“Who’s the new guy?” I asked, nodding to the terrier.
“Oh, I’m just keeping him until I find a foster home,” he said. “He’s been a little tough to rehome. He chews on everything.”
Knight straightened up, and we exchanged a look.
“What?” Axel said. “You know someone?”
“We might,” I said.
“That would be great.” He fell into step with us as we headed for the backyard, where the scent of grilling meat was already wafting through the air and making my mouth water. “I’ve got my hands full with Sugar, Taz, Oreo, and Loki.”
I laughed. “Yeah, you’ve got a full house already.”
Axel led us through the gate, which had been open, and carefully latched it behind us. “Now maybe you monsters will stay put,” he admonished the dogs.
Flynn hopped up from his place at the crowded picnictable and came to greet us. “Hey, guys! It’ll be a tight squeeze, but we’ll make space for you.”
“Maybe we can eat in shifts,” Gray joked.
“We need to get more furniture out here,” Bailey mused.
“We should just create an outdoor cooking space,” Dalton said. “Full patio. Larger grill. Better table. Maybe some built-in benches…”
His eyes went distant as he imagined it. Axel shook his head. “How did I end up with a guy who wants a fancy outdoor kitchen?”
“Guess you’re not as edgy as you look,” I teased.
He sent me a narrow-eyed stare like he had something to say to that. His gaze drifted to Knight, and he smirked. “Well, it’s hard to compete with your man here. You’re looking pretty good for a guy who got jumped by a whole biker gang.”
“That’s not exactly what happened,” Knight said.
“Close enough, though,” I muttered. “I’m glad that’s over.”
Emory emerged from the back door, Gray right behind him, both with the kind of smiles that suggested they were being naughty.
Emory’s eyes lit up when he saw us. “Hey, guys!” He and Gray approached us. “Ooh, is that the broccoli salad you were talking about yesterday? That looks great.” He took it from Knight. “I’ll put it inside with the other food. We’re going to dish up in there because there’s not enough space.”
“See?” Dalton said, raising his beer as Emory headed back inside. “Project Outdoor Kitchen. Who’s with me?”
“Build it onto your house,” Holden said from his place by the grill. He waved his spatula in the direction of a house under construction, his fluffy white dog Banshee following the movement with hopeful eyes, as if meat might suddenlyrain down on her. “You can add anything you want over there.”
Axel rolled his eyes. “Don’t give him ideas!”
Despite his protests, he walked straight into Dalton’s arms and kissed him. The German shepherd, Loki, jumped against their side, disrupting the kiss.
“Such a jealous boy,” Dalton said as he nudged the dog down and ruffled his fur.
“You guys are building another house out here?” I asked.
“Yep. We’re selling Dalton’s cabin,” Axel said. “It’s going to be so fucking nice, but we’re already over budget.” He wagged a finger at Dalton. “Outdoor kitchens don’t come cheap.”
Dalton bit the tip of his index finger with a growl. “It’ll be worth it.”
“Maybe we could all chip in,” Bailey suggested. “We eat over here enough.”
Holden had a few choice words about that. I tuned out the bickering of the brothers as Gray leaned in toward Knight, admiring his new tattoo. “Nice ink.”
“Thanks, Emory designed a lot of it.”