Page 4 of Stick By Me

Leo glanced at my hand, then focused on my face, and brushed his palm down the back of his head. “Uh, can’t um, shake your hand through the cage.”

“Oh, shit.” With a soft snort and my cheeks heating, I stuffed my hand into my front pocket and peeked at Jonah. He better not say a fucking word about my stupidity.

Shaking his head, Jonah said, “Uh-huh. Well, how about I leave you to help Leo. I’m sure we don’t need three people cleaning out one cage.” He turned to Delores. “What else yougot? Anything that doesn’t involve huge mounds of doggy doo?” He flashed a sly grin toward me.

“Of course, you can clean the toys.” Delores waved her hand and stepped further down the hallway. “Come with me.”

Jonah walked off with her.

I stared at Leo and wet my lips. Was he queer? Could I be so lucky? Fuck, I needed to start thinking about more than guys. I was here to do a job, not get laid.

“Here, I’ll get the door for you.” He tipped the latch up at the gate in the fence and swung it open. “I’m almost done picking up the poop, so why don’t you grab the hose over there and start spraying.”

“Sure.” I picked up a hose attached to the wall and turned the spigot, then scanned over the rest of the cage. The biggest doggy door I’d ever seen rested at the other end. “What have they got in here, a great dane?”

“Looked more like a mastiff to me. It was big and kind of floppy.” Leo scooped up a large mound and dropped it into his bucket. “Delores said they try to clean out this cage every other day, but damn, sure is well fed.”

I chuckled. “Yeah. I bet a lot of people donate food.” Hell, Mom had done that back before…As my chest pinched, I shook the thought away. I pointed the hose attachment toward the other end of the cage and sprayed water in short lines, moving the debris toward a drain the middle of the cage. “How do they clean the other cages?”

Leo twisted around as if looking for more mounds. “I think they pass the hose through the fencing. I haven’t gotten to that part yet.” He picked up the last of the poop.

Spraying closer to him, I stepped toward him.

“So, what do you do?” He set his bucket down and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.

“I’m uh, in college at ASU. I play hockey there.” Arching a brow, I stopped spraying and met his gaze.

“Yeah? You definitely look like a hockey player. I went toASU, too. I’ve been to some of the games.” He strolled to me. “The Devils are pretty good this year. What position do you play?” He eyed me up and down.

Heat flared over my skin and my dick woke. What was it about this guy that had me going so much? Surely not that he knew anything about hockey. Most guys did, but maybe not gay ones. Shit. “I’m a defenseman.”

He raked his teeth over his lower lip. “Yeah?” He stepped closer. “Are you already drafted?”

I huffed a laugh. “No, I might go free agent if…well, if I can. I don’t know.” I hung my head. Back before Mom died, I thought I’d be in the NHL eventually, but now? Who knew. “It’s a long story.”

Leo cocked his head. “Do you get a lot of ice time in the big games?”

Shrugging a shoulder, I said, “Yeah, but…” How the hell was I supposed to tell this guy my father didn’t fully approve of me playing and it fucked with my head? I should change the subject. I just met the guy, and he didn’t need to be hearing all my bullshit. “What do you do?”

“I’m a planner at NXP. I got my degree in business logistics and supply chain management.” He gave a sharp chuckle. “Sounds nerdy, doesn’t it.” He toed the concrete with his sneakered foot.

“Uh, maybe.” My lips tugged up into a smile, my heart warming. Not only was he hot, he was smart and something about him felt like home. How did he do that? “What is NXP?”

“It’s a semiconductor company. They make the chips that go into pretty much everything these days.” His gaze landed on my lips, then tore away. “Anyways, we should finish cleaning this cage. I think they’re going to let the dogs back in soon.”

“Yeah.” Did he just look at my mouth? Was he interested? I peered at him and turned the hose back on, layering the water across the floor of the cage.

Leo picked up his bucket and headed toward the corner.

“Watch out, he’s coming in!” a female voice yelled. “I can’t stop him!”

A dark blur of fur burst through the doggy door and bounded toward me.

“Oh, shit.” I swiveled, the hose blasting water across the cage as the dog, waist high, jumped up on my side, then bounced off me. I closed my eyes for a heartbeat.

“Shut the water off!” Warmth grabbed my hands. “Shit, shut it off, Archer!”

As I opened my eyes, Leo came into focus, hair wet and dripping in front of me and his soaking shirt clinging to the lean muscles of his chest. His hands covered mine and the water was off.

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