Kate Sherwood - Dark Horse 02 - Out of the Darkness by Kate Sherwood Page A

greet Dan. He thinks of the Mercedes convertible he’d seen in the barn parking area; he wonders how the folks from LA would feel about Lou’s claws on their paint. He gives her ears an extra rub as a proactive reward.
    Jeff’s watching him closely. “Are you running or just going?” He somehow makes it clear that either reaction is totally fine, and he’s just curious.
“Uh, just going, I think. I mean, I’m tired, but I’m not… panicking, or whatever.”
    Jeff nods. “Yeah, okay. It’s not that bad up at the house, if you want to give it a try. They’re good kids, and Blaine treats weed the way most people treat wine; apparently he’s got a charming little sample down from Canada, and they’re gonna have a ‘tasting’ once Tat’s gone to bed.”
“Musky and alluring, with just a hint of skunk?”
    “Something like that, yeah.” Jeff smiles lazily, looking like he’s already indulged. Then again, he always looks like he’s already indulged.
“So if it’s so great up there, what are you doing out here?” Dan asks softly. “Lou’s always been happy to walk herself.”
    Jeff’s smile is a little regretful. “Yeah, you caught me.” He rubs his jaw a little, then leans down and rests his elbows on the bottom of the window. It brings his face closer to Dan, and it makes it hard to keep from kissing him. “I just start feeling a bit old around them all. You know? They’re all so smooth and new and happy, and I’m….” He shrugs down at himself, as if indicating his clear deficiencies.
    “Are you insane?” Dan supposes it’s not the most tactful response, but what the hell? “Do you honestly think you being older than them is anything but a damned gift?” Jeff leans back a little, looking almost startled by Dan’s vehemence. “Shit, man, you’ve got… you’re….” Dan laughs ruefully. Words have never been kind to him. Instead, he reaches out and hooks a hand around Jeff’s neck and pulls him back toward the window, bringing his head halfway into the truck so Dan’s mouth can find his, and Dan puts everything he can’t say into the kiss. It’s gentle but passionate, warm and then hot. When he finally lets Jeff up for air, they’re both smiling a little, and Dan gently runs a finger over Jeff’s lips. “You’re so much more.”
    Jeff nuzzles in a little, rubbing his stubbled cheek over Dan’s, and presses a few little kisses near his ear. Then he pulls back, and Dan lets him go. “You think maybe you could come back to the house with me, remind me of that now and then?”
Dan nods slowly. “Yeah, if you want me to, I can.”
     
Jeff looks surprised and touched. “Nah, I’m all right. Thanks, though… for saying you would.”
     
“Are you sure? I mean, it’s not like they’re dragons or something. I can go up if you want me to.”
    Jeff smiles warmly at him. “Nah, I’m fine. I was just feeling a little sorry for myself. But, damn, something seems to have cheered me right up.” He gently runs his fingers over his lips. Then he stops. “Hey, I came out here this morning for a reason. Got a little sidetracked, somehow….” He raises his eyebrows as he thinks of all the things that had distracted him. “Are you gonna make it to the opening tomorrow? We were gonna suggest that you ride in with Tat, keep her company, but I guess maybe the other three will do that now.” Jeff shrugs. “But that was just an excuse to make you feel like you were needed… really, I’d just like you to be there for you.”
“Jeff, man, I don’t know anything about art, or about that sort of… scene….”
    “Nah, it’s not a scene. It won’t be a big thing, really; you’ve probably already met half the people that’ll be there. It’s… it’s not a big deal to anyone but me.” Dan isn’t sure if Jeff is aware of just how devastating his shy smile is. The man could ask Dan for a kidney right now, and there would be no argument.
“Yeah, okay. Uh… what am I supposed to