Page 131 of Heartland

“Unless he already gave it to Connors,” I point out.

Griffin sets his mug down on the counter. “I texted him again this morning, though. Because letting it go before I could talk to you just didn’t sit well with me. The truth is that I hope you’ll choose this. Not out of obligation. And not because I need more minions to kick around my dictatorship.”

I flinch, and he laughs.

“Dylan, Ilikeworking with you. I like the art you make for the cider labels, and I like the care you take with the animals. And I like hearing you whistle in the barn. I can work on my attitude toward decision-making. If I knew you were onboard, then I’d have to get over myself a little and consider your plans.”

Well, hell. My mind is blown again. “But could we afford this? If we took on Isaac’s place?”

“It would be hard at the beginning,” Griffin says, rubbing the back of his neck. “We might have to lease out the house to keep the cash coming in. But it’s definitely possible.”

Rickie enters the kitchen with an empty plate in his hand. “I don’t know if I’m ever leaving,” he declares. “Those pancakes your sister makes are pretty intense.”

“Let’s eat,” Griff says. “Is Audrey around?”

“In here!” his wife calls. “Your son just ate the last pancake.”

“I’ll pour some more,” Daphne says, coming through from the dining room. “Where’s Chastity?”

The mud-room door bangs. “Right here!” Chastity calls. Then she steps into the kitchen looking flushed and happy. “Leah and Isaac say Merry Christmas.”

When she moves closer, I pull her into a one-armed hug. “Did you tell them you weren’t going to Wyoming?”

“I did,” she whispers.

“And?”

“Leah wasn’t surprised. I guess disappearing in the night kind of clued her in.”

“And can I assume my truck made it back safely?”

“Of course it did.”

I lean down and kiss her smile. And even though we’re standing in the middle of my family, she kisses me back.

“It’s weird how that doesn’t seem weird,” Griffin says.

“Oh, I’m used to it already,” Rickie adds.

We ignore them.

Chastity steps back eventually, though. “I brought your present.” She hands me an envelope.

“Thanks!” I give it a shake. “Well, it’s not a puppy.”

“Apuppy,” Griffin snorts. “Nobody buy him a puppy unless he’s actually living in the same zip code with it.”

“Just wait until Gus learns to saypuppy,” I argue. “You’ll fold faster than a bad hand of poker.”

Griffin grins over his coffee mug, because he knows I’m right.

I tear open the envelope and fish out two tickets to the New Year’s Eve concert I wanted to attend. “Aw, really? This is awesome. You want to go with me?”

“Well, it’s an easy decisionnow,” she says. “But I have a hard time saying no to you. So I bought them last week.”

There’s even more kissing after that.

And then pancakes.