Page 27 of Gideon’s Gratitude (Love in Mission City #5)

Chapter Twelve

Archer

L ast night’s rain had given way to brilliant sunshine.

Almost unexpectedly so. Somehow, I’d thought more showers were in the forecast, but apparently I’d missed the mark.

For a fraction of a moment, I considered yanking out my phone and checking what weather was to come.

More rain might oblige me to stay with Gideon.

Which appealed in so very many ways.

Just a hand job.

With the promise of more .

I rarely thought of Nolan, but he came to the fore this morning as Lucky and I meandered down the street.

The dog was obsessed with sniffing every patch of grass and, as much as I needed to get a move on, I gave him this enjoyment.

I planned to hustle us back. Always cautious of his previously broken and now healed leg, of course.

Gideon had been right—when I angled my head at just the right view, I could see the repaired injury.

“You were lucky he rescued you.”

The dog glanced up from a particularly interesting patch of tall grass and gave me a what the fuck, dude?

I laughed. “A lucky dog named Lucky. That works for me.”

“Hello.” A deep voice caught me off guard.

I glanced up to find two men headed my way with two dogs on leashes.

The first man was tall, burly, and attractive. With red hair, a red beard, and a broad chest covered in plaid. He looked like a damn lumberjack. And the pooch on the end of his leash was the cutest little white fluffball I’d ever spotted.

The other gentleman was slighter and a touch shorter.

He had short, brown hair that suited his face.

His gray eyes were a shade lighter than mine.

He had a scar on the left side of his face, and, as I surreptitiously gave him a once-over, I saw he had scars on his hand as well.

A golden retriever strained at the leash he was holding.

I held up my hand in greeting. “Uh, not my dog. I think he’s okay with other dogs, though.” He had been with Tiffany last night, at least.

The burly ginger smiled. “We can take it slow. Princess Sofia is as gentle as they come.” He gestured to his pooch, and then to the retriever. “And Chip’s easygoing. Aren’t you, girl?”

The retriever gave him a nod. Almost like she understood what he was saying.

Her owner appeared a little less…convinced. Still, he was the one who gestured for Chip to approach Lucky.

Who strained to get closer to a new potential friend.

They came close enough to sniff and then, naturally, Lucky tried to sniff her ass .

Classy.

The brown-haired man smiled. “It’s okay. I’m assuming he’s fixed.”

“Lucky? Yeah, I would assume. He had a lot of veterinary care when he was a puppy.” I wouldn’t talk about the potential abuse—that was none of my business, and I didn’t have enough details.

“Dr. Zephyra?” The ginger grinned. “She’s the best. Keeps Princess Sofia in tip-top shape. Oh, I supposed we should introduce ourselves. I’m Maddox and this is my friend, Adam.”

The other guy waved.

Friend or friend ?

The ginger kept speaking. “My husband Ravi, and our two rugrats, are at home. I, uh, needed a break.”

“And my boyfriend, Dean, is speaking to his mate Sam. Timing calls between Mission City and Sydney, Australia is always tough. I thought I’d give him privacy.” He glanced at his dog. “Chip’s always up for a trip around the block with Princess Sofia.”

Ah, so just friends.

Maddox cocked his head.

“Right. Sorry, my name’s Archer. Lucky is a great dog, but not my dog. I’m just walking him while his owner sleeps in.” Which doesn’t at all sound weird. “I’m new to the neighborhood.”

“Oh? Haven’t seen any properties for sale in a bit.” Maddox scratched his bearded cheek. “But private sales happen.”

“That’s what happened for me.” I pointed behind me. “My realtor heard of an empty lot coming on the market and recommended I snap it up.”

“Oh, you’re the guy.” Maddox grinned. “Riley’s been cagey about who she’s building the house for. They’ve been at it for a while. I’ve been good and haven’t snuck a peek. ”

“But you’ve wanted to.” Adam smiled. His face was crooked because of the scar, but the grin was genuine.

“Yeah, okay.” Maddox shrugged. “Curiosity.”

“Well, I could give you a tour right now.” I gazed back the way we’d come. I had no way to let Gideon know what was going on, but I’d suggested he sleep and I’d also said we’d be gone for a while.

“We’d love it.” Maddox offered what I’d term a wicked grin. “Ravi and Dean are going to be so jealous.”

“There’s always the option of not telling them.” Adam eyed his friend.

“Oh no, we’re so rubbing their noses in this.”

“Okay, that’s fair.”

“If your husband and boyfriend want to come another day, I can arrange—”

“Oh, we’re not going to put you out.” Maddox shook his head. “Although when it’s all done, we wouldn’t turn down an invite to check it out. You must be almost finished.”

“Not quite, but getting there. The gas is being installed this week.”

“That’s important.” Adam tilted his head to observe Chip and Lucky doing some kind of…doggie thing. “The power went out the other night. Gas fireplaces and generators are required if you want to survive.”

“The tree that took out the power pole fell on my SUV.”

Maddox whistled. “I’m assuming you weren’t in it?”

“No. Inside the house watching. That’s when I went for help and found Lucky.”

“The dog helped?” Adam’s tone was clearly skeptical.

“No, his owner did.”

Maddox squinted. “I’ve never met Lucky. Is he new, too? ”

Well, shit.

“Uh, no, he’s been here a while. His owner doesn’t…you know…”

“I do know.” Maddox puffed out his chest. “I built a house up here with my boyfriend at the time. He ditched me when I was injured—for which I’ve forgiven him and he’s a good friend, so don’t think that’s weird—and I became a hermit.

” He shrugged. “Until a snowstorm stranded a gorgeous stranger, and he just kind of…stayed.”

Adam chuckled. “I’ve lived here for more than ten years, and I only met Maddox last winter when Chip got loose. I also never left my castle.” He gestured to his face. “Easier to hide away.”

Maddox nudged him with his shoulder. “But we’re super glad you’ve come out of your shell.”

“I’m sorry, did you say a castle ?”

The men laughed.

“Yes, I bought a house off a guy who built an honest-to-Christ French Chateau on his property. He went bankrupt, and I got it for a steal. Now it’s just fun to have people over and to see the looks on their faces.”

“Okay, we have to trade—I show you my house and one day you show me your, uh, castle.”

“I think that can be arranged.”

“Great. Well, follow me.”

As a group, we headed back down the street toward my property.

“Wait.”

Maddox kept walking after he said the word, so I continued.

“Your house is next to the Rodgers’ place, right? I met them a couple of times. She passed, though, right? And he went to a retirement home? I heard the grandson was living there, but I’ve never seen him.” He pointed to Lucky. “Is this his dog? ”

I drew in a breath and let it out. “I bought this property to get away from things. Like from my family. Although I’m rethinking that, and I’ll explain when we get to the property. Lucky’s owner… Uh…”

“We get it.” Adam nodded. “We won’t say anything—not even to Ravi and Dean. If the guy wants to be left alone, that’s up to him. But make sure you let him know there are people on the street who will help if he needs it.”

Maddox laughed. “Bet you never imagined saying that.”

“Well, frankly, no.” Adam eyed him. “Just like I can predict you’d never think you’d live on the same street as Stanley and be happy to call him your friend.”

“Stanley?” I was barely keeping up.

“My ex-boyfriend.” Maddox’s grin didn’t lessen. “His house is between mine and Adam’s. And yeah, who knew I’d not only be friends with my ex but godfather to his son, Angus? He’s got a foster daughter as well. Opal. Lovely child.”

“Holy terror, you mean.” But Adam kept smiling. “Just like your two-year-old toddlers are just wonderful. Violet and Victor.” He nodded to me. “A lot of kids on this street.”

“I’ll drive carefully. I almost hit a deer when I was coming out the other night.”

“Yes, and bears. Both have been known to randomly lumber across the road.”

“Bobcats as well.” Maddox gestured at the dogs with his chin. “They tend to keep to themselves, but sometimes they try to pick off the smaller dogs. Sofia’s not supposed to leave our sight.”

I would’ve sworn to God that the dog rolled her eyes.

“Here.” I gestured to my driveway. Then I pivoted to look back from where we’d come .

“My house has a forest-green mailbox on the same side of the street as yours. Stanley’s is the next on the other side, with a stainless-steel gray mailbox.” Maddox scratched his cheek again.

“Mine is around the corner with, interestingly, a fire engine-red mailbox and a big boulder. For someone who was trying to be inconspicuous, the entrance to my driveway isn’t that.”

“But you have a gate.” Maddox nudged Adam again. Clearly the two men were comfortable with each other—even if each had, at one point, been a hermit.

“That is true.” Adam gestured to Chip. “My little escape artist.”

“Ah. Lucky seems to know the boundaries of the property. His property,” I quickly clarified. “This way.”

The six of us headed up the driveway. Past the ditch, there was a line of trees on either side of the driveway, spanning all the way to the property lines on either side. My home was completely obscured from view if one was on the road.

As we emerged, Maddox whistled. “Yeah, okay.”

“Wow.” Adam halted. “Not what I expected.”

“This is, like, Arthur Erickson west coast modern.” Maddox tilted his head. “Right?”

“Yes.” I held his gaze. “My architect, Septimus Knight, took his inspiration from Shannon Mews. I’ll have to admit, choosing masonry and glass was a bold choice up here.”

“For sure.” He cocked his head. “It’s stunning.”