“I don’t either. I don’t either, I’m sorry. I made the same promise, Sky. I only want to keep it. And I’d like to try to keep the others too.”
Skyler reached for him with his good hand. “I miss sleeping next to you.”
Yeah. He missed that too. The bed he had in the master bedroom felt more lonely now than ever, and Sky hadn’t ever slept in it. He held Sky’s fingers tight and kissed them. “I’d hold you right now if I could.”
“I hear you. Figures that you’re right here and I can’t touch you a bit. God’s got himself a sense of humor.”
“More likely, there’s a lesson here.” Beckett didn’t think God was being funny. This was karma for him, no question. “Listen. I’m going to help you get on your feet. I’m ready, the house is ready. Walter sleeps on the end of my bed on top of your jacket every night. He’s ready too.”
“Silly cat. He’s amazing, isn’t he? So much personality.”
“He’s been great company. He follows me all over the house like a dog. He’s beautiful too.” Beck was starting to love the guy. “Parker told me he was evil. And he did growl and grumble until I got him up to my hotel room in Baltimore. After that he was awesome.”
“He hates Parker. Always has.” Sky chuckled softly, and Beck could see him start to relax, finally.
“Parker made Walter sound so evil that I was so dreading taking the cat on. I really wanted Parker to take Walter with him when he left, but he wasn’t having it. He flat-out refused. It’s pretty funny now.” He really should text Parker and see how things were going.
“Oh, that wouldn’t work. He’s special, babe, one of a kind. Like you. Strong, smart, fine.”
Sky was sincere, he knew. He laughed, though, because Sky also knew damn well he liked compliments. “Walter is twice the cat I’ll ever be.”
“True. You’re nowhere near as good at catching mice…”
“No. I know how to catch a cowboy, though.”
Sky caught his gaze, the look burning with a sudden heat that he felt in the pit of his stomach. “You do know that, babe. You got that down.”
His friends used to tease him, but it really wasn’t the hat, or the accent, the bulls, or even the celebrity status. It was Skyler. The man just knew how to set him on fire. He swallowed and nodded. “You’re as wild and beautiful as ever, Stud.”
“Just another crazy-assed cowboy that don’t know when to quit.” Now that was the truth. Absolutely.
“That, too. You want me to tell you? I will.” As if he needed to now. Doc said it was over, and that was a man who would know.
“No. We’ll let that ride.” There was a horror in Sky’s eyes that worried him. Surely the man had known that he couldn’t ride forever.
He’s scared.
Sky had a long road. It didn’t have to start with the end.
“I’m fine with that. Your home is still with me. I think you’ll like it up here.”
“I want to see it, with my own eyes.” Sky had asked him a thousand questions about the house, the office, his life. He’d never felt so fascinating.
“Well, get your ass out of there and you will. We can drive. Ride. Ski. Sail…when you’re ready, we’ll see it. You’ll meet everyone.” His phone rang and he hopped up to pull it out of his coat pocket. “Damn. I have a call in a few minutes I have to be on.”
“Go. Take some time off from here. I understand.”
“I’m only part-time for a while, Sky. I promise. Adam’s great. You’re going to like him.” He could take the call on the road. He picked up his coat and moved around where Sky could see him again. “Do you need anything before I go? I’ll remind them about your Dr Pepper.”
“That’ll work, babe. Love you, you know.”
Somewhere he knew that—he wasn’t sure he trusted in either one of them yet, but he knew. “Love you. Get some rest. I’ll call you later.”
He kissed Sky’s forehead, set the TV remote where Sky could reach it, and pulled his phone out as he left the room.
He’d nap later.
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