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“Gonna keep me, you think?”

“I do.” He reeled Dalton in, and they were suddenly floating together instead of fighting it.

“Mmm. There’s not a thing wrong with this,” Dalton muttered.

“Not one bit.” They started to sink, so they drifted until their feet touched.

One of the dogs came running by, soared over their heads, and plopped into the pool, swimming away.

Tank hooted. “That was some hang time.”

“Impressive, huh? They’re showoffs. You should see them working the cattle.”

“I want to. Can’t wait.”

“Sure. They love it. They’re magical.”

“I’ve missed having dogs.” He didn’t feel right leaving them behind, and without a trailer, he couldn’t take them on the road.

“Well, these two are lover boys. They love to go and work and snuggle.”

“Do they sleep with you?” The bed was big enough.

“They do. Does that bother you? They’re foot-of-the-bed guys.”

“Nope. I just wanted to be prepared.”

Dalton’s eyes twinkled. “They’re not ball sniffers, don’t worry.”

“It’s the ones who snap at anything that makes a lump in the covers….”

“Oh, I’ve had a couple of those. Hell on the toes.”

The pup swam up to Dalton with a ball in his mouth, and Dalton grabbed it and threw it. That was cute as hell.

“Among other things,” Tank agreed.

“Sounds like you speak from—duck!”

They dipped down in the water as collie number two leaped, not making as good on it as his brother.

“Shit, that was close.” Tank hooted, reaching out to rub Dodger’s ears when he swam over.

Roger brought the ball back to Dalton, and Tank could see that one needed exercise. Dodger was a little easier, paddling around and barking every so often.

Soon Dalton was swimming over to tug Roger out of the water, pulling himself up and keeping the pup down and resting. “Silly beast. Wearing yourself out.”

Tank swam over with Dodger, hoisting the beast up and out. “This one is like me. Conserving energy.”

“Roger just never grew up. He’s my puppy. Dodge is my old man.”

“Two like Roger might kill you, baby.” Tank tried to remember when he’d last been so… content.

“No shit on that, man.”

He sat next to Dalton, their shoulders rubbing.

“It ain’t bad, being home.”