Page 70 of Another Man’s Treasure

The vampire stands staring at his shoes, one of which is firmly planted in the middle of a cow patty.

“Shoulda wore boots, Saint,” I say with a chuckle. “You sure you want to join this little part of the tour? Lot more where that came from.”

“Yeah, I’ve got it from here,” Dart says. “I’ve worked for the Sandovals for ninety years; they’ll trust anything I have to say.”

Saint’s upper lip curls back, and he steps out of the shit, scraping his shoe on the short wheat roughage covering the field. “This place is disgusting.” He glances up at Dart. “Yeah, go ahead and take over.” He grabs the manila folder and hands it to Dart without looking. “Walkthrough sign-off paperwork. Do me a favor and make sure he signs that after, okay? I’ll come back to get it later.”

“Don’t bother,” Dart says with a wry look. “I’m having dinner with Emmer and his father tonight to catch up. I’ll deliver it personally since they came in town to see me.”

That’s new news.

“Whatever,” Saint says, flaring his shadow wings wide and leaping up into the air. He frowns at me from where he flaps slowly above us. “Catch you later, Mister Lane.”

I say nothing, and after a moment, he darts up into the clouds and disappears.

Dart watches him go but turns to me. “I take it you and the sales agent don’t get along too good?”

I shake my head, unsure how much to tell a male I just met. “We haven’t seen eye to eye,” is all I manage.

Dart laughs. “Don’t know who would see eye to eye with that asshole, but it ain’t me either.” He waves me toward the barn. “I imagine you got a lotta questions about the bulls and the breeding program, so why don’t we tackle that now?”

Two hours later, I’ve seen all the Sandovals’ ranch and cow horses and a couple bulls. Most of the cows are out to pasture at the moment, and the bulls are out in a separate one. We rode out to check on them, and they’re big and gorgeous. The Sandoval bucking bulls were already well renowned before I came along.

“What’s your plan, if you don’t mind me asking?” Dart leans against a fence as we watch the cows munching on a giant roll of hay in their outdoor feeder.

I shrug. “I don’t aim to change much of what Emmer and his father had going on with the current line, but I own three real nice bulls outta Brazil. I’d like to test crossbreeding some of these cows with those to see what we get. My Brazilian bulls are a little smaller, but they turn nice and tight, and they buck real big.”

Dart nods and props a big foot up on the fence. “Yeah, I been encouragin’ the Sandovals to branch out for a while, but when Artur Sandoval decided to retire, he didn’t have the time. It was all Emmer could do to manage the ranch and the bulls’ schedule alongside his father’s health. He don’t have a love for buckin’ bulls the way we do. He’s more of a city male, gods bless him. I can’t blame him for wantin’ to sell. But I suppose you can tell that’s why they added the bit about the buyer needin’ to be mated.”

I nod, picturing Oz standing out here talking to us about bucking bulls. It’s hard to picture him on an actual bull, but I feel deeply that he’d be interested in it just because I am.

“Listen,” Dart continues, “there’s a gorgeous spot for a picnic down by the river. Ashbourne mentioned you had a mate. Why don’t you bring him out here in the next day or two, and I’ll show y’all. I got a good feeling about you.”

Smiling, I clap him on the shoulder. “He’d love that, thanks, Dart. He’s workin’ tonight but tomorrow? Lunch?”

He grabs my hand and pumps it. “Lunch it is. Just comm me when you’re ready, and I’ll give you and your mate directions to a gorgeous spot.”

A grin fully overtakes me.

My mate.

Gods, I haven’t called Oz that yet. It’s too soon, surely?

But when Dart talks about Oz like it’s already a done deal, I can’t help myself.

I think he’s right.

Oz

I didn’t get back home until three a.m., and I honestly wasn’t sure if Wild would stay at my place. I’d hoped he would, even if he had to run out to do…whatever. But when I return home to find him asleep on the sofa with a haven welcome book in his hand, my heart squeezes tight in my chest.

Slapping a hand over it, I hold my breath. It’s not possible for my heart to just…start beating, is it? I’d need to bite him, surely. Eyes closed, I focus on what I can feel inside myself. But, no, my heart’s as silent as ever.

Just wishful thinking, I suppose. How marvelous must it feel to have something beat and know the monster holding your hand is the reason for it?

Sinking onto both knees at Wild’s feet, I stare up at how intensely beautiful he is. His face is lax in sleep, dark green lips slightly open. The cleft in his chin practically calls for my tongue, and his short, pale hair is sticking straight out on one side. Smiling, I prop my chin in my hand and watch him snore softly.

Should I wake him? Tell him to come to bed? I’d hoped he’d be up doing something sexy, but most monsters are fully asleep at this time of night…errr, morning.