I smiled. “I’m sure you are.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You better not be patronizing me, son.”
“Not at all. I’m impressed with everything you’ve accomplished in your life.”
“I think that’s the first time I’ve ever heard a cop say that.” He laughed, and I laughed with him because he truly looked happy.
“You’re not what I expected for Ambrose, but you’ve pulled him out of his shell and made him look alive again. For that, I will always be grateful.”
“Thank you. It means the world to me that you approve. I know how much he looks up to you.”
Bébe snorted. “He sure has a strange way of showing it. He hardly talks to me and that was before his time in the army, but he’s a good man. One of the best.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
“Now go on back to whatever my wife took you away from.” He waved toward the door. “I’m going to eat.”
“You enjoy that. I’ll see you later.”
I chatted with Julian and Corbin about our plans for the garden. While I was outside, I saw Ambrose and Dax disappearing down the trail that led to the water. Later, when I noticed them returning, their arms were slung around each other, and they were smiling. I knew Ambrose had finally told his brother about that awful day in his past, and Dax had responded with love, not judgment.
During the afternoon, I managed to check in at least briefly with every member of Ambrose’s family while also taking time to visit with my parents and sister. I’d be spending the afternoon and evening with them the next day, but I was glad to have time to show them the house and explain how much I truly loved living there. After making sure Ambrose wasn’t nearby, I told them about my plans to convince him to get some more animals.
“I’m not sure I can imagine Ambrose agreeing to that,” my sister said.
“He’s got a pet alligator. That’s a start.” My family stared at me, and I could tell they weren’t sure if I was joking. I decided they didn’t need to know.
Overall, the afternoon went more perfectly than I could have imagined. But with so many people there—plus a dog and a monkey—it got chaotic. Ambrose had to retreat upstairs a few times. I was glad we had decided to keep everyone downstairs after briefly showing them the rooms up there that had been renovated.
As afternoon turned into evening, Ambrose tapped a spoon on a mason jar of moonshine to get everyone’s attention. “Thank you all for coming today. It’s been good to see everyone and to show off the house, but the party’s over now, so get moving.”
I’d explained to my parents and sister that Ambrose would decide when the party ended. They found it humorous, and they weren’t at all offended. My sister said I’d clearly gotten what I deserved in Ambrose. She might be right, but I was one lucky man.
Once all the guests had departed, I gave Ambrose some time on his own, then joined him with a plate of snacks and a couple of beers on the screened-in back porch.
I settled into the chair next to him and took in the sights and sounds of dusk. “I could spend all night sitting here with you,” I said. “Or doing more than sitting.”
It wouldn’t be the first time we’d fucked on the porch. Ambrose had tried to convince me to fuck him outside, but I wasn’t sure I could do that out where the gators could sneak up on us. The screened-in porch was a good compromise.
“That sounds very tempting,” Ambrose said, “but don’t you have to go to work tomorrow?”
I pulled him onto my lap before responding. “I have to finalize the arrangements for Sean to join the crew at The Ranch. Are you sure I’m doing the right thing sending him there?”
“I’m sure. I’ve not met the man who runs the place, but he had a good reputation in the marines, and if X vouches for him, he’s trustworthy.”
Ambrose had finally told me who X was, and like he’d assumed, I had heard of the mysterious man’s alter ego. I’d always thought there was more to him than there appeared to be, and I was thrilled to know his secret now. I also knew he’d done a lot of excellent charitable work, and if all the Theriots trusted him, I supposed I should too.
The Ranch was still a bit of a mystery to me. When I’d asked about visiting it, I’d been told that wasn’t allowed. I might never fully understand how the place functioned as a horse ranch and a safe house for people deep in hiding, but it did sound like the perfect place for the former marine I’d been helping.
“You know,” Ambrose said, shifting position so he was straddling me. “You must have spent a lot of sleepless nights as a cop. I’m sure you worked long shifts and couldn’t just leave work when the clock hit five.”