Laughing, I playfully hit Tristan on the shoulder. “Stop that.”
Walking into the kitchen Joyce let out a happy yelp. “Dinner is ready. Chris, please say you’ll join us?”
Holding up his hands, he shook his head. “No, no, Joyce, I don’t want to impose on family time.”
Tristan pulled my seat out for me as he said, “Sure you do. You want to talk about your doggy daycare set up?”
Chris glared at Tristan. “You don’t know how lucky you are there are women in the room right now.”
Peter laughed, “Shit, that’s never stopped me from speaking my mind and it sure as hell has never stopped my sons.”
“Peter Williams. Christopher, sit down, I want to hear all about this.”
Smiling, I nodded my head. “Oh, me too! I’ve always wanted a dog.”
Tristan dropped into his seat. “No. No dogs in a brand new house. Nope, I’m putting my foot down right now before this even comes up again.”
Patting Tristan on the leg, I calmly said, “Okay, okay. Don’t get all upset about it. No dogs.”
Glancing over to Chris, I mouthed, for now.
Chuckling, he sat.
Joyce set a giant bowl of homemade pasta on the table and another of homemade sauce. My mouth watered. I loved to cook but I never did. Cooking for just me was a pain. I always ended up making way too much and throwing it away or giving it to the single guy who lived next door. The last time I brought food over, he came out and asked me if I just wanted to come in and have sex. When I said no, his face dropped. Then he said, “I take it I won’t be getting any leftovers from now on.” Smiling, I informed him he would indeed not be getting any more.
Joyce started asking Chris about the vet clinic. Then the conversation moved to the doggy daycare. “Christopher, where are you going to find time? With the vet clinic keeping you so busy and now you helping out Tristan with the animals here, how will you be able to do all three?”
Giving Joyce the sweetest smile he nodded his head. “Well, I would probably have to hire some employees for the boarding side. It wouldn’t just be doggy daycare.” Looking toward Tristan, Chris shot him a dirty look while Tristan laughed.
Taking Tristan’s hand in mine, I gave it a light squeeze. “I think it’s a great idea, Chris. I’d even be interested in volunteering part-time for you.”
Tristan’s head snapped up. “What?”
“Yeah, I love animals and I think it would be fun. It would for sure be a way for me to meet people. Of course, I’d only be able to help out a few hours a week.”
Chris sat up straighter. “Really, Ryn? Are you serious?”
Giving him a wide grin, I said, “Yes! I’m totally serious. I run my own company, so I make my own hours. If you’d have me, I’d love to help you get things set up.”
Chris’s eyes lit up and Tristan squeezed my hand. When I looked at Tristan, his smile was soft and gentle. Giving me a quick wink, I knew he was just as excited for Chris but he was having more fun giving him a hard time.
I sat back and listened to Chris talking to Peter and Joyce. Peter was full of wonderful pieces of advice on where to start. Of course with Chris opening his own Vet clinic, he had a good sense on where to begin. It was then I took a really good look at him.
Dark hair. Dark deep chocolate eyes. His skin looked like he had been touched with a kiss of sun. I wondered if that was part of his heritage or if he hit the tanning beds. His smile was warm and friendly. You could for sure tell he grew up on a ranch or farm. He had muscles but nothing too extreme.
Leaning over to Tristan, I whispered, “Don’t you think Chris and Sierra would make a cute couple?”
Tristan chuckled. “I was thinking the same damn thing earlier, I kid you not.”
“Too bad she doesn’t live down here.”
Tristan brought me in closer to him and kissed my forehead. “I’m so glad you’re here, Ryn. I’ve been feeling so lost without you.”
My heart began to beat faster. Hearing those words from Tristan had me all kinds of gushy on the inside.
I’ve been feeling so lost without you.
Looking up at him, I smiled and whispered, “I love you.”
Placing his finger on my chin, he brought my lips closer. “Oh, Ryn, baby, I love you.”
Tristan Williams had officially taken hold of my heart . . . forever.
Tristan had pulled up to the local honky tonk and parked behind another truck. “You sure you feel like going dancing?”
“Yeah. I’m positive. Hey, Tristan, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you and I keep forgetting. The night I walked up on you and Chris talking, you had mentioned something about talking to me first about something. I forgot about it that night because the incredible hot sex down at the shop pushed it from my mind. I just remembered it.”
