Page 55 of The Handler
This is what I dreamed of my entire life—a home in a beautiful setting filled with people who matter to me. People I love. If what Tyler said is true, he wants this life too. I have no reason to doubt him. But are they all really preparing to move to Colorado permanently?
Stone comes down the stairs, freshly shaved and showered. “Morning.”
“Good morning, Stone. Coffee? I can start it now, and the scones should be done in just a—” The chime of the timer interrupts me. “Well, now.”
“Coffee’d be great.”
I duck into the kitchen. The man still kind of scares the crap out of me. I know what he did when he took me for the drive, playing devil’s advocate and making me think about my commitment to Tyler. All the while, he was making plans to keep everyone here. I can’t be angry at him. He’s ten steps ahead of everyone all the time.
Stone takes his full mug from the machine while I move the scones to a cooling rack. Tyler and Alex appear a moment later. Alex beelines for the coffee while Tyler saunters over to me.
“Missed you, Mrs. Davis,” he murmurs in my ear, wrapping me in a tight squeeze. My insides flutter at his tone, hinting at my misbehavior. It’s a tease but effective. I receive his kiss, but before we can get too far out of hand with a public display, Stone’s phone rings.
“Eliot.” He puts the call on speaker.
I brace for bad news but pray it’s good.
“Just wanted to let everyone know Blake made it through the night. He’s breathing on his own, and there’s been no swelling around his brain. Thank God for airbags.” Eliot sounds exhausted but hopeful.
“That’s good. That’s really good,” Stone replies with a hitch in his voice.
It’s such a small step but so promising. I take a shuddering breath of relief. Tyler wraps me in a brief hug. Even Alex nods with a slight smile.
“Yeah, he’s fighting. Cade’s in with him now. We aren’t leaving him alone at all. Doc’s approved it since his vitals improve when one of us is with him. He’s staying in the ICU for at least today, maybe tomorrow. Then we go to critical care.”
“Do you need anything?” Tyler asks, his face pinched with concern and maybe a bit of guilt. I thread my fingers through his.
“We’re good,” Eliot replies. “Pierce has been taking excellent care of us. Meal breaks, transportation. And I don’t know how you found that house so close to the hospital, but it’s perfect. I’m not sure how we’re going to repay—”
“Don’t worry about anything except taking care of our boy.” Stone crosses his arms as if Eliot can see him adopt his Dom pose. Although I’m sure his tone carries even through the speakerphone. “Everything will be ready and waiting when he gets discharged.”
“Call if you needanything, man,” Alex says from his position against the counter. His casual pose contradicts the concern in his voice.
As soon as they end the call, I start moving the scones to a plate, taking them and the butter to the table. Tyler follows with dishes and silverware.
“I can make eggs,” I say.
“This is fine. If we need eggs, we can make them.” Tyler kisses me and pulls me onto a chair. I’m not used to sitting with my guests. But they aren’t my guests. They’re my family. “You guys will stay here at the Sunflower, right?”
“Don’t you need to rent these rooms? And winter is high season, right?” Alex asks.
“I want you here.” I can economize, and I have some savings. It’s worth it to take care of them the way they’ve taken care of me.
“Could be a while before the project is far enough along to move in.” Stone’s gaze is like a physical thing, touching me.
“I still have three rooms I can rent, at least until Blake is ready to come home.”
Alex sets his knife, loaded with butter, on his plate and stares at me. A smile teases at Stone’s lips, which is either endearing or terrifying. I can’t decide which. Tyler tugs me to him and kisses my head.
“What?” I ask.
“Do you mean it? Is this our home?” Alex questions me.
“Of course I mean it. Wherever Tyler is, that’s my home. You’re his family. Our family. So this is home for as long as we need it.”
The smile on Stone’s face is warm and not terrifying at all. He gives me a curt nod and picks up his phone, placing whoever he’s dialed on speaker.
“Thank you,” Tyler whispers over the ringing.
