Dinner was a casual affair. Jake and Lucky walked a few blocks to pick up a couple of pizzas from Lucky’s favorite place, and we ate around the big stone fireplace in the lobby of the lodge. There were several leather-and-oak sofas and chairs with matching coffee and side tables. The space was homey and welcoming in that rustic lodge way ski towns like Haven seemed to love. Several fat lamps lit the space and the crackle of the large fire was quickly becoming a familiar soundtrack to my stay in Colorado.
As I sat laughing and drinking beer with my new friends long into the night, I realized I was quickly coming to love the place and the people. Lucky lay on a thick rug in front of the fire with his head resting on Bear’s big back. Boo, meanwhile, was curled in a small ball under Bear’s chin between his front paws. Watching the little snuggle trio made me feel happy and safe, protected and loved. It was one of those rare moments in my life where I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
I felt Jake’s arm tighten around my shoulder where I’d been leaning against him for the past hour. The beer and carbs had relaxed me to the point of near-coma levels, and I turned my face to look up at him with half-lidded eyes.
“Hm?”
“You’re falling asleep, sweetheart. You ready to turn in?” The words were said in his low, sexy rumble, and they did the opposite of lulling me into being ready for sleep.
“Mm-hm. Let’s go.” Before I could sit up, he pulled me closer and pressed a soft kiss to my lips. I looked at him after he pulled back and caught him staring at me. “What?”
“You. You’re so fucking beautiful, Oz. Inside and out. Sometimes it just… I forget, you know?” His fingers trailed over my forehead and skimmed my cheek.
I hadn’t thought he was speaking loudly enough for anyone to hear, but then I heard Bennett sigh dreamily from his spot on an adjacent sofa where he was sprawled out with his head in Xander’s lap. Xander’s fingers were toying with Bennett’s dark hair while Bennett’s eyes sparkled at Jake and me.
“Jakey’s got a boyfriend,” Bennett sing-songed.
Xander laughed and Lucky sat up to see what was going on. As soon as the teen saw the two of us snuggled together, he looked at his dads. “What? You guys do that snuggle shit all the time.”
“Yeah,” Xander said. “And we’re in love and getting married in three weeks. I think that’s Bennett’s point, son.”
He winked at me, but I was too worried about what Jake would think to pay much attention. I turned to find out and saw Jake grinning.
“I called Oz beautiful. Is there anyone in this room who disagrees with me?”
“Certainly not me,” said a strange voice from the doorway. I turned to see a tall, muscular man with red hair sticking out from beneath a blue and white striped hat. He shrugged off his big winter coat and flashed a wide grin at the group of us by the fire.
I felt Jake stiffen next to me.
“Hey, Russ. We weren’t expecting you back so soon,” Xander said, standing up to greet his friend with a big smile.
“Mom’s surgery went so well, she kicked me out. Apparently, I’m not the best nurse she’s ever had.”
After shaking Xander’s hand, he walked over and clapped Jake on the shoulder while his mischievous blue eyes remained focused on me.
“Jake, good to see you,” Russ said.
I saw Jake’s jaw tighten as he reached for my hand and squeezed it harder than he probably intended.
“And who might you be, gorgeous?” Russ asked.
I opened my mouth to respond, but Jake beat me to it. “Taken.”
Silence. Everyone in the room stared at the normally reserved doctor next to me. No one was more surprised than I was.
I reached out a hand to shake the newcomer’s. “Oz Ballard. It’s nice to meet you. You’re probably here for the Jeep, but unfortunately, it’s not here. Xander and Bennett were nice enough to loan it to me, and it’s up at my cabin. I mean, Xander’s cabin.”
Xander stepped in. “It’s your cabin right now, Oz. And I’m sure Russ can get along without it fine for a little while longer.”
Russ kept his eyes on me and flashed a friendly smile. “Of course I can. Actually, Gus is selling his old Tahoe, so I was going to take a look at it. Xander and Bennett have been nice enough to let me borrow the Jeep, but it’s time to get my own wheels. I’m glad to know it’s helping you stay safe. Wouldn’t want anything to happen to you on that steep road.”
Jake seemed to be getting stiffer and stiffer the longer this guy was in the room. I should have been disgusted with his possessive behavior, but fuck if it didn’t turn me on instead. I decided to throw the poor jealous man a bone. I looped an arm through Jake’s and held on, playing up the damsel in distress routine.