Page 55 of Stud Ranch

Dylan picked up a napkin and wiped his fingers and lips. “I’m listening.”

“Spending time with Piers, Ash and Sylvee yesterday also made me think.” Without saying anything else, Dylan understood.

He rocked in his seat, his spine hitting the wooden chair back. “You’re serious.”

Neither spoke for long heartbeats.

Not exactly the reaction he’d been hoping for. Suddenly, Shaw wasn’t sure about anything. He could be reading the entire situation wrong.

* * * * *

Over the past decade of his life, Dylan had mastered the art of being the odd man out. Most of the time, his carefree attitude covered any discomfort he may feel. All that flew out the window, leaving him without a crutch to prop him up.

He stared at Shaw. There was no concealing his shock at what Shaw was saying.

“If I’m reading you right, you’re asking for more.”

Shaw gave a single nod.

Dylan’s chest blazed. “With Sloane.”

“With both of you.”

Dylan dropped his head, gut churning, fighting for the right thing to say. All of the words jumbled in his head, making it impossible to string into a sentence.

After a long moment of silence, he locked gazes with Shaw again. “You want a trio—a throuple?”

Shaw’s gaze burrowed into him, digging under his skin and finding all the small spots that had been hurting for as long as Dylan could remember.

He’d never given much thought to a long-term relationship with a man. Hell, he never thought he’d be in a monogamous relationship with a woman either.

“It’s a lot to take in, I get it. But I had to let you into my head. You know me well enough to see if I was hiding something.”

“Sloane knows you too.” He searched Shaw’s eyes. Yeah, he knew him well enough that the shadows in the depths of his green and gold eyes stuck out. “You haven’t mentioned the coaching job to her.”

He shook his head. “When I was forced into retirement by my injury, I was so lost, so overwhelmed…I gave up on everything, including Sloane and our daughter. I’m not proud of it. I wish to fuck I could go back and do it right. But I can’t help but feel like she was thrown into my path again for a second chance. This time, I’m willing to fight. However, hockey was a big part of our problems. What if she’s not willing to accept it into her life again?”

Dylan grunted. “I don’t know how you managed to walk away from her.”

His pained expression grew grimmer. “You have no idea how damn hard it was.”

He ducked his head. “I can take a stab that I do.”

“You’re in love with her.” Understanding washed through Shaw.

Dropping his elbows to the table, he cradled his head in his hands. “I think I might be.” He wallowed in misery for all of a second before he shook himself, straightening. “What good is that? I’ll be gone in a month, on the road again, riding bulls and chasing my own dreams.”

Except those weren’t really his dreams. Were they ever? He just picked a road of life and hopped on it, driving for so long that he didn’t know when to pull off.

Maybe it was time to hang up his chaps and find a new route.

“I’ve never had a relationship that lasted more than six months with a woman. And being with a guy? I know nothing about that at all. Taking a cock up the ass and giving blow jobs doesn’t exactly teach you how to be with another guy.”

“We’ve been taking care of Sloane’s needs—together. Maybe knowing that is enough.”

They stared at each other.

“You don’t need to make any decisions right now, Dylan. I just…had to talk to you.”

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