Page 38 of Carver’s Craving

“Thank you for the invitation. We’d be delighted.” Carver cast me a look of annoyance that left very little to the imagination.

I shrugged unrepentantly, and gestured toward where I assumed Simeon and Ryan lived. “Lead on, fair fellows.”

Simeon laughed. Like a bellow laugh.

I loved it.

Carver walked next to Ryan so Chia and Poppin could walk together.

That left Simeon and me following up the rear with a dozing Walter in the wagon.

“Old f-friends?” My walking companion caught my eye.

“Yep. From back home. It’s sort of complicated—and I guess, since I’m probably not sticking around—that Carver should be the one to tell the story.”

Carver glanced over his shoulder, then turned back and continued walking.

Oops. Guess he can hear me. Oh well, if he was upset about it later, I could always move on. Yeah…except I don’t want to. I like Poppin. I like Walter. Hell, I even like Carver the grump. Yep. That was proving to be a thing. Like…a sexual attraction thing. I’d always found him gorgeous—so this wasn’t anything new. Back home, however, he’d always thrown up walls. Sent out vibes that he wasn’t interested. Or wasn’t willing. I’d respected that. Too many other fish in the sea to worry about one dedicated professional who hadn’t wanted, it seemed, to take things to the personal level. I was getting an oddly mixed vibe from him now.

“I think I g-got you in trouble.” Simeon shrugged—much as I had.

I waved him off. “All good. He can always give me an earful later, you know?”

“Not r-really.” He grinned. “Ryan f-forgives me everything.”

“Because you don’t do anything outrageous.” This time, Ryan shot a glance back. “And perhaps also because I’m madly in love with you.” He winked. Then nearly tripped over Chia who’d stopped to sniff something. “Oh Jesus. Sorry, dog.”

Said dog appeared completely unperturbed as she finished her sniffing and resumed her walk beside Poppin.

“Who are Nanny and Bopps? Relatives of yours? Ryan’s? Or just—”

“My g-grandparents. I used to l-live with them. They m-moved into the retirement home. Now I l-live with Ryan and Chia.” Simeon gave a smile so content my heart ached a little.

“Sounds like a good deal. What do you do?” Because that was the right question to ask. Or it felt like it.

“I’m a h-handyman. Ryan w-works in cybersecurity. It’s so c-cool.”

“I’ll bet.” I shot a covert glance at Simeon. The man was damn attractive. He and Ryan seemed—at least on the surface—to be well matched.

“What d-do you do?” Simeon cocked his head.

“I’m a singer and guitarist in a rock band.”

“W-wow. That’s s-so awesome.”

Ryan shot me a quick—very quick—glance. ‘Yeah? Is that how you know Carver?”

“Which house is yours? I rarely come this far down the street.” The interruption from Carver—with his voice tight.

I grinned. I should’ve been worried about overstepping—but I wasn’t.

“Just two more. We’re near the end of the cul-de-sac.” Ryan cut me one more quick glance before striding forward.

Right. All these streets ended and then one had to go back down to the main road. See? I was figuring this out. To what end, I had no idea. I supposed if Carver needed to lend me his SUV for some reason. Why, though, I couldn’t fathom. Maybe if I wanted to run into town and buy him a present? Sure. Buy him what? And with what money? That was a problem with my plan.

“Simeon just finished building a bunkhouse on a friend’s property. The guy’s family was tired of only a few of them being able to visit at a time. The bunkhouse sleeps ten.” Ryan again gazed back—this time with a huge grin on his face.

I glanced over and Simeon’s cheeks were distinctly pink.