Chapter 14
Harris
Morgan said Tyler was fine. He put that in all caps in the text. But that didn’t stop my heart from trying to beat out of my chest and I raced toward the Emerald Lantern. Thank god it was only a ten-minute drive. Any longer and I might have had a panic attack.
I whipped into the back parking lot, where staff parked, and threw the truck into park.
I barely remembered to turn the engine off and grab the keys, desperate to get inside and see with my own eyes that he was good.
Morgan spotted me the moment I stepped through the back door, and he motioned me forward.
“He’s good now. I promise.”
I nodded but bypassed him entirely. Tyler sat in a chair, glass of juice in his hand, and he looked up as soon as I entered. He gave me a sheepish smile.
“You good, baby?” I pushed his hair out of his face and studied him.
“I am now. I made a dumb mistake. But look.” He held up the phone, showing me the app. Seventy-two with an up arrow. Well that was above the low threshold but not by much.
“What happened?”
“Shoulda put the pump in activity mode. I will tomorrow.”
It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him he wasn’t going to be doing anything tomorrow but I held it back.
I wasn’t going to stop him from doing anything he wanted, and my logical brain knew that highs and lows happened.
Tyler had explained it all to me the other night when we went through how the pump worked, what to do to help him, and how he had to account for carbs.
I knew it was just a reality of the disease, but it didn’t stop me from wanting to bundle him up and keep him safe.
Which was the exact opposite of what he wanted.
“Good. Lesson learned then. Ready to get out of here?”
His brow crinkled. “I should probably wait a little bit longer before I drive.”
“You can ride home with me and I’ll bring you back tomorrow.”
He scowled. “Harris.”
“Or we can wait as little bit longer, and then when you’re good, I’ll just follow you.” Which was not what I wanted but I was willing to compromise.
The relief at my understanding washed over his face. “Thanks.”
I parked my butt on the edge of Arlo’s desk. I didn’t want to get too far from him, even though I knew he was fine. It was irrational maybe, but this was the first time anything like this happened, and I was learning too.
Tyler grabbed my hand. “You didn’t have to come. I just wanted Morgan to let you know I was going to be late so you didn’t worry.”
“Which I appreciate. And I know you had them here with you and would be fine. But I just…” I shrugged. “I just needed to see you.”
Tyler waggled his eyebrows. “You kinda like me a little, huh?”
“Brat.” I kissed him quickly, since Barrett and Morgan were still hovering in the doorway. Morgan let out a little “aww” sound which I staunchly ignored. “Everything you taught me the other day is still fresh in my head, so I might have panicked a little at hearing you were low.”
His expression softened. “Won’t be for long. I had a soda and this juice. What’s the bet I get a rebound high?”
I leaned forward. “Bet you a blow job that you’ll spike but that it’ll level back out within two hours.”
Tyler sucked in a breath. “Do you get that blow job, or do I?”
I chuckled and put my mouth right at his ear. “If I’m right, I’ll let you spend the night with my cock in your mouth.”
“I don’t need any more juice!” His voice was a little too loud. So much so that Morgan actually jumped. Barrett shook his head. There was no way he could know what I was talking about, I’d been too quiet, but maybe he guessed.
I made a gimme motion with my hand. “Let’s see the number.”
He handed the phone over. I put in his passcode, which he’d shared with me in case I needed to get into his apps for his pump or CGM, and looked at the glucose level. Eighty-five now and still rising.
“All right. Looking good. How do you feel?”
Tyler had the decency to really take stock of himself before he answered. “Normal. No low symptoms. I’m good to go.”
“Then let’s go. I’ll follow you.”
I’d follow him anywhere. But he didn’t need to know that yet.
Tyler shot me a glare over the breakfast table and I could only laugh.
“Are you still pouting? It’s been three days and you were right.
” I lifted my mug to my mouth, taking a long drink of coffee, wincing when it was still just a little too hot.
I loved mornings with Tyler. All the rest of the time too, but mornings were my favorite.
Every day this week, we sat at the table together and talked about our upcoming day with Cheddar at Tyler’s feet. The man was still sneaking him food.
His scowl darkened. “I wanted you to be right. And you haven’t let me do it since!”
I shook my head. “I lost the bet. Your blood sugar took almost four hours to come back down to a reasonable level.”
“If my parents weren’t due in a couple of hours, I’d put my mouth on you right now and not let you leave. You’d have to stay right where you are.” He chomped his teeth at me to show me what he would do if he had me in that position and I attempted to move.
But the mention of his parents cooled my ardor fast. I was weirdly nervous about the upcoming interaction.
Which was stupid. They were just people.
But they loved Tyler, worried about him, and the irrational part of my brain wanted to know what I would do if they took him away from me.
Even though I knew they couldn’t actually do that.
“What are your plans with them?”
Tyler, sensing my shift in mood, went with the topic change.
“Mom wants to hit up the Market so we’re going to do that.
We’ll have lunch, and I think Dad wants to try the scavenger hunt.
Then we’ll come here for a sleigh ride, do the House Lights Tour, and meet at the Emerald Lantern for dinner at six-thirty. ”
And there it was. That thing hanging over my head. Tyler’s words and tone had been easy, no pressure, but I knew he wanted my answer. Even though I was nervous about it, I was leaning toward yes. I’d see how the sleigh ride went first. If they hated me on sight, then I would skip dinner.
I finished my coffee in one long swallow, stood, and leaned over to kiss him. He instantly lifted, always ready and wiling for my mouth on his. I let it linger, not because I was trying to rile him up, but because I just didn’t want it to end. But work waited for no man, so end it did.
“Sounds like a good day. Have fun. Text me when you’re swinging by.”
“Okay.”
One more kiss, and then I had to go. “See you later, baby.”
I did not miss the soft, content sigh he let out.
Since it was Friday, and the last weekend of the Market, the sleigh rides were busy. For the first time, I actually contemplated whether we should invest in a second sleigh. They were nonstop all day, to the point where I was wondering if I would have close down early to give the boys a rest.
At about five o’clock, I unhooked Rudy and handed him over to Cade for cool down.
Raymond already had his harness on, and he jingled merrily as I led him over and hooked him up.
He was a big old boy, mostly Percheron, and a dappled gray.
As far as I could tell, he really liked pulling the sleigh, since sometimes he backed up to it even when he wasn’t harnessed.
My phone vibrated again and I checked it before I climbed back in.
Tyler had been sending me pics all day. Mostly it was of random things they found or saw, but there were plenty with his parents in the shot as well.
I didn’t know if he was doing it on purpose to try to get me used to them, but it was working. This time was just three words.
on our way
Here we go.
I climbed up and all it took was a light twitch of the reins to get Raymond moving.
He plodded along the now well marked route, back toward the parking lot where we picked up customers.
I’d reserved two tickets for the Galloways already, but they weren’t time stamped like the others.
Each ride took about fifteen minutes, sometimes a little more, so we only reserved three an hour.
Which meant there was a good chance someone was waiting already for me to get back.
There was, a couple and their two kids, and as they climbed in and got settled under the blankets, I shot a message to Ben, who was working in the office with his sister, to shut it down.
Sam’s interview had gone swimmingly, and she was willing to skip out on her current job immediately.
She didn’t care if she burned bridges, since she would never work there again.
Today was her first day, and Ben had offered to show her the ropes.
If I pushed Raymond a little, he didn’t seem to mind.
But the kids were squealing and the father was sighing heavily, as though he didn’t want to be there but was only doing it for his family.
It was annoying but I didn’t let it show.
I just clicked my tongue and Raymond picked up the pace a little, to a fast walk.
Since we only had one or two more rides left, I knew he wouldn’t get tired.
Finally, I made it back. Tyler was standing there with his parents. Even if I hadn’t know it was them, I would have been able to guess. Tyler looked exactly like Ezra and Marie Galloway made a baby, a perfect amalgamation of them both. Weirdly, it made me wonder what his brother looked like.
I didn’t acknowledge the family as they climbed out of the sleight, with the father yelling at them to be careful. I kept my gaze on Tyler, who lifted his brows in question. I rolled my eyes in response. He chuckled and walked closer.
Figuring the right thing to do for introductions was to be on level ground, I hopped down, though I kept the reins in my hand.
“Harris, my parents, Marie and Ezra. Mom, Dad, this is Harris Emery. He runs the sanctuary.”
Ezra had a strong shake and a wide smile. Marie took my hand in both of hers and squeezed rather than shake.
“It’s so nice to meet you,” she said, her smile growing. “Tyler has told us so much about you.”
“Nice to meet you too. Ready for that ride?” Could I be any more awkward?
Tyler held out a hand so his mom could climb in the back and Ezra hopped in after her. He arranged the blanket over them both and wrapped his arm around his wife.
“You coming?” I asked, sotto voiced.
Tyler smirked. “Where’m I gonna sit?”
I shot him a look. “Up front with me.”
“Only problem with that,” he whispered, leaning in a little to the side that was opposite his parents, “is sleigh bells make me horny now. Because of what happened last time.”
“Get in the damn sleigh,” I ordered through clenched teeth.
“Yes, Sir.”
He was doing it on purpose,. I knew he was. But there was no way I was going out without him. What if his parents started peppering me with questions? If it was about the sanctuary, then fine. I could answer those. But if it was about me? That was a big nope.
I got back in and didn’t like the space between Tyler and I.
Was I brave enough to do something about it in front of his parents?
Also no. Not really anyway. If I adjusted my seat a little so the inches between us decreased, well, I was just getting comfortable.
A tap of the reins and Raymond started up.
Tyler twisted in his seat, which brought his thigh up against mine. I kept my gaze fixed up ahead, not wanting to react in the least. It wasn’t easy. Everything about his touch did it for me. Even through two layers of denim.
“We’re going to pass by the zebra barn. We can’t see them, but you’ll be able to hear them. It’s so cool.”
“Zebras?” Marie asked, surprise and amusement in her voice.
“They’re rescues. Harris takes care of them so well.” He patted my shoulder.
“We could stop if you want,” I said before I thought better of it.
Tyler turned back to face me. “But you can’t exhibit them.”
I shrugged. “We could just open the door and take a quick peek.” I cleared my throat. “If you want to see them, that is.”
Ezra let out a warm chuckle. “I don’t want you to get in any sort of trouble, but I would love to see them.”
I nodded and drove straight there, veering off the path a little when we got close. I had to stop a good ways back though. If I got the sleigh any closer, I wouldn’t be able to turn it around.
“Whoa.” Raymond instantly stopped, and I turned to Tyler. “Take them and open the door. They should be eating about now, so they’ll be right up front. I’ll stay with Raymond. He doesn’t like them.”
As if he heard what I said, and understood, the horse let out a huge snort and bobbed his head, which made us all laugh.
The three of them tromped through the snow and when Marie slipped the tiniest bit, Ezra caught her easily.
I stood, ready to help, but there was no need.
I watched as Tyler rolled back the door and motioned his parents closer.
Tyler pointed and said something, though I wasn’t close enough to hear.
After about five minutes, Tyler closed the door and they headed back this way.
When they got to the slippery patch, Ezra just picked his wife up and carried her the rest of the way.
She smacked him lightly, but she was grinning and blushing when they made it back.
Ezra helped his wife in and then looked up at me before he climbed back in himself. “You are officially in my top five favorite people, Harris.”
I laughed, but Tyler made a disbelieving noise. “Who are you bumping out? Because we all know Barrett is number one. And then there’s mom, me, E… wait. Lainey and your granddaughters don’t make the top five?”
“It’s you, Ty. You’re far down on the list right now,” Ezra said sardonically.
Tyler barked out a belly laugh. “Get in the sleigh, old man.”
Once everyone was settled again, Tyler slid in close to me. “Thanks. That was really kind of you.”
I took his hand, wanting him to stay right there, and then because I needed both my own hands to turn us around, placed his palm right on my dick. He squeezed and I had to bite my tongue, but I was asking for it.
The ride back was filled with quiet commentary. Marie and Ezra asked questions, but Tyler was quick to answer them. He’d spent the past week here, had listened to me babble, and he knew the answer to every query they had. Pride swelled in my chest, listening to him talk about the place I loved.
We made it back a few minutes later, and I slowed Raymond down. Once we got to the pickup and drop off point, Raymond stopped in exactly the right place. It was almost like he’d done this before.
I felt a slim hand on my shoulder. Marie’s voice was quiet and firm, when she asked. “You’re joining us for dinner, aren’t you Harris?”
I glanced at Tyler, who wasn’t looking at me, but he had his head cocked in my direction, as though he too was waiting for the answer.
I swallowed and then sucked in a breath.
“I’d love to.”