Page 43 of Wild Card (Foster Bro Code #2)

TWO YEARS LATER

Axel

“Well, we’ve got a thirty-pound bag of Friskies, a case of Fancy Feast wet food, and enough litter to last you three months.”

Simon Prentiss watched his boyfriend, Parker Reid, kneel in front of a chair and try to coax out the young calico they’d agreed to foster.

“What was the policy on adopting again?” he asked dryly. “We wanted to foster first to make sure we’d make good pet owners, but I have a feeling Parker is going to get attached.”

Parker twisted, a big smile on his face. “Who says I’m not already?”

I laughed. “Well, adoption is the ultimate goal. You guys take a couple of weeks to settle in. If you want to adopt, you just call me.”

I handed Simon a folder. “I’ve got Shasta’s vet workup in here.

She’s had all her shots and a recent exam.

But if you notice any health concerns, let us know.

The business card for Furry Fosters is in there too.

A few foster applications as well, in case you know anyone else who’d be willing to step up. We’re always on the prowl.”

“Will do,” Simon said, shaking my hand.

I already knew these two would make good pet parents. Simon was an athletic director at the college, and his boyfriend was a grade school teacher. They were recent transplants to Riverton, but as former Hayworth College football stars, they were popular ones.

Parker turned, arms full of the chubby calico.

Shasta didn’t have to spend a single day on the street, thanks to the safe surrender and foster program.

Unlike the cats that still lived in my feral colony at the junkyard, she was a pampered princess, and I had no doubt Parker would keep her in the lifestyle to which she was accustomed.

She’d lived with an older woman in town who’d died—not so different from Banshee—but thankfully, her family wanted what was best for her. They owned three dogs who didn’t play well with cats, so they’d come to me in the hopes she could go straight into a foster home and avoid a shelter stay.

“She’s adorable,” Parker said. “Simon is more of a dog person, but with our working hours…”

I nodded. “Dogs take a lot more time and attention. But if that ever changes, we’re always placing them, and with a foster situation, we can always give the pets a chance to acclimate. If it doesn’t work out, we can find a different forever home.”

Simon reached out and stroked Shasta’s head. She purred contentedly with the devoted attention of her two men. I could hardly blame her. Simon and Parker were a good-looking couple.

“I’ve never had a cat, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like them,” Simon said.

“She’ll have you wrapped around her paw in no time,” I said, as if she didn’t already.

I stood. “Well, that’s everything, except…” I dipped into the box I’d brought and pulled out a fishing rod with a set of colorful feathers on the end. I gave it a flick, and Shasta’s eyes instantly followed the movement. “A cat’s supplies wouldn’t be complete without a good toy.”

I handed it over to Parker, who started swishing it and grinning when Shasta gave chase.

Simon chuckled. “Let me walk you out. Parker can keep playing.”

I nodded, my chest warm. When I’d launched Furry Fosters, I’d thought it would be hard to relinquish the pets after years of taking them in. To my surprise, this was now my favorite part of the process.

Placing an animal in a good home—particularly with foster parents who might very well adopt—was the best damn feeling. I’d always love my junkyard dogs and cats. I wouldn’t be the same without them.

Before I rebuilt trust with my brothers, before I met Dalton, I’d needed a safe outlet for my love and affection. Now, though, I could give new pets coming in something even better.

A family of their own.

I left Simon and Parker to get better acquainted with Shasta and headed out to my El Camino. I called Dalton as I made the drive home.

“Hey, darlin’,” Dalton answered. “You better have that phone on hands-free.”

“Of course, Sheriff. Bluetooth all the way.”

He chuckled. “Good. What’s up? You done with the foster visit?”

“Just wrapped it up. What about you? Meet at the house for a quickie before hitting the barbecue?”

Dalton groaned. “Wish I could. State troopers picked up Rusty with a shitload of meth. We had to serve a search warrant on his house. It was a whole thing.”

“No kidding? I guess karma’s a bitch,” I said, thinking of the way the asshole had treated Banshee like a payday.

“What goes around comes around,” Dalton agreed. “But it’s not always enough.”

I knew he was thinking of the Hales.

“There’d be no justice at all without your hard work.”

Dallas had served a two-year term and was due to be released on parole soon.

His dad had done only months in jail for his role.

They both deserved more, given all the other crimes they’d probably gotten away with, but at least Hale would never have authority over the people of Riverton again, and Dallas wouldn’t have a driver’s license for a long damn time.

“I should be able to wrap up here in the next fifteen minutes,” Dalton said.

“Sounds good. See you soon.”

I turned off the highway onto the bumpy drive that led to the auto shop. I hooked a right toward the junkyard, then kept driving past it to the little house Dalton and I had built on our land.

Dalton had sold off his fixer-upper in the woods for a down payment, and Emory had helped us secure a loan for the rest before he left the bank for good. The two-bedroom house with attached kennel was just on the other side of the junkyard.

It was close to my brothers while still giving us our own space. All of us sharing two bathrooms would be a lot.

I let myself in, greeting Sugar and Taz, who liked staying at the house. Loki and Oreo spent the nights with us, but most days, they preferred to play out at the junkyard.

One of our ex-con program employees was covering for me while I took care of foster business. Troy loved dogs, so he’d been happy to have them for company while I was gone.

“Hey, guys. You wanna go visit Banshee tonight?”

Sugar gave a deep woof of approval. Taz lifted his lip in a sneer, probably thinking of Gray, but he’d happily gobble the scraps once we got there.

They trailed me to the kitchen, watching hopefully as I pulled out the ingredients to whip up the cream cheese pinwheels my brothers all loved. I put the cream cheese in the microwave to soften and chopped green onion, corned beef, and jalapenos at the breakfast counter.

By the time Dalton arrived, I was slathering flour burrito shells with the cream cheese mixture and rolling them up to slice.

The dogs tore toward the door as it opened.

“Hey, babies,” Dalton crooned, giving them loving.

I rolled my eyes, smiling to myself. Anyone who saw him now would never know those were my dogs originally. He spoiled them rotten.

In the corner, his bird, Bluey, chirped indignantly. I didn’t blame the poor girl.

Dalton crossed the room, murmuring soft words to the parakeet, then came my way. “Do I have time for a shower?”

“If you make it quick.”

He came up behind me, sweeping aside my hair to press his lips to the nape of my neck. “I’ve been thinking about that quickie…”

I chuckled. “I can feel that.”

His erection nudged against my ass as he pressed me to the counter.

“Want to join me in the shower?” His hand slipped under the hem of my T-shirt. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

I turned, slipping my arms around his neck. “You always do.”

He kissed me, long and sweet. Gone were the days we kissed urgently. Now, we took our time. We still burned with plenty of fire, but it was a tempered fire, one that we knew would last.

“We’ll be late for dinner, and Gray will eat more than his share…”

“I’ll just have to fill up on something else,” he said, voice a deep rumble.

We had been busy lately. Running the junkyard and the foster program kept me working at all hours. And the sheriff gig was no joke. Dalton worked twice as many hours as Hale ever had. The price of being a good leader, I supposed.

We’d fallen into bed, exhausted, the last couple of nights.

“What the hell,” I murmured, dragging him into another kiss. “It won’t be the first time we’re late because of sex.”

“Hopefully not the last either,” Dalton said with a grin.

He laced his fingers through mine and tugged me down the hall. I followed him because I’d follow the man anywhere, sex or no sex.

When he cuffed me in my junkyard for stealing Banshee, then stuck his dick down my throat, I’d expected it to be a one-off. Never in a million years had I foreseen the future we’d build together.

I hadn’t made it easy for Dalton, but he was a persistent man. A patient man.

For a long time, I was afraid he was too good a man for me. Now, I just did my best to be worthy, and counted my blessings every day that he said I was.

He pushed me up against the wall for a heated kiss. “Love you, darlin’.”

“Love you too,” I said, the words coming easier than ever. “Always.”

Clearly those business calls are all about pleasure. Read a free bonus scene featuring Holden and his mystery sexting !

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