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“You’re a fool. Why do you think she hightailed it right back here after she was well again? I doubt it was to see Fred the moose. She came back for you, you ninny.”
“She said as much last night.”
Incredulous, Colton gave Max a shake. “Then why in theever-loving fuckare youcleaning Caden’s roomwhen he’s with Mom and Dad, and your ex, who you never got over, if you ask me, is back in town to see you?”
“I got over her.”
“Did you, though? Your love life has been somewhat of a red-hot mess since you were with her.”
“It has not!”
“Has too, and you know it. Get your head out of your ass, man, and get over to Dude’s to do some dog shopping. Right now!”
“The last thing in this world I need is a dog.”
“Maybe you don’t need one, but Cade sure does. What is it Dad says about how kids shouldn’t grow up without a dog?”
Max groaned. “Come on, Colton. I thought you were on my side.”
“I am, which is why I came right here after I saw Lexi to find out where you were while she’sin town for a few days. Imagine my surprise when I find youcleaninglike the eunuch you’ve become these last few years.”
“Go away.”
“Nope.” Colton crossed his arms. “Not going anywhere until you do.”
“I want to finish this before he gets a bunch of new stuff at his party.”
Colton held his ground, glaring at Max.
“Okay, fine! Whatever.” Max grabbed his coat off the hook by the door and went out the front door.
“Yes,” Colton whispered as he followed his brother out.
This was insane,Max thought as Colton followed him through town, all the way to Dude’s place, which was half a mile past the turnoff to the road that led to Colton’s mountaintop home. Colton pulled into Dude’s driveway and parked behind Max’s truck, leaving his engine to idle as he waited and watched.
“For fuck’s sake,” Max said as he got out of his truck and sent a filthy gesture to his brother.
Colton responded by making a circle of his hand and poking his index finger into the hole in the middle.
“Disgusting,” Max muttered as he stormed into Dude’s yard, pretending he wasn’t looking for Lexi, even though her little white rental car was parked in front of his truck. “Goddamned Colton.” Max couldn’t deny his brother had struck a nerve, which had him on an errand he’d had no plans to make before Colton had shamed him into it.
A freaking dog, of all things. As if he had time for that.
He saw Dude from a distance, standing at a fence with Lexi, having an animated conversation. No matter the season, Dude always wore denim overalls and a big straw hat that she tied under her chin. People in town speculated that she slept in the hat. The woman known locally as Snow White was ageless. No one had any idea how old she truly was, and many suspected that she was the one who’d domesticated Fred the moose.
Max needed to put his game face on, because now that Colton had shamed him into getting a dog for Caden, he would need to convince Dude that he could give a dog a good home.
“Max Abbott!” Dude said when she saw Max walking toward them.
Max couldn’t deny that Lexi seemed happy to see him or that the warm smile she directed his way brought back a million memories of the years he’d spent madly in love with her. Being the recipient of Lexi’s sexy smiles had once been the most important thing to him. A lot had changed since then, but her smile still packed a punch.
Dude gave him a hug. “What brings you by?”
“Caden will be seven tomorrow, and I’m told it’s time for him to have a dog.”
“How’s it possible that our baby Caden is alreadyseven?” Dude asked.
“If you figure that out, make sure to let me know. I can’t believe he’s seven.”
