Page 48 of Rescue Them

“I’m serious.But like I said, you don’t have to make any changes now.I’m not giving you an ultimatum or anything.It was just something I’ve been thinking about.”

“Okay.”James sat up.“But what if things don’t work out?What if I move in and you find out that you don’t want me around or that… I don’t know.”

“We break up?”Lyle said and James nodded.“Then you could move into the other bedroom.I use it as sort of a home office, but mostly it’s made up and sits empty with the door closed.I thought that you could use it as a study room of your own when you need it.”

Jesus, Lyle not only had thought about this, but he’d made plans and really thought about him and what he’d need.That was pretty amazing, and he was tempted to say yes.He really was.It was clear how Lyle felt about him, and it warmed James’s heart.Lyle was willing… no, excited to make room for him in his home and his life.James tried to think of the last time someone had done that, and he pretty much came up blank.Almost as soon as he’d moved out for college, his mother had redone his bedroom as a craft room for herself.When he came home at Christmas, he found his things boxed up in the garage, and he spent the holiday sleeping on a daybed among his mother’s fabric and beads.It had been a real wake-up call as to just how much she had wanted him out of the house.

“You’re really sure about this?”James asked again.

“Sure.You can move in once the semester is over and you can give your roommates a chance to find someone else.You can have your study time in the living room if you want, just don’t expect me to cook for everyone.”He grinned.

“Okay.We can see how things go,” James agreed.

“Really?”Lyle asked.

“Sure.”

Lyle shook his head.“Then what was all that trepidation about?Are you one of those people who takes the other side just to be contrary and talks in circles?”

James smiled and shrugged.“I’m a lawyer.Of course I take the other side and talk in circles.They even have a special class for that in law school.How to be an ass and drive everyone in your life crazy 101.”He snuggled under the covers and pulled Lyle to him.The dogs all jumped up on the bed and found spots around them.

“We are never going to sleep in a bed that’s just you and me, are we?”James asked.“We are always going to have a bed full of dogs.”

Lyle scooched closer.“Look at it this way.We will always be warm, and our bed will be filled with love.”He looked deep into James’s eyes.“I love you and you love me, and let me tell you, those dogs love both of us.We haven’t talked about kids…,” Lyle continued, and James shuddered.“Okay, well then, we don’t have to worry about that.But these dogs will be our family.They’ll love us and be excited when we come home.”

James made room for Dash next to him.“I know, and I love the dogs as much as you do.But there are times when I’d like to be able to roll over and not get a set of dog nails pressed to my butt or a growl from Daisy when you bump her in the night.”He was teasing and tugged Lyle into a kiss.

“Are you really upset, or is this one of those pain-in-the-ass lawyer moments?”Lyle asked, and James laughed.

“You know me so well,” James told him and kissed Lyle again.They had time and they took it, holding each other and enjoying the glow of being in love and surrounded by a family of their own.The more James thought about it, the more he knew that he already had what he truly wanted.

Epilogue

“EVERYONE ISgoing to be here soon, and you aren’t dressed yet,” Lyle told James.

“They’re going to be here at eight, and it’s not even seven,” James said with a wide smile, slipping his arms around Lyle’s waist.“You always get everything done early.”

“Look who’s talking.The man who once turned in a paper a week before it was due,” Lyle teased and leaned back.“But seriously, go and get dressed.Then I need you to help me get the last of the food ready and help set up the dining room.Mom is going to be here at seven thirty to help, which means she’ll take over everything.”

“Okay.You want it all done so your mom won’t have anything to do and will leave you alone.”James released him, the warmth slipping away.“I’ll go get dressed.”He hurried out of the room, and Lyle continued prepping veggies for the tray.

Once James returned, Lyle nearly cut his finger, his attention wavering to the sexy man in his kitchen.“Wow.”The black pants and royal blue shirt set off his eyes and hugged his muscles in just the right way.He set the knife down and gave James a kiss.God, he loved this man, and kissing him was the best part of the day.Well, almost the best part.He shivered as he thought of him and James making tender love the night before.That was the very best part of the day.Him and James in bed together, sometimes making love and scaring the dogs… other times just going to bed after a long, maybe disappointing, day and knowing the other was there.

“You okay?You were staring at the wall.”

He blinked a few times.“Yeah.I’m fine.”He started pulling things out of the refrigerator.“Could you put these on the table?I have place cards for each dish.The veggies are almost ready, and there are bowls for the chips and crackers on the table.”He watched James go and finished up the veggie tray.Then he set it on the counter and got out the cheese board before checking the oven to make sure the hot dip and meatballs were ready.

Lyle checked the table and thanked James with a kiss as his mother came inside with Loopy on a leash.The four dogs all hurried over to say hello and then ran through the house as though they were hyped on sugar.

“I wasn’t sure if you’d need help,” Mom told him but looked over the table.“I guess you don’t.”She pulled out a couple of bottles of sparkling wine and put them in the refrigerator.“I figured I could contribute to the party.”She hugged both him and James.

“How are you feeling?”James asked.

“Very well, actually.I got back the latest round of tests, and everything is clean.The doctors said I was very lucky.They were going to do radiation but said there was no need.The cancer was localized, and while it caused issues, it doesn’t appear to have spread.”She smiled.

“Then we have something extra to celebrate tonight,” James told her.

“What about your parents?Will they be here?”Mom asked as she took a seat in the living room.