Page 63 of Silas's Sweetheart

His tone was playful, flirty, and Ziggy responded in the same way. “I’m sure I’ve scared enough folks today.”

Blue eyes roamed down his half covered body, lingering on where the hem of the jacket met his bare legs.

“Scared is not what comes to mind,” he murmured softly. When his attention shifted up, his smile deepened, wrinkles appearing at the sides of his eyes. “It might seem a little forward, and you can tell me to take a hike, but would you like to go out for dinner sometime?”

Ziggy’s eyes widened as his snake hissed,No way.

“That would be lovely,” Ziggy answered without hesitation.Moving on, remember!

“Great, let’s swap details.”

Twenty minutes later, back at home, Ziggy peeled off the jacket that smelled of Bud, dropping it on top of the trash bag containing his clothes. He headed straight for the shower. He felt dirty after slithering on the ground and he needed to wash away the awfulness of the day, and Bud’s scent. He also needed a moment to get to grips with the fact he had a date… an actual date with someone who wasn’t Silas.

You only did it to spite me.

Get over yourself. I didn’t. We agreed to move on.

I never agreed.

Ziggy didn’t wait for the water to warm up before stepping under the icy blast, willing his snake to keep his thoughts to himself.

Never gonna happen. And don’t think I’ll behave either if that blond lug tries to touch us.

Ziggy shivered as the water temperature warmed, and he rolled his eyes heavenward.Why would I expect anything less, you damn diva!

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Lane

Lane stared his husband down. “Booker spoke to me. I think this is the best way to give Silas time with Ziggy away from the office.”

Derick groaned and ran a hand over the back of his neck. “We aren’t supposed to be interfering. We agreed.”

“I did no such thing,” Lane said, shaking his head as his eyes narrowed on Derick. He waved a hand around in the air as if trying to pluck out an annoying hair. “You said I should leave Silas alone after he opened up and admitted he has trust issues over that…that imbecilewho broke our son's heart. And don’t think I haven’t forgotten that you kept that information from me.”

Derick got up off the couch and walked to him, slipping his arms around his slim waist and tugging him close. “I was protecting you.”

Lane reached up and squeezed Derick’s bearded cheeks, holding the crystal blue gaze of the man who had held his heart captive from the very beginning. “That is the only reason I didn’t make you sleep on the couch.” He squeezed a little tighter, to make his point.

Derick could be so frustrating when he was in protector mode. Lane loved it and could hate it in equal measures for the same reasons. “You also deprived me of the opportunity to be there for him. Your steamrolling behavior left Silas alone to wallow in his pain.” They had never avoided talking about the hard stuff, and Lane wasn’t going to sugarcoat it. The hurt at Derick’s actions lingered, despite the fact Lane understood them.

Derick rested his forehead against Lane, and he witnessed the pain, felt sorry for Derick’s suffering, but Lane needed to make him understand those actions had ramifications.

“I wanted that boy gone out of his life after I discovered he was the one to set Silas up.” Derick shuddered, his eyes holding the shadows of the past. “He nearly got our son killed. I couldn’t talk about it ‘cause if I had I’d have given in to my rage and—”

Lane brought Derick to him and kissed him. Fed him the love Lane had a never ending supply of for this alpha who only wanted to cherish the gifts they’d been fortunate to receive. Breathless and a little starry-eyed at how Derick relinquished control, Lane met his husband's gaze. “I know. But you’re better than them.”

He was. Derick had the heart of a warrior. But sometimes, he needed to be reminded that they were in this together and always had been.

Derick’s eyes glittered with the iciness. “See, my love, that’s where you’re wrong. It’s you who is better than them, and that is the only reason they aren’t all dead. Using my money and influence to get them gone was what had to be done. Only you saved me from the rage. Saved them.”

Lane’s heart swelled at the sincerity, the love, and stroked Derick’s whiskers. “You ole romantic.”

Lane witnessed the moment Derick let go of the anger and it became replaced with amusement and his skin heated beneath Lane’s palms. “Give over!”

He stroked his nose down Derick’s. “You are romantic, but we’ve gotten off track. I want you to suggest they go to the ranch for one of those team building packages Silas offers. He needs it, and with Ziggy right there, it’ll be perfect. After my chat with Ziggy, I know that boy is as smitten as Silas. The ranch is where Silas is truly himself.” He kissed Derick just to give him a little more incentive. “Then I’ll have a little chat with Silas before he goes… give him a helping hand.”

Derick’s groan came with an eye roll. “My love—”

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