, playful banter was gone. “I don’t do it to you, and it’s not right for you to do it to me.”
Zach had never seen a contrite Greg, and this was about as close as he figured he’d see.
“Sorry, bro.” He held out his hand. “I take back everything I said. He’s good for you.”
“So glad you approve,” Colton growled, and pushed him out of the door. He turned, breathed in deeply and exhaled. “I really love my family, but they could be on fire, and if I was the only one left, I wouldn’t open the door to help them.”
Barley ambled into the foyer, barked, and rubbed against Zach.
“He seems happy here.” Zach reached down and rubbed the dog.
